UAE-France: a long-standing partnership reaffirmed

The President, Sheikh Mohamed, leaves France after his official state visit. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed stands for the national anthem. Catherine Colonna, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is also pictured. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed stands for the national anthems. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed bids farewell to Ms Colonna. Photo: Presidential Court

Members of the French honour guard play the national anthem before Sheikh Mohamed's departure. Photo: Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed speaks to Emirati students and doctors studying in France. Seen with Shamma bint Suhail Al Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of State for Youth, second right, and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, vice chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, fourth right. Photo: Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed with Emirati students and doctors, along with Shamma bint Suhail Al Al Mazrouei, Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, fourth from left. Photo: Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed meets students and doctors. Photo: Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed greets Emirati students and doctors who are studying in France. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed, with Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed, speaks to Catherine Colonna. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed arrives at Matignon Hotel in Paris to meet Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Sheikh Mohamed arrives at the Matignon to meet Ms Borne. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed leaves Matignon hotel. Chris Whiteoak / The National

President Sheikh Mohamed signs a guest book during a military ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed stands at attention as the national anthems of the UAE and France are played at the Arc de Triomphe. Photo: Presidential Court

The UAE President greets a members of the Unknown Soldier’s Torch Committee. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Photo: Presidential Court

The UAE President meets Yael Braun-Pivet, sixth from right, President of the French National Assembly, in Paris. The senior UAE officials include Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation; Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; and Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, managing director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed with Ms Braun-Pivet at the National Assembly Presidency Palace. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed is received by Ms Braun-Pivet during his state visit to France. Photo: Presidential Court

The UAE President gives a speech during a dinner hosted in his honour by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Versailles Grand Trianon in Paris. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed is in France on his first overseas trip as UAE President. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed discussed the important role that France has undertaken in the Middle East and expressed his interest in continuing to work together to promote peace, stability and security across the region. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed, Mr Macron and France's first lady Brigitte Macron at the Versailles Grand Trianon. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed with French Senate President Gerard Larcher in Paris. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The UAE President met Mr Larcher at Luxembourg Palace. Photo: Presidential Court

Members of the UAE delegation attend the meeting at Luxembourg Palace. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, managing director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member; and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, vice chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, during the meeting at Luxembourg Palace. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed's decision to visit France on his first trip overseas as UAE head of state is considered highly significant and a recognition of the strength of ties between the two countries. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Sheikh Mohamed and a delegation of ministers and senior officials began the day with a visit to the historic Les Invalides complex, home to the military museum. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The UAE President then travelled a short distance to Luxembourg Palace. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Mr Larcher said he was pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the Cop28 climate change conference, which will be hosted at Expo City Dubai in November 2023, and 'a lot about the energy issue, which is very important'. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Sheikh Mohamed arrives at Luxembourg Palace in Paris. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Macron watch as Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and managing director and group chief executive of Adnoc, and France's Energy Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher sign a comprehensive strategic energy partnership between the two countries. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed, Mr Macron, Dr Al Jaber, Ms Pannier-Runacher and France's Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire after the signing ceremony in Paris. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed holds talks with Mr Macron at Elysee Palace in Paris. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed is welcomed to Elysee Palace by Mr Macron. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed with Mr Macron and France's first lady Brigitte Macron after the UAE President's arrival at Elysee Palace in the French capital. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The UAE leader warmly embraced Mr Macron on his arrival in Paris, describing him as a friend and his country as one of the Emirates' closest allies. Chris Whiteoak / The National

During a private lunch, the two leaders reviewed new agreements that expand decades of partnership and collaboration between the UAE and France. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Sheikh Mohamed spoke about the common interest that the UAE and France share in confronting climate change. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A French guard of honour awaits the arrival of Sheikh Mohamed to Elysee Palace. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The UAE President attends an official reception hosted by Sebastien Lecornu, France's Minister of Armed Forces, at the military museum in Paris. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed is accompanied by Mr Le Cornu as he inspects a guard of honour and meets officials at the military museum. Photo: Presidential Court

The UAE President visited the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte within the Dome des Invalides at the military museum. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed was set to meet top French officials during his two-day visit, including Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and President of the National Assembly Yael Braun-Pivet. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed with Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, vice chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and Mr Le Cornu at the military museum. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Le Cornu stand at attention as the two countries' anthems are played. Photo: Presidential Court

The UAE President's motorcade arrives at the military museum. Photo: Presidential Court

Emirati flags adorned the streets around Elysee and Luxembourg palaces. Photo: Presidential Court

Last week marked an important occasion in France, as Bastille Day, the country's national day, was celebrated on July 14. This week is significant for a different reason, with President Sheikh Mohamed having arrived in Paris on a two-day state visit to bolster the already strong relations between France and the UAE.

That Sheikh Mohamed chose France as the destination for his first state visit since being elected UAE President carries a special symbolic weight. Sheikh Mohamed called France "a close strategic ally of the UAE" yesterday, adding that "our countries enjoy longstanding partnerships across many fields. We look forward to further collaborations and strengthening ties towards a prosperous future".

French President Emmanuel Macron was the first western leader to visit the UAE to offer condolences in person after the passing of Sheikh Khalifa. Sheikh Mohamed, who visited France in September last year, received a warm welcome during the official ceremony in Paris on Monday.

It was a fitting gesture considering that the two nations share mutual respect and a depth of understanding that has been enriched over the decades.

Ever since the UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's first official visit to Paris, in 1951, to agree on offshore oil drilling rights, there has been growing co-operation on a number of fronts leading to strong political, cultural, trade and economic ties between the two countries. Today, France's annual exports to the UAE are worth Dh12.5 billion, while Paris imports about Dh3.7bn worth of oil from the Emirates each year. The two countries are also invested in a 10-year bilateral roadmap of a strategic partnership signed in 2020.

For years, both France and the UAE have emphasised such values as tolerance and peaceful co-existence. They have regularly co-ordinated on myriad geopolitical affairs and actively sought peaceful political solutions to conflicts, whether in Libya, Yemen, or most recently in Ukraine. Given that the Middle East's stability is of utmost importance to both countries, they have also expressed concerns about the start-stop nature of the Iran nuclear talks.

With each passing decade, bilateral ties have grown much deeper. Indeed, the number of sectors the two countries have co-operated on is extensive, be it oil and gas, fintech, trade and investment, cyber security, space or clean energy.

An unmissable visual manifestation of their cultural partnership is Louvre Abu Dhabi, which opened in 2017. Education also plays an important role, with seven schools located in Abu Dhabi teaching up to 10,000 students in the French language. Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, which was established as a branch of Paris’s College of Sorbonne in 2006, is one of several landmark institutions in both countries that attest to their ever deepening cultural and social bonds.

Given the pace of climate change, the Paris Agreement is a big talking point. At the Cop28 climate summit, to be held in the UAE next year, it is likely to headline much of the agenda of participating countries.

The state visit is an important one. In several key areas in which France and the UAE work together, there is much to honour. In the meeting of the two leaders at the Elysee Palace, it is the strength of a key relationship that will have been reaffirmed.