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The Saudi Press Agency reported that the MoU enables French language instruction through PMU’s Language Center in addition to broader cooperation across shared interests in language training and educational development. Representatives from both organizations formalized the partnership in a signing ceremony that day. The agreement forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen academic ties between Saudi institutions and international cultural bodies.
Alliance Française of Saudi Arabia was founded in 2010 and operates as the official French language institute and cultural center in the Kingdom, its website states. The organization maintains five branches located in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar and AlUla in partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla. It offers courses for adults and children along with corporate training and cultural events designed to connect French speakers with Saudi society.
Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University follows a North American academic model that uses the credit-hour system to measure course weight, according to its official website. Located in Dhahran in the Eastern Province, the private university provides programs across multiple disciplines including business, engineering and the humanities. PMU has pursued several international agreements in recent years to broaden its global engagement.
The university signed a separate memorandum of understanding with the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law on May 26, 2025, during a virtual ceremony, UNIDROIT reported. That agreement was executed by PMU Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Faisal Al Anezi and UNIDROIT Secretary-General Professor Ignacio Tirado to advance legal scholarship. Such partnerships illustrate PMU’s pattern of collaborating with global entities across diverse fields.
Alliance Française of Saudi Arabia has concluded comparable agreements with other regional universities, including a December 2024 memorandum with American University of Sharjah that focused on language promotion and cultural exchange, according to a LinkedIn post from the Sharjah branch. These initiatives typically emphasize training, expertise sharing and student access to certified language programs. In Saudi Arabia the organization continues to expand its network of academic affiliations to support growing demand for French proficiency.
The Saudi Press Agency noted that the latest MoU between PMU and Alliance Française will facilitate additional collaborative activities once implementation begins at the Language Center. Both parties intend to identify specific projects that align with their respective mandates in education and cultural promotion. Details on timelines for program launches were not disclosed in the initial announcement.
