ABU DHABI, UAE / AsiaWire.IO / – During a meeting in Abu Dhabi on October 19, UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and French President Emmanuel Macron explored avenues to expand their countries’ strategic alliance. The discussions coincided with Macron’s official visit to the UAE. The leaders emphasized collaboration across sectors including the economy, investment, energy, advanced technology, and artificial intelligence, highlighting how these areas align with their shared vision for growth and prosperity.
Both Sheikh Mohamed and Macron reaffirmed their dedication to enhancing UAE-France cooperation in critical fields. They reviewed progress on joint initiatives, particularly in energy, advanced technology, and artificial intelligence. Following the talks, the UAE President hosted a banquet in honor of Macron. The French leader signed the VIP guestbook, expressing pride in the ongoing development of bilateral relations and wishing for further growth in their partnership.
Regional and international issues also featured in the discussions, with a focus on recent developments in the Middle East. The leaders examined ongoing efforts to mitigate the effects of regional instability on maritime security and global energy supplies. They emphasized their mutual resolve to strengthen coordination to promote regional security, stability, and peace. Recently, attacks on energy infrastructure across the Gulf have disrupted oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
Gulf Tour Highlights Hormuz and Energy Security Challenges
Macron’s Gulf itinerary includes stops in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar from October 19 to 21, as part of a regional tour. An Élysée source explained that the visit aims to foster stability and secure navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The agenda also involves discussions on safeguarding and diversifying energy supplies and their transit routes. In April, France and the United Kingdom proposed an international maritime coalition to defend shipping in the strait.
Macron is accompanied by a delegation comprising the CEOs of TotalEnergies and Engie, along with Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure. The group also includes the head of Campus AI, a major tech complex near Paris funded by the UAE. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed and Macron participated in the UAE-France Business Dialogue in Abu Dhabi.
Top UAE Officials Join Macron for Discussions and Dinner
The summit and subsequent 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. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President, was also present, along with several ministers and officials. Earlier, Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Macron with an official ceremony, including an honour guard and military band.
This visit continues a series of high-level exchanges between the two leaders. Macron previously met Sheikh Mohamed at the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi in December 2025, addressed French troops stationed in the UAE, and participated in events like the COP28 climate conference in Dubai in 2023 and the opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2017. Notably, 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.