Abu dhabi: The UAE-France High-Level Business Council convened its fourth plenary meeting in Abu Dhabi today. The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, and Patrick Pouyann©, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies.
According to Emirates News Agency, the meeting, held on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, brought together Council members and distinguished guests from both countries. French participants included representatives from TotalEnergies, Airbus, Soci©t© G©n©rale, Engie, Ardian, Fives Group representing MEDEF International, and Artefact. From the UAE side, participants included ADNOC, Masdar, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Presight, Dubai Chambers, First Abu Dhabi Bank, BEEAH, ADQ, AIQ, XRG, G42, ALT€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬°RRA, 2PointZero, Emirates NBD, IHC, and ePointZero.
The meeting was also attended by Mohamed Al Suwaidi, Minister of Investment and Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ADQ; Mansoor Al Mansoori, Group Chief Executive Officer of G42 International; and Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Dubai Chambers. In his opening remarks, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber conveyed the greetings of the UAE leadership and reaffirmed the strength of long-standing bilateral relations. He noted that this plenary, held shortly after President Macron's visit to the UAE, reflects the strong strategic alignment between both countries' leaderships.
He emphasised that the Council continues to serve as a catalyst for translating shared vision into tangible economic outcomes, particularly as both countries accelerate cooperation in AI, advanced industries, and sustainable growth. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber stated that the UAE-France High-Level Business Council remains committed to unlocking high-value investment opportunities that drive innovation, competitiveness, and shared prosperity for both nations.
Patrick Pouyann©, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, highlighted the Council's role in strengthening business cooperation between French and Emirati companies, noting new bilateral partnerships in the field of AI. The Council reviewed progress since its previous meeting in Paris (February 2025) and discussed ongoing initiatives aimed at strengthening economic cooperation. Artificial intelligence emerged as a cross-cutting enabler of growth, driving innovation, efficiency, and competitiveness across priority sectors.
Artefact, a leading global company specialised in AI, provided insights into AI's transformative impact on processes, roles, and operating models. The discussion focused on productivity gains, faster decision-making, and new growth opportunities while addressing challenges that limit impact.
Key milestones achieved in 2025 were highlighted, such as the 2nd Regional Business Development Meeting in Abu Dhabi under the theme "Unlocking cross-investment potential in AI," and the joint venture between MGX, Bpifrance, Mistral AI, and NVIDIA to develop Europe's largest AI and data-center campus in the €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬¦½le-de-France region. Other milestones included the inauguration of Fives Industrial Technologies' manufacturing facility in Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways' fleet expansion, Emirates' aircraft purchase, and the launch of the Keolis-Etihad Rail joint venture.
The plenary also announced a new Memorandum of Understanding on AI-driven subsurface development, an initiative by AIQ, ADNOC, TotalEnergies, and G42. The meeting concluded with participants reaffirming their commitment to expanding cooperation across strategic sectors, including AI, advanced industries, renewable energy, and infrastructure, with plans for future meetings.
Trade relations between the UAE and France continue to strengthen, with non-oil trade surging 35.8% in the first ten months of 2025 to AED46 billion. The UAE hosts the largest presence of French companies in the Middle East, employing over 30,000 people, and remains France's second-largest investor in the GCC.
