ABU DHABI, UAE / AsiaWire.IO / – In Abu Dhabi on October 19, UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan engaged in discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron focused on broadening their nations’ strategic alliance. This meeting took place amid Macron’s official visit to the UAE, with conversations revolving around the economy, investment, energy, cutting-edge technology, and artificial intelligence. Both leaders emphasized that their efforts are driven by a shared aspiration for development and prosperity for their citizens.
The presidents reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to UAE-France collaboration in key sectors. They also examined the progress of joint initiatives in energy, advanced technology, and artificial intelligence. After the discussions, Sheikh Mohamed hosted a banquet honoring his French visitor. Macron signed the VIP guestbook and conveyed his pride in the steady growth of their bilateral relations, expressing hope for further expansion of the partnership in the coming years.
A significant portion of the dialogue addressed regional and international matters. The leaders reviewed recent developments in the Middle East and discussed efforts to mitigate their impact on maritime security and global energy supplies. They emphasized their mutual resolve to enhance coordination to promote security, stability, and peace throughout the region. Attacks targeting Gulf energy facilities have restricted oil exports via the Strait of Hormuz, exerting additional pressure on world energy markets.
Priorities Include Energy Security and Maritime Safety
Macron’s Gulf itinerary spans from October 19 to 21, visiting the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. An Élysée source indicated that the trip aims to foster stability and secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. France also seeks to diversify energy sources and transportation routes. In April, France and the United Kingdom jointly proposed an international maritime coalition to protect ships operating in the strait.
The delegation accompanying Macron included senior figures from French business and government sectors. Notable attendees were the CEOs of energy firms TotalEnergies and Engie, as well as the head of Campus AI, a major technology complex under construction near Paris with funding from the UAE. Ministers Catherine Vautrin, Jean-Noël Barrot, and Roland Lescure, overseeing defense, 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 Welcome and High-Level Meetings in Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohamed received Macron with a formal ceremony that included an honor guard and a military band. The meeting and banquet were also attended by 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. Also present were Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President, as well as several ministers and officials.
These exchanges continue a history of high-level interactions between the two leaders. Macron’s last visit to Sheikh Mohamed was in Abu Dhabi in December 2025, when they toured the Zayed National Museum. He also attended COP28 in Dubai in 2023 and the 2017 inauguration of the Louvre Abu Dhabi. In July, Macron became the first significant Western leader to visit Syria following its civil war. His Gulf tour wraps up in Qatar on October 21.