Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and French President Boost UAE-France Ties at Business Dialogue

Opening Remarks and Setting the Scene

The UAE-France Business Dialogue took place at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, bringing together the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. The gathering forms part of ongoing efforts to deepen the economic and investment ties between the two nations and to identify new avenues of collaboration in priority areas such as energy, artificial intelligence and advanced technology.

In his opening remarks, Sheikh Khaled welcomed the French president and his delegation. He pointed out that the friendship between the United Arab Emirates and France has lasted for more than five decades, resting on trust, mutual respect and a common vision of progress and prosperity. He added that the strategic partnership has evolved to keep step with worldwide developments.

He further noted that shifts in the global economy highlight the growing importance of bilateral cooperation for securing reliable and sustainable energy supplies, building resilient supply chains and expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence and advanced technology. He also mentioned that this work builds on the Campus AI initiative that the two countries are developing together in France.

Sheikh Khaled stressed that the dialogue offers a chance to turn shared priorities into concrete investments and major projects in sectors that will shape tomorrow’s economies. He said the event confirms the UAE’s determination to advance its partnership with France and to translate mutual interests into tangible benefits for both countries and their peoples.

The dialogue also serves as a high‑level forum for exchanging views on the future of vital sectors, reviewing the progress of existing partnerships and joint ventures between Emirati and French firms, and exploring ways to widen cooperation so that both countries can safeguard their economic interests and stay abreast of rapid changes in the global market.

Panel Discussions on Energy and AI

The crown prince and the French president took part in two panel discussions. The first, titled “The Power of Resilience: Shaping the Future of Energy and Beyond”, looked at the main transformations underway in the energy sector, stressed the need to strengthen resilience, encourage innovation and develop sustainable solutions that can keep pace with global shifts while guaranteeing secure and sustainable supplies.

The second discussion, titled “Beyond Compute: AI Shaping the Future”, examined the expanding role of artificial intelligence in reshaping economic and industrial activities, highlighted the opportunities that advanced technologies present for creating new growth and innovation models, and discussed how Emirati and French institutions and companies can deepen their cooperation.

Ministers and business leaders from both countries attended the sessions, sharing perspectives and expertise on upcoming priorities and seeking opportunities for joint investment and collaboration, with the aim of turning shared ambitions into partnerships and projects that deliver measurable economic impact.

Agreements Signed and Future Outlook

The dialogue underscored the depth of the investment and strategic partnership between the UAE and France, especially in conventional and advanced energy, clean energy and artificial intelligence. Leading Emirati firms such as ADNOC, Masdar, MGX and G42 play a central role in nurturing and expanding these ties.

It also highlighted bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, covering liquefied natural gas, the development of energy infrastructure, low‑emission solutions and renewable energy projects. This reflects the shared expertise, investment capacity and technological know‑how of the two nations, as well as their joint commitment to bolstering energy security and supporting the shift toward more efficient and sustainable systems.

In the field of artificial intelligence, the dialogue drew attention to the Campus AI initiative, which brings together MGX with French and international partners to build advanced computing and AI infrastructure in France, alongside G42’s own investments in advanced computing facilities. These efforts illustrate a mutual commitment to leveraging strategic investments and technical expertise to spur innovation, strengthen capabilities in forward‑looking sectors and reinforce the standing of both countries within a knowledge‑driven global economy.

Sheikh Khaled and Emmanuel Macron also witnessed the signing of a series of memoranda of understanding and contracts between Emirati and French organisations, covering energy, artificial intelligence and advanced technology.

In the AI and advanced technology arena, three memoranda of understanding were concluded with AMI Labs to strengthen research and technological cooperation and to explore fresh applications across several vital fields. Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) signed an MoU with AMI Labs to deepen cooperation in AI research and development and to facilitate the exchange of scientific and technological expertise, thereby supporting the growth of research and innovation capacities. G42 entered into an MoU with AMI Labs to set up a framework for strategic collaboration in cloud‑computing infrastructure and AI models, and to pursue opportunities to develop advanced technological solutions that can be deployed in practical settings. Analog signed an MoU with AMI Labs to investigate ways to integrate AI models into robotics and physical AI applications, opening new paths for the creation of intelligent systems and widening their use in industrial and technology sectors.

In the energy sector, ADNOC Gas and Schneider Electric agreed to an MoU aimed at assessing advanced technologies and identifying opportunities for operational improvements, with the goal of enhancing operational efficiency and introducing digital and technological solutions that boost the performance of energy systems. Meanwhile, ADNOC Refining and Technip Energies signed two contracts relating to a refining‑capacity‑enhancement project and a sustainable aviation‑fuel project.

These contracts reflect the continuation of industrial cooperation between the two countries and the expansion of partnerships in refining‑capacity development and sustainable fuel solutions.

Collectively, the agreements demonstrate both nations’ commitment to widening economic and investment cooperation, integrating their industrial, technological and research capabilities, and creating new avenues for public‑private partnerships that foster innovative and sustainable solutions in the shared priority sectors.

The UAE‑France Business Dialogue and the accords signed during the event reflect the strength of the two countries’ economic and strategic relations and their shared determination to deepen cooperation in the sectors that will lay the foundations of future economies.

Finally, the dialogue underscores the resolve of both sides to build on existing partnerships and achievements by harnessing their investment, industrial and technological resources to launch high‑impact projects that drive growth, innovation and competitiveness, while contributing to shared economic prosperity.