The United Arab Emirates and France have reinforced their strategic and economic partnership through a series of agreements and framework exchanges, focusing on defence, artificial intelligence, energy, and advanced technology. The developments were highlighted during French President Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to the UAE, which included high-level meetings and business dialogues involving key government officials and industry leaders from both countries.
On October 20, 2026, the UAE and France exchanged the Strategic Defence Partnership Framework in Abu Dhabi, witnessed by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Macron. The defence framework was formalized by Mohamed Bin Mubarak Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of State for Defence Affairs, and Catherine Vautrin, French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs. Alongside this, both sides signed an agreement on implementing arrangements related to the defence industry, exchanged by Dr Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, and Patrick Pailloux, Delegate-General for Armaments.
During the visit, Sheikh Mohamed and Macron toured Tawazun Industrial Park in Abu Dhabi, which hosts advanced manufacturing facilities supporting defence, aerospace, and strategic industries. They were briefed on the park’s role in fostering cooperation between local, regional, and international companies, as well as its integrated industrial ecosystem.
The UAE-France Business Dialogue held at Qasr Al Watan brought together government and business representatives to explore new opportunities in energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced technologies. Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, highlighted the enduring relationship between the two countries, emphasizing evolving cooperation in response to global economic shifts and the need for reliable energy supplies, stronger supply chains, and technological innovation.
The dialogue featured memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and contracts between Emirati and French entities. In the AI sector, significant agreements were signed involving the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), Abu Dhabi-based technology firm G42, and Analog, all partnering with French AI research company AMI Labs. These MoUs cover AI research, cloud computing infrastructure, robotics, and industrial applications, spanning the development cycle from foundational research to practical deployment.
Energy cooperation also saw key developments. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) signed an MoU with French firm Schneider Electric to explore advanced technologies aimed at improving operational efficiency. Adnoc Refining secured contracts with Technip Energies for projects enhancing refining capacity and developing sustainable aviation fuels intended to reduce emissions. Renewable energy company Masdar was also highlighted for its role in clean energy investments as part of the bilateral partnership.
Panel discussions at the dialogue addressed the challenges and future of energy markets, underscoring the importance of innovation and resilience in maintaining secure and sustainable energy systems amid global market fluctuations.
Together, these agreements and discussions demonstrate the UAE and France’s commitment to expanding cooperation across defence, economic, and technological domains, with a focus on harnessing joint industrial capabilities and investment to address strategic priorities.