Macron to visit UAE on Gulf tour as Emirati leaders discuss development

· Politics · United Arab Emirates · France

French President Emmanuel Macron will visit the United Arab Emirates next week as part of a Gulf tour, according to Emirati media reports. The trip comes as the UAE's leadership presses ahead with a domestic development agenda: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan met to discuss the country's national development priorities, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed met the president of the World Economic Forum to strengthen the UAE's partnership with the organisation. The items gave no further details on Macron's itinerary, the agenda for the talks or any agreements expected. The UAE hosts a French military presence and is a major trade and energy partner for Paris, making the visit a notable diplomatic engagement in the Gulf.

Why it matters：Macron's Gulf trip shows France and other outside powers competing for influence in the Gulf, where security, energy and investment ties are increasingly interlinked.

Key points

  • Macron's visit is part of a broader Gulf tour, Emirati media reported.
  • Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Mansour met to discuss UAE national development priorities.
  • Sheikh Hamdan met the World Economic Forum president to deepen the UAE's partnership with the body.

Sources (original reporting)

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