UAE President Arrives in France for Official Visit

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in France for his inaugural State visit as President of the United Arab Emiratesand with the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris. UAE President was received at the Army Museum in Les Invalides by Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu, accompanied by members of the French Republican Guard.

The national anthems of France and the UAE were performed by a military band, and His Highness and Minister Lecornu inspected the Guard of Honour. His Highness then paid a visit to the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte situated within the Dôme des Invalides.

French President #EmmanuelMacron receives United Arab Emirates President #SheikhMohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Elysee Palace in Paris.https://t.co/OU4ynGP93R pic.twitter.com/CdBfxeD3d3

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) July 18, 2022

Following the reception, His Highness will travel to the Élysée Palace, the official residence of the President of the French Republic, to meet President Emmanuel Macron for a private lunch. During this meeting, the two leaders will explore opportunities for bilateral collaboration to address substantial challenges facing our world today, including those in the areas of climate change, energy, and economic sustainability.

In the evening, President Macron will receive His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed for a state dinner at the Grand Trianon, situated within the grounds of the Palace of Versailles.

His Highness will meet several French officials during his two-day visit, including Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne; President of the Senate Gérard Larcher; and President of the National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet.

The two Heads of State will aim to bolster joint action that supports a collective responsibility to addressing several of the greatest challenges facing the world today, including future energy, climate change, and technology. In addition, the two nations will continue to strengthen ties across culture, education and space.

Finally, they will discuss the collective efforts of France and the United Arab Emirates in regional stability and security. His Highness will also meet a number of French officials during the visit.

The two leaders will focus on the war in Ukraine and resulting energy supply issues for France and Europe, according to a French presidency official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity in line with customary policy.

The official added that Macron and Sheikh Mohamed are “working on the signing of a bilateral agreement on hydrocarbons and on guarantees for the supply of hydrocarbons” to France.