Oman welcomed 77,000 French tourists in 2025, a 25% increase year-on-year, with growth continuing into 2026 as first-quarter arrivals rose 10% to more than 24,600, driven by tourism promotion, improved connectivity and the country's cultural appeal.
A severe heatwave affecting several European countries has caused the deaths of 74 people by drowning in France since June 18, coinciding with Germany recording a new temperature record for the second consecutive day, reaching 41.5 degrees Celsius, said media reports.
Vision Golfe 2026 brought together more than 1,200 participants, five ministers, senior government officials and business leaders in Paris this week, reinforcing its position as the leading platform for economic cooperation between France and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Leading French group Safran Electronics & Defence has announced that it has sealed an agreement with UAE-based technology group EDGE to broaden the scope of joint work across the wider portfolios of both companies and develop the next-generation smart weapons for the battlefield.
Saudi Arabia and France have signed a joint action programme to deepen tourism cooperation, focusing on investment, sustainability, innovation, workforce development, data sharing and destination marketing, following high-level talks on the sidelines of the UN Tourism Executive Council.
Vatel Hotel & Tourism Business School in France, the parent institution of Vatel Bahrain, has retained its position as the leading hospitality school in France for the fifth consecutive year and advanced to 11th place globally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for Hospitality and Leisure Management.
France and the Gulf Cooperation Council states will meet in Paris on June 18 and 19 June for Vision Golfe, a high-level forum designed to accelerate trade, investment and strategic cooperation between the two regions.
Expro has secured a Tubular Running Services (TRS) contract with Lithium de France to support the development of new geothermal and direct lithium extraction (DLE) wells in France’s Alsace region.
TotalEnergies has launched France’s first advanced plastics recycling plant, with an annual capacity of 15,000 tones, at its Grandpuits site southeast of Paris. This start-up marks another step in the conversion of the refinery into a zero-crude platform.
Diriyah Company, the developer of Saudi Arabia's premier historical, cultural, and lifestyle destination, has announced the launch of a 1.9-km-long main spine within its mega development in the kingdom's ancient city. The GrandAvenue will boast iconic landmarks, hotels, offices, retail spaces and residential units.
