ABU DHABI, UAE / AsiaWire.IO / – On October 19, during an official visit to the UAE, UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and French President Emmanuel Macron held talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at expanding the scope of their countries’ strategic alliance. The discussions concentrated on strengthening cooperation across sectors including the economy, investment, energy, advanced technology, and artificial intelligence, emphasizing their role in fostering mutual development and prosperity, as both leaders highlighted their shared vision.
Both Sheikh Mohamed and Macron reaffirmed their dedication to advancing collaboration between the UAE and France in critical sectors, reviewing the progress of joint initiatives in areas such as energy, cutting-edge technology, and artificial intelligence. Following the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed hosted a banquet in honor of Macron, who signed the VIP guestbook, expressing pride in the ongoing growth of UAE-France relations and wishing for further expansion of their ties.
Discussions also extended to regional and global issues, with a particular focus on recent developments in the Middle East. The two sides deliberated on ongoing efforts to mitigate the impacts of regional instability on maritime security and worldwide energy supplies, underscoring their mutual resolve to enhance coordination in order to reinforce stability, security, and peace in the region. Recent attacks on energy infrastructure across the Gulf have reduced oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz in recent months.
Gulf region tour emphasizes Hormuz and energy resilience
Part of a Gulf tour from October 19 to 21, Macron’s itinerary includes stops in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. According to an Élysée source, the purpose of the visit is to promote stability and secure navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The discussions are also expected to cover the diversification and protection of energy supplies and their transportation routes. In April, France and the United Kingdom proposed establishing an international maritime coalition to safeguard shipping in the strait.
Macron is accompanied by a delegation comprising senior executives from TotalEnergies and Engie, along with Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure. Additionally, the group includes the president of Campus AI, a significant technology complex under development near Paris with funding from the UAE. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed and Macron also participated in the UAE-France Business Dialogue held in Abu Dhabi.
High-ranking UAE officials join the discussions and banquet
The official meetings 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, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President, in addition to several ministers and officials. Prior to the event, Sheikh Mohamed received Macron with an official ceremony that included an honour guard and military band.
This visit continues a series of high-level exchanges between the two nations’ leaders, with Macron previously meeting Sheikh Mohamed at the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi in December 2025, addressing French troops stationed in the UAE, participating in the COP28 climate conference in Dubai in 2023, and attending the inauguration of Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2017. In July, Macron became the first prominent Western leader to visit Syria after its civil war. His Gulf tour concludes in Qatar on October 21.