The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have agreed to supply France with diesel shipments equivalent to roughly 10 per cent of the country's annual consumption over the coming weeks, as Paris scrambles to ease a fuel price crisis. Saudi Arabia will deliver 190,000 tonnes of diesel, split into 95,000 tonnes in October and 95,000 tonnes in November, while the UAE and Bahrain will each separately supply 100,000 tonnes. The sales will be channelled through French energy major TotalEnergies.
The agreement comes as France grapples with a cost-of-living crisis and widespread protests linked to surging fuel prices. Diesel prices have climbed to nearly $200 a barrel, up from around $80 at the start of 2026, driven by regional tensions tied to the conflict involving Iran and Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. A French presidential adviser said simply that larger volumes bring lower prices.
The deal was struck alongside President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Abu Dhabi, during which France and the UAE signed several other agreements covering artificial intelligence, advanced technology and energy, involving companies such as G42, Adnoc and Schneider Electric.
The arrangement underscores how Gulf states are positioning themselves not only as traditional energy suppliers but as strategic partners helping Europe navigate its energy crunch, with the UAE in particular strengthening its economic and political ties with France through the deal.