UAE President begins official visit to France

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan began his inaugural official visit to France on July 18. He landed in Paris on July 17 and met Emmanuel Macron, President of France and other leaders at Élysée Palace in Paris.

This visit provides a great opportunity to strengthen the UAE-France relationship and address several challenges, including energy, transport, climate change, and technology.

In addition, the two nations will strengthen ties across culture, education, space, regional stability and security.

#UAE President begins a state visit to French Republic tomorrow #WamVideo pic.twitter.com/SiXuxZoPjJ

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) July 17, 2022

Relations between the UAE and France dates back to the first visit of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to France in 1976.

In order to enhance bilateral cooperation, the two countries established the UAE-France Strategic Dialogue, which began in 2008.

Since then, the two parties have adopted a new roadmap for the next ten years.

#UAE and #France .. a strategic partnership and consensus in facing global challenges #WamNews https://t.co/iBJJvcCyt1 pic.twitter.com/BXcsbCq94u

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) July 18, 2022

France is one of the main foreign investors in the UAE. By the end of 2020, French direct investments in the UAE amounted to 2.5 billion euros, while the UAE ranks 35th in the list of foreign investors in France.

The two countries have signed many agreements and memorandums of understanding in economic, cultural, military, and environmental fields, including thirteen during the visit of the French President to the UAE last December.

Read: UAE agrees to buy 80 Rafale fighter jets during Macron visit

The UAE and France place particular emphasis on their cultural partnership, which has seen the opening of both the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Sorbonne Abu Dhabi.

Both countries also played a key role in the establishment of the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas, and the UAE contributed 5 million euros to support the Arab World Institute in Paris in 2017. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Hall was inaugurated at the Louvre Museum in Paris the same year.

#MohamedbinZayed: Our countries enjoy longstanding partnerships across many fields. We look forward to further collaborations and strengthening ties towards a prosperous future. #WamNews pic.twitter.com/OW1qJ4TyF4

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) July 18, 2022

In other news, US President Joe Biden concluded his tour of the Middle East on July 17 where he discussed regional and global opportunities and challenges that impact the Middle East, US, and the world.Saudi Arabia and the US have signed 18 agreements for joint cooperation in sectors such as investment, energy, ICT, space and healthcare.

Read:

US President Joe Biden begins Middle East tour, meets Saudi Crown Prince

Saudi Arabia, US ink 18 agreements in energy, space, ICT, healthcare