ABU DHABI, UAE / AsiaWire.IO / – The partnership between the UAE and France was reinforced through high-level discussions, with UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan engaging in talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Abu Dhabi on October 19. The meeting, held during Macron’s official visit to the UAE, focused on expanding their countries’ strategic alliance. Topics covered included the economy, investment, energy, advanced technology, and artificial intelligence. Both leaders emphasized their shared vision of development and prosperity for their peoples.
The two presidents confirmed their ongoing support for UAE-France cooperation across key sectors and examined progress on joint initiatives in energy, technology, and artificial intelligence. After the discussions, Sheikh Mohamed hosted a banquet in honor of Macron. During the visit, Macron signed the VIP guestbook and expressed pride in the steady growth of bilateral relations, wishing for further expansion of the partnership in the coming years.
A significant portion of the dialogue was dedicated to regional and global issues. The leaders reviewed recent developments in the Middle East and discussed efforts to mitigate their impact on maritime security and worldwide energy supplies. They reiterated their shared commitment to enhancing coordination to promote regional security, stability, and peace. Attacks targeting Gulf energy infrastructure have limited oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, exerting additional pressure on world energy markets.
Energy security and maritime safety dominate discussions
Macron’s Gulf itinerary, from October 19 to 21, encompasses visits to the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. An Élysée source indicated the trip aims to foster stability and ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. France also seeks to diversify and secure energy sources and transportation routes. In April, France and the United Kingdom jointly proposed an international maritime coalition to safeguard ships in the strait.
Leading French officials from both government and industry accompanied Macron. The delegation included CEOs of energy companies TotalEnergies and Engie, as well as the head of Campus AI, a major technology complex near Paris financed by the UAE. Ministers Catherine Vautrin, Jean-Noël Barrot, and Roland Lescure, responsible for defence, foreign affairs, and the economy respectively, also traveled with the president. The Abu Dhabi visit featured a UAE-France Business Dialogue as part of the program.
Official reception highlights UAE leadership’s hospitality
Sheikh Mohamed greeted Macron with a formal ceremony that included an honor guard and military band. Attending the event were His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, along with His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs. The gathering also included Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President, and several ministers and officials.
These discussions add to a history of frequent high-level meetings between the two leaders. Macron’s previous visit to Abu Dhabi in December 2025 saw him touring the Zayed National Museum alongside Sheikh Mohamed. He also participated in COP28 in Dubai in 2023 and attended the 2017 opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi. In July, Macron became the first significant Western leader to visit Syria after its civil war. Macron’s Gulf tour concludes in Qatar on October 21.