UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and French President Emmanuel Macron toured several defence manufacturing facilities at Tawazun Industrial Park in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, as part of Macron's wider Gulf tour. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Mohammed Al Mazrouei accompanied the two leaders, while France's delegation included Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin.
The leaders visited four high-tech entities under the Edge Group umbrella: Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments, EPI, Halcon and Powertech, companies working on drones, autonomous systems and advanced military technology.
During the visit, the two countries' defence ministers exchanged a Strategic Defence Partnership Framework. Separately, three technology agreements were signed with French AI startup AMI Labs, covering artificial intelligence and advanced technology research. Additional deals in energy and technology were struck between companies including G42, Adnoc and Schneider Electric, deepening industrial ties between the two countries.
Macron's Gulf tour began in Kuwait on Monday, with stops in Bahrain and Qatar also planned after the UAE leg. Analysts see the visit as part of France's push to strengthen strategic and economic links with Gulf states across defence, energy and technology, at a time when Paris is seeking closer cooperation with Gulf partners on advanced industrial capabilities.
The agreements add to a series of defence and technology deals the UAE has signed with Western partners in recent years, reflecting Abu Dhabi's drive to build a domestic defence industry while attracting advanced foreign technology.