The UAE-French strategic dialogue confirms mutual commitment to common priorities

Within the framework of the close and long-term strategic partnership between the United Arab Emirates and the French Republic, and in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, and the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, the eighteenth meeting of the Emirati-French Strategic Dialogue was held in Abu Dhabi on May 6, 2026.
The dialogue was chaired by the Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, Khaldoun Khalifa Al-Mubarak, and the Secretary-General of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Martin Briand, where the two sides affirmed their joint commitment to strengthening the comprehensive and future bilateral partnership between the two countries in various fields.
The Diplomatic Advisor to His Highness the President, Dr. Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State, Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE Ambassador to the French Republic, Fahd Al Raqbani, and the French Ambassador to the UAE, Nicolas Nemcheanu, participated in the Emirati-French strategic dialogue, in addition to a number of officials from both sides.
During the dialogue, the two sides stressed the strength of the strategic partnership that brings together the two countries, and their keenness to enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors, which reflects their aspiration to deepen this cooperation and expand its horizons.
Regarding the current regional developments, the two sides condemned in the strongest terms the blatant and unjustified Iranian attacks on the UAE, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Jordan and other countries in the region, which deliberately and indiscriminately targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure, in flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of these countries, and in flagrant violation of the principles and provisions of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations.
Referring to Security Council Resolution No. 2817 (2026), the two sides condemned Iranian practices and threats aimed at closing, obstructing, or interfering in international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and threatening maritime security in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, stressing that any attempts to obstruct the legitimate right of passage or freedom of navigation in these international waterways constitute a serious threat to international peace and security. The two sides also rejected Iran’s attempts to use these corridors as pressure tools or to hold the global economy and energy security hostage through unilateral and illegal measures, stressing the need for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to international navigation without fees or obstacles. Both sides welcomed international initiatives to support freedom of navigation, including additional actions by the United Nations Security Council, the International Maritime Organization, and the international mission proposed by France and the United Kingdom.
The two sides held constructive discussions on priority issues at the regional and international levels, and reaffirmed their shared commitment to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace between the Palestinians and Israelis on the basis of the two-state solution, welcoming the efforts made by France in this regard. The two sides welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, stressing their support for Lebanon’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, their full solidarity with the Lebanese people, and their support for the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Armed Forces in their efforts to restore security and impose the exclusivity of weapons in the hands of the state. The two sides renewed their call for an immediate and unconditional humanitarian truce in Sudan, and a peaceful solution to the conflict leading to the formation of a civilian-led government, and reaffirmed the principles contained in the Quartet statement issued on September 12 in this regard. The two sides also affirmed their commitment to supporting a just and lasting solution to the war in Ukraine in line with international law and the United Nations Charter, including respect for sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. The two sides welcomed the efforts of the UAE to facilitate prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and the Russian Federation recently, which raised the total number of prisoners exchanged to 6,691 prisoners.
In the field of economy, the two sides welcomed strengthened cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, financial services, infrastructure, aviation, artificial intelligence, energy and food security. They highlighted successful cooperation models between Emirati and French entities, including cooperation between Mubadala and Bpifrance, cooperation between MGX and G42 with Bpifrance and other French partners in the field of artificial intelligence infrastructure, in addition to the cooperation of Masdar, Emirates Nuclear Energy Company, ADNOC, Emirates Water and Electricity Company, and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure with their French counterparts in the fields of renewable energy, nuclear energy, liquefied natural gas, low-carbon solutions, and infrastructure for the electricity and water sectors. The two sides also stressed the importance of the aviation sector as one of the basic pillars of economic relations between the two countries, stressing the need to enhance cooperation and develop advanced infrastructure, including the Al Maktoum International Airport project, where French expertise and solutions can contribute to achieving common ambitions. The two sides expressed their support for the ongoing discussions between the civil aviation authorities in the two countries regarding developing air traffic, allowing for the expansion of airline services if an agreement is reached. The two sides also pointed to opportunities to enhance cooperation in the areas of intellectual property, food security, agricultural research and partnerships in third markets, and agreed to continue coordination on priority areas to support the implementation of strategic projects and achieve tangible results.
In the field of culture, the two sides praised the continued success of the Louvre Abu Dhabi as one of the main pillars of the partnership between the UAE and France, pointing to recent exhibitions, such as the “Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire” exhibition and “Picasso: Envisioning the Form.” They also discussed preparations for celebrating the tenth anniversary of the museum in 2027. The two sides also reviewed the growing cooperation in the fields of crafts, publishing, electronic games, and cinema, through active initiatives consistent with common priorities, especially in the areas of talent development, building creative systems, and enhancing local content. The two sides affirmed their commitment to exploring additional opportunities to deepen cultural cooperation during the year 2026, with a focus on institutional harmonization and capacity building, supporting the development of sustainable cultural systems in the long term, and enhancing cultural exchange.
In the field of nuclear energy, the two sides affirmed their commitment to continuing cooperation with a focus on regulatory aspects, operations, fuel cycle, waste management, research and development, and industrial partnerships. Pointing out that cooperation in this field is witnessing a transition to a more advanced stage, focusing on localization, sustainability and technological leadership. Other areas of progress reviewed included the expansion of technical capacity-building programmes, continued harmonization in regulatory and scientific work, in addition to significant progress in cooperation in the field of waste management.
In the field of space, the two sides affirmed their intention to continue to deepen cooperation in the fields of space exploration, advanced technologies and commercial space activities, while strengthening the interconnection between the relevant authorities in both countries. They praised the progress made in a number of key areas, including the Rashid lunar missions, continued coordination in the field of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) under the umbrella of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, along with advances in satellite manufacturing and propulsion technologies, and emerging fields such as optical communications and space life sciences. More broadly, the two sides renewed their commitment to developing an integrated and competitive space system, by enhancing cooperation between government agencies, the industry sector, scientific research institutions, and emerging companies. They also welcomed ongoing discussions on talent development initiatives, including the space technology program with Aspire.
In the field of health, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the “One Health” approach, based on the joint declaration issued by the recent Lyon Summit, with the support of institutions and the private sector. Emphasis was placed on expanding research and development partnerships, including initiatives that allow technology transfer and the transfer of research and development activities between health authorities in both countries. The participants also praised the Emirati-French medical residency program, calling for its continuation and expansion to include the fields of health technology, pointing to the existing cooperation between hospitals in developing clinical research in the fields of oncology, neurogenetics and pediatrics. The two sides welcomed efforts to enhance economic cooperation in the healthcare sector, noting the increased participation of French companies in events such as “WHX Dubai,” and plans to enhance participation in the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit. The discussions also highlighted emerging opportunities to enhance cooperation in the fields of digital health and biotechnology.
In the field of education, the two sides praised the progress made to achieve the goals of the French language roadmap (2020–2030), as about 20,000 students study French in public schools in the UAE. The two sides renewed their commitment to developing the program by continuing to invest in curriculum development and teacher training. The two sides also welcomed the growth witnessed by French schools in the UAE, which currently include more than 13,500 students in nine accredited educational institutions, an increase of 6.5% in one year. Following the visit of a delegation from the UAE Ministry of Education to Paris in September 2025, representatives of both sides expressed their interest in exchanging visions and experiences in the fields of innovation and employing modern technologies in the education sector.
With regard to higher education, the two sides praised the continued success of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi on the twentieth anniversary of its founding, highlighting the increasing number of students enrolled, the increase in scientific research outputs, and the strategic cooperation with Zayed Military University. The two sides also pointed out that Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi will host the “Franco-Emirati Research and Innovation” Forum in February 2026, in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space. The forum brought together representatives of academic circles, research institutions and the industry sector from both countries, in an indication of the extent of compatibility in strategic areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and space. The two sides welcomed the continued expansion of programs offered by French higher education institutions in the UAE, including the launch of a new Bachelor’s program in Fashion Design by EMOD, and the progress made in Rubika’s video game design program at Abu Dhabi University, which welcomed its first batch of students in 2025 with the support of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
At the conclusion of the eighteenth session of the UAE-French Strategic Dialogue, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their established strategic partnership and continuing joint work to achieve their common interests through close cooperation.