On Saturday morning, he will visit the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which is taking part in a joint Saudi-French navy and air force exercise.
He then flies to Riyadh for talks with Prince Khaled bin Sultan, assistant minister of defense and aviation, before meeting Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, as well as Prince Naif, second deputy premier and minister of interior.
He flies on Saturday to Abu Dhabi where he is due to inspect the French military base there.
France hopes to sell a number of frigates to the Saudi Navy, as well as win a major rail contract.
However, these are not expected to feature in talks during Fillon’s trip. Apart from military cooperation, they are expected to focus on the developing political situation in the Arab world.
France has historic and close relations with both Tunisia and Egypt.
Codenamed “White Shark,” the two-day joint exercise, which ends on Feb. 14, is the seventh since they started in 2007 and the first of four this year.
