French President Emmanuel Macron received his UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is making his first foreign visit since taking office.
Macron and his wife, Brigitte, met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed at the entrance to the Elysee Palace, after the Emirati president visited the National Army Museum, where he was received by Defense Minister Sebastien Le Connor.
The two presidents are scheduled to meet for lunch before they meet again in the evening to attend a state dinner at the Palace of Versailles, attended by 100 guests. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed will visit the Senate and the National Assembly.
During the visit, which will last until Tuesday, a memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed on increasing energy cooperation between the oil-rich Gulf state and France, which is thirsty to persify its sources of hydrocarbons in light of increasing inflation due to the high prices since the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
A French presidential advisor had said earlier that one of the most important items during the visit of the UAE president was announcing guarantees provided by the Emirates regarding the quantities of fuel supplies (diesel only) to France.
The "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Energy" agreement, which the two countries intend to sign on Monday, covers conventional and renewable energy, hydrogen, and others, provided that it enhances cooperation in gas exploration, especially through the French company "TotalEnergies".
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