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French President Emmanuel Macron held talks with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Monday, October 19. The meeting covered energy supplies, investment and other issues, as rising fuel prices and violent protests over the cost of living increase pressure on the French government. AnewZ reports that Macron’s Gulf tour began in Kuwait and will continue in Bahrain and Qatar.
According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, the talks covered maritime security, global energy supplies, investment and artificial intelligence.
Macron’s visit began after violent unrest in France over the weekend. More than 2,500 people were arrested after protests over the cost of living escalated into clashes, looting and property damage, Le Monde reported.
Alongside restoring public order, Macron faces another urgent task: securing energy supplies as the war between the United States and Iran disrupts traffic along one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.
Energy prices and household finances in France
Official figures from France’s National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) show that petroleum product prices in mainland France rose 36.8% in September from a year earlier.
Overall energy prices climbed 21.4% year on year, while consumer prices excluding energy rose by just 1.6%. The figures show that energy costs are increasing faster than prices in other parts of the economy.
According to INSEE, annual inflation in France rose to 3.1% in September, from 0.9% in February.
The change in petroleum product prices has been particularly pronounced: after falling 2% year on year in February, prices rose 18.9% in March and 36.8% in September.
Eurostat figures show that in 2025, 28.8% of France’s population lived in households unable to cover an unexpected expense without borrowing money or receiving financial assistance. Meanwhile, 41.1% of respondents said they faced at least some difficulty making ends meet.
Although these figures predate the latest unrest, they highlight the financial pressure on households facing rising energy costs.
Energy agenda on Macron’s Gulf tour
According to the French Presidential Administration, one of the aims of the visit is to secure agreements for additional oil and diesel supplies. Macron left for Kuwait just hours after addressing the nation following the weekend’s violence.
He acknowledged failures in maintaining security and condemned the destruction. However, he said the Gulf tour was necessary to protect France’s energy supplies.
Executives from French energy companies TotalEnergies and Engie are also taking part in the visit, underscoring its commercial significance.
France is seeking additional supplies and alternative shipping routes. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are increasing uncertainty in global energy markets. Even if Macron secures new agreements, however, prices for French consumers are not expected to fall immediately. Fuel prices will depend on the volumes secured, delivery terms and the overall state of international energy markets.
The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world’s most strategically important sea routes and a key passage for exports of Gulf oil and gas.
The US-Iran war, which began in February, has severely disrupted vessel traffic through the strait. Attacks on energy facilities and ships elsewhere in the region have also heightened concerns about supplies.
France and the United Kingdom have proposed an international maritime mission to help reopen the strait, including by clearing mines, after Washington and Tehran reach a political agreement. No such agreement has been reached so far.
Macron’s talks with Gulf leaders therefore have two main aims: securing energy shipments and finding alternative ways to transport supplies while existing routes are disrupted. These efforts form part of a broader international push to stabilise energy markets.
G7 countries agreed in early October on a plan to release up to 100 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves to ease supply pressures, Le Monde reported. A joint release from reserves is separate from the supply agreements Macron is seeking on his Gulf tour.
UAE and France expand trade and technology cooperation
At Monday’s meeting, Macron and Sheikh Mohamed discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy, advanced technologies and artificial intelligence.
According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, the leaders also reviewed regional developments and efforts to limit their impact on maritime security and global energy supplies. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening coordination on regional security and stability.
The talks took place amid rapidly expanding economic ties between France and the UAE. Trade in goods between the two countries reached 10.8 billion euros in 2025, according to figures from the French Treasury, up from 8.5 billion euros in 2024 and 7.4 billion euros in 2023. Trade therefore increased by about 27% in one year and 46% over two years.
The UAE was France’s largest export market in the Gulf region in 2025, according to the French Treasury. However, the agency noted that the UAE has historically accounted for a limited share of France’s direct energy imports.
For that reason, Macron’s visit is not limited to buying oil from the Emirates. Its aims also include strengthening regional energy security, investment and infrastructure links, as well as deepening cooperation with companies active in global energy markets.
New energy and artificial intelligence agreements signed
The commercial agenda of the diplomatic visit expanded on Tuesday, October 20, when Macron and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the UAE-France Business Dialogue at Qasr Al Watan.
According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, French and Emirati companies signed contracts and memorandums of understanding in energy, artificial intelligence and advanced technology.
In the energy sector, ADNOC Gas and Schneider Electric signed a memorandum of understanding to explore new technologies and operational improvements. ADNOC Refining and Technip Energies signed two agreements, including one on a project to increase refining capacity and another related to sustainable aviation fuel.
In the technology sector, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, G42 and Analog each signed a separate memorandum of understanding with AMI Labs. The discussions also covered France’s Campus AI initiative, involving investment partners from the UAE and other countries.
The agreements show that Macron’s Gulf tour covers long-term industrial and technological cooperation in addition to urgent energy needs.
Can the visit ease pressure in France?
Macron’s Gulf tour comes at a politically sensitive time: France is facing some of its most serious civil unrest in recent years, while the next presidential election is due in 2027.
Securing additional energy supplies and alternative shipping routes remains a near-term priority. But the outcome will depend largely on factors beyond Paris’s control, particularly the US-Iran conflict and restrictions on vessel traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
New energy and technology agreements have already been reached during the visit, strengthening France’s economic partnerships with Gulf countries. For French households struggling with higher fuel prices, the key question is whether Macron can turn diplomatic agreements into more reliable energy supplies and, ultimately, lower prices.
