Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi welcomes French foreign minister to Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets Jean-Yves Le Drian

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, greets Jean-Yves Le Drian, France's Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed holds talks with French minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets with Jean-Yves Le Drian. Seen with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chief executive and managing director of Mubadala, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority and Abu Dhabi Executive Council member (R) and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation (left), Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chief executive and managing director of Mubadala, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority and Abu Dhabi Executive Council member and Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, undersecretary of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, attend a meeting with Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France (not shown). Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi welcomed France's foreign minister to Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, met Jean-Yves Le Drian to discuss the latest regional developments.

Mr Le Drian earlier visited Louis Massignon school to open a 300,000 square metre extension of the facility in the Al Saadah area.

"France and the UAE have an exceptional relationship," he said at the school, which opened just months after the country was founded in December 1971.

Mr Le Drian has a packed itinerary and the two day visit also saw the UAE and France launch a partnership for "sustainable development" including the fight against climate change.

He will give a speech on regional issues at Sorbonne Abu Dhabi at 4pm and visit Louvre Abu Dhabi to inaugurate the new exhibition - 10,000 Years of Luxury.

It showcases 350 objects that symbolise the history of fashion, jewellery, art and design - including the oldest natural pearl ever found, which was unearthed in Abu Dhabi last year and made public last week.