UAE President in France for President Macron meeting

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has met with President Emmanuel Macron in France to discuss opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic, investment, and cultural fields.

The two sides also addressed ways to deepen collaboration in climate action, energy, advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and other areas aligned with their shared vision for sustainable development and prosperity.

During their meeting at the Élysée Palace, in Paris, the two leaders discussed regional and international developments, and exchanged views on key issues while reaffirming their commitment to continued dialogue and collaboration.

Commenting on the strong ties between the UAE and France, Sheikh Mohamed highlighted their constructive collaboration across multiple sectors, particularly in energy and climate action. He noted that the two nations have maintained a Comprehensive Strategic Energy Partnership since 2022 and launched the UAE-France Bilateral Climate Investment Platform last year.

His Highness also noted that the two countries share a commitment to the responsible use of artificial intelligence for global development, as well as cooperation in the protection of world heritage and other areas of mutual interest.

The two leaders also attended the signing ceremony of the UAE-France Framework for Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence, signed on behalf of the UAE by the Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and member of the Abu Dhabi Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council, and on behalf of France by Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, and the Minister for the Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, Éric Lombard.

Both presidents reviewed collaboration under the joint UAE-France Framework Agreement, targeting investment in a 1GW AI Campus in France and underlined their intent to create a strategic AI partnership and emphasised their commitment to exploring collaboration on projects and investments that support the development of the AI value chain, including investment in UAE and French AI, leading edge chips offtake, data centre infrastructure and talent development, and by establishing Virtual Data Embassies to enable sovereign AI and cloud infrastructure in both countries.

The broad scope of activities and the size of infrastructure development envisioned under the UAE-France Framework Agreement for Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence highlight the strength and dynamism of the relationship between the UAE and France. The two leaders agreed to closely monitor the development of various AI cooperation projects in the coming period.

President Macron hosted a dinner in honour of His Highness the President and the accompanying delegation.