I wish to convey a message from the French communities of Jeddah and its region to the Saudi people: we fully share your joy on your National Day! Let me explain why.

Our last statistics highlight two notable evolutions. On one hand, the French have never been so numerous as today in Jeddah and the Western part of the Kingdom. Their number reaches now 2,600. On the other hand, the inhabitants of Jeddah and the neighboring regions have never been as many to visit France as this summer. The number of visas issued by our consulate increased by 30 percent during the last three months, compared with the corresponding period of 2013.

These figures express a social reality: there is a growing mutual interest between the French and the Saudi peoples. In the name of the French residents in Jeddah and the Western Province of the Kingdom, allow me to thank all the Saudis, from the king to all those whom we interact with on a daily basis, for their warm welcome and their kindness towards us. I wish them all a happy National Day!

Dr. Louis Blin

Consul General of France