ABU DHABI // The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, spoke of the UAE's close ties to France at the opening of the new French embassy in the capital.
The embassy, based at Etihad Towers, will be open for business from next week and replaces the old premises in the Al Manasir area, at the junction between Delma and 26th streets.
According to embassy officials, the new premises will cover two floors at Etihad Towers and will accommodate the French Trade Commission, which was based outside the embassy complex.
Speaking at the gala dinner to commemorate the opening on Saturday night, Sheikh Abdullah said he wanted to further enhance ties between the two countries.
He said that trade between the two stood at Dh14 billion last year, making the UAE France's fourth biggest trade surplus partner.
In addition, Sheikh Abdullah praised France for its stance on Emirati visas for Europe.
"France showed support to efforts by the UAE for exemption of Emiratis from entry visas to Schengen countries," he said.
"Visa exemption in European Union-member countries is among the important pillars for our foreign policy, so France's support to our efforts received appreciation and gratitude from our side."
The Foreign Minister also talked of a common interest in international security.
"France is at the forefront of countries involved in combating risks to international stability. The UAE supported France's efforts in Mali to enforce peace and security in Mali, Libya and Afghanistan."
Another topic of conversation was Emirates Airline's renewal of its sponsorship of football team Paris Saint-Germain through to the 2018/2019 season.
Sheikh Abdullah said Emiratis feel proud to see Emirates' logo on the French Ligue 1 champions' shirts.
The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, said his country and the UAE have had 42 years of friendship and partnership in various spheres including economy, culture and strategic relations.
"The relationship between France and the UAE is best personified on a painting that will be present at the Louvre Abu Dhabi," said Mr Fabius.
"The painting might not be the biggest or the most famous but it is absolutely beautiful; it was made by a Turkish artist in 1878 and it is a portrait of a young prince.
"When you pass this painting, stop and look at it, because it represents everything that is in the relationship between the UAE and France, the ties between East and West, the focus on education and culture as well as openness towards the outside - think about the UAE-France relationship and look at that painting."
The ministers had earlier had talks on greater cooperation, as well as regional and international developments.
amustafa@thenational.ae
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
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What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
New Zealand
Penalties: Barrett (7)
British & Irish Lions
Tries: Faletau, Murray
Penalties: Farrell (4)
Conversions: Farrell
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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World Series
Game 1: Red Sox 8, Dodgers 4
Game 2: Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2
Game 3: Saturday (UAE)
* if needed
Game 4: Sunday
Game 5: Monday
Game 6: Wednesday
Game 7: Thursday
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2A)
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
Score
Third Test, Day 1
New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000