President Sheikh Mohamed on Sunday received Emmanuel Macron, President of France, in Abu Dhabi.
During the meeting at the Zayed National Museum, Sheikh Mohamed exchanged greetings with Mr Macron ahead of the approaching New Year, the state news agency Wam reported.
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Macron, who is on a working visit to the Emirates, discussed the historic and strategic relations between the two countries and how to strengthen them.
Sheikh Mohamed hosted a lunch in honour of the French President. They focused on building on economic ties, investment and cultural fields, in addition to renewable energy, advanced technology, artificial intelligence and sustainability.
The meeting was attended by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed, Deputy Chief of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; and a number of ministers and senior officials.
Also present were the delegation accompanying the French President, which included several ministers and senior officials. Mr Macron had arrived in the country earlier on Sunday, where he was welcomed at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi by Sheikh Khaled and a number of senior officials.
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President Sheikh Mohamed with French leader Emmanuel Macron after a lunch meeting at the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi. All Photos: UAE Presidential Court -
Mr Macron is greeted by Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, at the Zayed National Museum -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, bids farewell to Mr Macron -
Mr Macron is greeted by Fahad Al Raqbani, UAE ambassador to France, before the lunch meeting -
Sheikh Mohamed welcomes the French delegation accompanying Mr Macron -
Mr Macron is greeted by Staff Maj Gen Musallam Al Rashidi, Director of the Office of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces -
Mr Macron meets Bassam Freiha of the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation in Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Abdullah speak at the Zayed National Museum before meeting Mr Macron -
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Macron -
Mr Macron meets Faisal Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs -
Sheikh Abdullah bids farewell to Mr Macron -
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Macron with their two countries' flags at the Zayed National Museum on Saadiyat Island -
Sheikh Mohamed welcomes Mr Macron, who was on a working visit to the Emirates -
Sheikh Abdullah with Jean-Noel Barrot, the French Foreign Minister -
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Macron during lunch -
The leaders spoke about building on economic ties, investment and cultural fields, renewable energy, advanced technology, AI and sustainability -
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Macron also discussed historic and strategic relations between the UAE and France, and how to strengthen them -
Mr Macron signs the guestbook at Zayed National Museum alongside Sheikh Mohamed -
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in conversation with Mr Macron -
Sheikh Khaled bids Mr Macron farewell at the Presidential Airport
Later on Sunday, Sheikh Khaled accompanied Mr Macron on a tour of the Zayed National Museum, including the section dedicated to UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
This gallery highlights Sheikh Zayed’s human values and legacy, reflecting his commitment to coexistence, modern nation-building, and the fostering of co-operation and cultural dialogue among nations and people worldwide.
The museum showcases a collection of more than 3,000 artefacts, with 1,500 currently on public display. The visitor journey through the museum’s six permanent galleries begins with Our Beginning, which is dedicated to the life and leadership of Sheikh Zayed. His story is brought to life through recordings of his voice, archive photographs and film footage, as well as personal belongings, letters and correspondence.
In February, Sheikh Mohamed met Mr Macron in Paris to discuss strengthening collaboration in artificial intelligence. At the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed noted that the two countries share a commitment to the responsible use of the technology for global development.
They attended a ceremony to mark the UAE-France Framework for Co-operation in AI, which was signed by Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and member of the Abu Dhabi Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council, and French ministers Jean-Noel Barrot and Eric Lombard.
They also addressed ways to deepen collaboration in the economic, investment and cultural fields, as well as climate action and energy. The two countries have maintained a Comprehensive Strategic Energy Partnership since 2022 and launched the UAE-France Bilateral Climate Investment Platform last year.
