French President Emmanuel Macron landed in Riyadh on Wednesday, in an unscheduled "solidarity" stop as part of a Gulf tour to develop strategic partnerships with visits to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain. The French leader said he had secured pledges of additional energy supplies from Gulf partners, in an effort to lower energy costs amid growing protests over the cost of living crisis in France. Macron is the first Western leader to visit the kingdom since Yemen's Houthis intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia this month, and is due to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The visit aims to "demonstrate France’s solidarity with the kingdom in the face of attacks launched by the Houthis against its territory, and to continue efforts aimed at securing and diversifying hydrocarbon supplies", according to a statement from the president's office. French President Emmanuel Macron (L) attends a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman at Al Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on 21 October 2026 (Benoit Tessier/AFP)
France's Macron arrives in Saudi Arabia for unscheduled visit during Gulf tour
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