ABU DHABI, UAE / AsiaWire.IO / – During discussions in Abu Dhabi on October 19, UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and French President Emmanuel Macron examined opportunities to expand their countries’ strategic cooperation. The meeting coincided with Macron’s official visit to the UAE, where both leaders emphasized collaboration across sectors such as the economy, investment, energy, advanced technology, and artificial intelligence, highlighting these areas as key drivers of mutual development and prosperity.
Reaffirming their dedication to strengthening UAE-France partnership, Sheikh Mohamed and Macron reviewed progress on joint initiatives in energy, cutting-edge technology, and AI. Following the discussions, the UAE President hosted a banquet in honor of Macron, who signed the VIP guestbook, expressing pride in the ongoing growth of bilateral relations and wishing for further progress.
The dialogue also touched on regional and international issues, especially recent developments in the Middle East. Both parties discussed ongoing efforts to mitigate the effects of regional turmoil on maritime security and global energy markets, emphasizing their shared resolve to enhance coordination for regional stability, security, and peace. Recent attacks on Gulf energy facilities have restricted oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
Macron’s Gulf visit centers on Hormuz and energy safety
From October 19 to 21, Macron is undertaking a Gulf tour that includes the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, with Abu Dhabi as the first stop. An Élysée source explained that the visit aims to restore stability and secure navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Discussions are also expected to focus on safeguarding and diversifying energy supplies and their routes, with France and the UK proposing an international maritime coalition in April to protect shipping in the strait.
Leading the delegation are the CEOs of TotalEnergies and Engie, alongside Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure. The group also includes the president of Campus AI, a major technology complex under construction near Paris with funding from the UAE. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed and Macron also participated in the UAE-France Business Dialogue in Abu Dhabi.
High-ranking UAE officials join meetings and celebrations
The discussions and banquet were 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. UAE President’s Advisor Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, along with several ministers and officials, was also present. Earlier, Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Macron with an official ceremony featuring an honor guard and a military band.
This visit extends a series of high-level interactions between the two leaders, including Macron’s meeting with Sheikh Mohamed at the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi in December 2025, his address to French troops stationed in the UAE, participation in the COP28 climate conference in Dubai in 2023, and the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2017. In July, Macron became the first major Western leader to visit Syria after its civil war. His Gulf tour concludes in Qatar on October 21.