“France Has Full Confidence in the UAE as a Strategic Partner”: Business France CEO Louis Margueritte Underscores Growing Economic Ties Between Both Nations During UAE Visit

Louis Margueritte, CEO of Business France, the French government’s national agency responsible for supporting the French economy’s international growth, visited the UAE ahead of the entity’s flagship business event Vision Golfe 2026, which takes place from June 18-19, 2026. 

During the high-level visit, Margueritte –who was appointed the title of CEO less than three months ago by French President Emmanuel Macron– met with leading institutional and economic stakeholders including Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), MGX, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Kerzner International, as well as H.E. Helal Saeed Al Marri, the Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism 

Discussions centered on strategic investment opportunities, artificial intelligence, advanced industries, tourism, infrastructure, and long-term economic cooperation between France and the UAE.

On May 20, 2026, Margueritte also met with members of the UAE media at a press conference held at the Dubai Press Club. “The UAE is no longer only a strategic market for France,” he said. “It is increasingly a strategic co-builder of future industries. In times of profound global transformation, trusted partnerships matter more than ever.”

Margueritte also emphasized upon how France and the UAE continue to strengthen a long-standing strategic partnership built on trust, investment, innovation, and a shared ambition for long-term transformation and sustainable growth.

Bilateral trade between the nations reached €10.8 billion in 2025, representing a 27% increase year-on-year, while total trade between France and the GCC reached €24.9 billion, confirming the growing depth and diversification of economic ties across the region. Additionally, the UAE reached a historic 24.5% growth in non-oil trade in the first half of 2025, with the total value of global non-oil foreign trade reaching AED1.7 trillion. Among the UAE’s top 10 global trading partners at the time was France. 

“These figures illustrate not only the intensity of our exchanges, but also their increasing diversification and sophistication,” Margueritte commented, during the media briefing. “Above all, they reflect the strong level of mutual confidence that underpins our economic relationship. They also demonstrate the considerable potential that still exists for further development, driven by shared priorities, long-term investment strategies and a common vision for sustainable growth.”

With more than 600 French companies operating in the country, the UAE is the largest French business presence in the Middle East. Margueritte, who had paid a visit to some of these UAE-based French companies the day prior, highlighted the resilience of the French business community in the UAE.

“French companies themselves have shown a deep and enduring commitment to the region. Many have established long-term operations here and actively contribute to the UAE’s economic transformation and diversification objectives,” he said. “Across sectors such as energy, infrastructure, healthcare, luxury and digital technologies, French companies play a meaningful role in supporting the country’s strategic ambitions. Even in more challenging contexts, they have continued to leverage the UAE’s position as a regional platform to access new markets and develop new growth opportunities. This ability to combine stability, agility and long-term vision remains one of the defining strengths of the French presence in the UAE today.”

Business France currently supports nearly 2,000 French companies across the Gulf region, including more than 800 in the UAE, through market intelligence, strategic advisory, business matchmaking, and investment facilitation initiatives.

Each year, Business France also organizes around 60 sector-focused initiatives across the region, including major French pavilions at UAE trade fairs such as Gulfood, WHX, Beautyworld Middle East, Wetex, and The Big 5.

Margueritte’s visit comes ahead of Vision Golfe 2026, the flagship economic forum organized by Business France to strengthen strategic and investment ties between France and the Gulf region. The forum will take place on 18–19 June 2026 at the French Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty in Paris under the High Patronage of President Emmanuel Macron. 

It has become a key platform for accelerating investment, strategic dialogue, and business partnerships between France and the GCC. “What makes Vision Golfe different is that it has evolved at the same pace as the France–GCC relationship itself,” Margueritte said. “In the beginning, many companies came mainly for visibility or networking. Today, the level of conversation is completely different. What makes the format particularly strong is that it’s built around public-private cooperation. That’s something France has real expertise in. And it’s something that is very much expected in the Gulf today.”

The previous edition of Vision Golfe gathered more than 1,250 participants and generated over 2,000 high-level business meetings. The 2026 edition will focus on AI, energy transition, industrial partnerships, logistics, water security, human capital, and future industries.

Related: Vision Golfe 2026 Returns to Paris From June 18-19 Under the Theme “From Cooperation to Transformation”; Business Leaders from France and GCC to Convene