The move aimed to add a regional and international flavor to this major national event as part of Saudi Arabia’s initiative to promote cultural friendships with people of other nations.

France’s pavilion at the festival not only presented French culture to Saudis but also offered them job opportunities. Some Saudis were working in the pavilion as translators, attendants, and security guards. None of them were expecting to work at the pavilion.

“I did not plan for it. It was a coincidence when my company told  me to be there,” said Ahmad Al-Inezi, who was working at the booth of a giant French insurance company that participated in the festival.

“I never thought of working at the pavilion. But as I was in touch with the French Embassy waiting for chances to practice my French, I was asked if I could work temporarily at the pavilion with two other colleagues. I immediately accepted,” said Nasir Al-Khenizan, who majored in French at King Saud University (KSU).

Muhammed Al-Migbass, who also majored in French at KSU, said he approached the embassy for a job as an interpreter. He was instead offered a temporary job at the pavilion that he did not hesitate to accept.

Large numbers of Saudi visitors were attracted daily to the 2,000 square meter pavilion, which has cafes, restaurants, groceries, fashion and food shops, and exhibits cars and air and space products. Parts of the pavilion resemble real streets in the French capital Paris, including Champs-Elysee and George V.

Major French companies working in the Kingdom had their own booths at the pavilion. There were lots of cultural activities, including folk dances and musicals on the replicated streets.

The influx of people was unexpected according to Bryan Dufour, co-supervisor of the French pavilion and commercial attaché at the French Embassy in Riyadh.

“It was not only a surprise to us but also a source of happiness to us to see these large numbers of Saudi visitors coming to our pavilion every day. Their average number is estimated at 10,000 a day since the opening of the pavilion,” he said.

“Some days we had to temporarily block visitors to avoid congestion.”

Interviews with some of the Saudi visitors revealed different reasons for their visits.

Abu Abdul Rahman said he visited the pavilion with his son and daughter to learn about France before leaving for their vacation to the country this summer, and because his son insisted on visiting after he heard about the event at his school. He said that everything was interesting, but he was stunned by the French cars and advanced space industry in particular. His son said that he liked the circus show, while his daughter said she loved the clothing and leather bags.

Law student Abdullah Al-Ali said France’s history and its reputation in law brought him to the pavilion. He was impressed by the flute performances and the image of the Mona Lisa.

Secondary student Khaled Al-Saeed, who visited the pavilion twice, said that he was impressed by the circus performance and the French soldier standing at the pavilion entrance wearing the traditional military costume from the colonial days.

French exhibitors and performers were pleasantly surprised by their visit to the Kingdom.

“It was a good opportunity for us to show Saudi people our French products, tradition, taste, and flavor inside the Kingdom. I think the pavilion will consolidate French-Saudi relations further, and help both parties know each other better,” said Gaston Grenier, the manager of French Corner, one of the exhibitors at the pavilion.

“When the French embassy asked me to come here, I was hesitant because we had a fearful image of Saudi Arabia. But once I arrived here, I was taken by surprise. I found people very kind and easy to speak with. The negative picture we had of the country went upside down,” said musician Didier Guillemain.

“The Janadriya festival looks great. I have never been to Saudi Arabia or any other Arab country. So, it was the first time for me to see the desert and camels and I found people here very nice and friendly, the weather is superb, so it is for me a great experience. It removed the bad image I had of the country,” said Rene Darbois, another musician.