Summary:

On 28 December 2025, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia reinforced their bilateral relations through the 12th session of the Tunisian-Saudi Joint Commission, held in Riyadh. The meeting was co-chaired by Tunisia’s Minister of Economy and Planning, Samir Abdelhafidh, and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, with official delegations from both countries in attendance. 

During the session, five agreements and memorandums were signed, covering customs cooperation, postal services, mining, and media partnerships. Additional agreements are expected alongside a Tunisian-Saudi business forum aimed at fostering private-sector collaboration and joint investments. 

Both countries emphasized strategic cooperation aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, highlighting sectors such as water, rural development, tourism, industry, agriculture, health, and education. These efforts build on prior commercial cooperation, which contributed to a 38% increase in bilateral trade in 2025. 

Outlook: 

While these developments improve Tunisia-Saudi relations, they reflect a wider regional strategy being executed by Riyadh. Saudi Arabia appears to be leveraging such bilateral partnerships to reassert its regional influence and foster economic and diplomatic momentum that could underpin a new wave of normalization agreements, akin to the Abraham Accords. 

However, Tunisia is unlikely to actively engage in such broader initiatives due to its historically close ties with Tehran, both before and after 7 October, and its strong relationship with Algeria, which shares common foreign policy priorities under Presidents Saied and Tebboune. This positions Tunisia as a cautious partner, balancing economic opportunities with existing regional alignments. 

For Tunisia, closer ties with Saudi Arabia still offer economic benefits and enhanced geopolitical visibility. Yet, the broader regional dynamics, particularly Saudi Arabia’s attempts to balance influence across the Gulf, North Africa, and the wider Middle East, will shape how these agreements translate into tangible long-term outcomes. 

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