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The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, joined French President Emmanuel Macron for the UAE-France Business Dialogue held at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. The event sought to reinforce the longstanding economic and investment partnership between the two countries while pinpointing new collaboration opportunities in strategic sectors. Discussions placed particular emphasis on energy, artificial intelligence and advanced technology as areas primed for expanded cooperation.
Sheikh Khaled and Macron took part in two panel discussions that formed the core of the day’s proceedings, the media office reported. The first, titled “The Power of Resilience: Shaping the Future of Energy and Beyond,” reviewed major shifts in the energy landscape along with strategies for building resilience through innovation and sustainable solutions. A second session highlighted prospects in artificial intelligence, aligning with broader goals to foster knowledge exchange and technological advancement.
The leaders witnessed the signing of multiple memoranda of understanding and contracts between Emirati and French companies and institutions during the event, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. Three of the agreements involved AMI Labs and targeted enhanced research along with technological cooperation across several critical fields. These pacts spanned conventional and clean energy initiatives in addition to artificial intelligence applications and related advanced technologies.
Leading Emirati firms including ADNOC, Masdar, MGX and G42 have taken a central role in cultivating and expanding these partnerships, the official account stated. The dialogue illustrated the depth of existing investment and strategic links that have developed between the UAE and France over recent years. French companies maintain a substantial presence in the UAE market, where around 600 of them employ more than 30,000 people according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs figures.
Bilateral trade between the UAE and France reached €10.8 billion in 2025, a 27 percent increase from the previous year, according to Business France figures. This growth builds upon sustained expansion in non-oil trade that climbed to AED46 billion in the first ten months of 2025, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs assessment found. The UAE remains France’s second-largest investment destination in the GCC, a position that has supported diversified cooperation across multiple sectors.
The gathering builds upon the framework established by the UAE-France High-Level Business Council, which has convened multiple plenary meetings since its launch to drive concrete joint projects, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted. Previous sessions prioritised collaboration in energy, transportation, logistics, manufacturing, technology and bilateral investments through dedicated working groups. Such engagements have consistently aimed to accelerate pragmatic initiatives that deliver mutual economic benefits for both nations.
