Abu Dhabi Talks Put Energy and AI at the Heart of Daily Life

At Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, ministers and business leaders from the UAE and France sat down together to talk about the work that shapes daily life far beyond the palace walls: the energy that powers homes and industry, and the artificial intelligence increasingly woven into how economies function. The occasion was the UAE-France Business Dialogue, attended by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic.

For the companies and institutions in the room, the gathering was less a ceremony than a working session. Two panel discussions anchored the day. The first, titled The Power of Resilience: Shaping the Future of Energy and Beyond, examined the transformations under way in the energy sector and the importance of strengthening resilience, fostering innovation and developing sustainable solutions at a time of global change, with the aim of ensuring secure and sustainable supplies. The second, Beyond Compute: AI Shaping the Future, turned to the growing role of artificial intelligence in reshaping economic and industrial sectors, the opportunities advanced technologies offer for new models of growth and innovation, and ways to deepen cooperation between Emirati and French institutions and companies.

The sessions brought together ministers and business leaders from both countries to exchange perspectives and expertise on future priorities, and to explore opportunities for cooperation and joint investment. The intent, organisers noted, was to help translate shared ambitions into partnerships and projects with tangible economic impact.

In his opening remarks, Sheikh Khaled welcomed the French President and the accompanying delegation. The friendship between the two countries, he said, spans more than five decades, built on foundations of trust, mutual respect and a shared vision of progress and prosperity. The strategic partnership has evolved to keep pace with global developments.

He pointed to changes in the global economy as underscoring the growing importance of bilateral cooperation in ensuring secure, reliable and sustainable energy supplies, and in building resilient supply chains capable of meeting challenges, alongside deepening cooperation in artificial intelligence and advanced technology. That work, he noted, builds on the Campus AI initiative the two countries are developing in France.

The Crown Prince described the dialogue as an opportunity to translate shared priorities into strategic investments and major projects in sectors that will shape the economies of tomorrow. He affirmed the UAE’s commitment to advancing its partnership with France and turning shared interests into outcomes that benefit both countries and their peoples.

The day’s most concrete results came in the form of signed agreements. Sheikh Khaled and Macron witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding and contracts between Emirati and French institutions and companies, covering energy, artificial intelligence and advanced technology.

In AI and advanced technology, three MoUs were signed with AMI Labs. Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation in AI research and development and facilitate the exchange of scientific and technological expertise, supporting the development of research and innovation capabilities. G42 signed an MoU with AMI Labs to establish a framework for strategic cooperation in cloud computing infrastructure and AI models, and to explore the development of advanced technological solutions for practical applications. Analog signed an MoU with AMI Labs to explore integrating AI models into robotics and physical AI applications, opening avenues for intelligent systems in industrial and technology sectors.

In energy, ADNOC Gas and Schneider Electric signed an MoU to assess advanced technologies and opportunities for operational improvements, aimed at enhancing efficiency and deploying digital solutions across energy systems. ADNOC Refining and Technip Energies signed two contracts relating to a refining capacity enhancement project and a sustainable aviation fuel project, reflecting continued industrial cooperation and expanding partnerships in refining and sustainable fuel solutions.

Behind these signatures lies a broader pattern of collaboration. The dialogue highlighted the depth of investment and strategic partnerships between the two countries, particularly in conventional and advanced energy, clean energy and artificial intelligence, with leading UAE companies including ADNOC, Masdar, MGX and G42 playing a central role. Bilateral energy cooperation spans liquefied natural gas, energy infrastructure development, low-emission solutions and renewable energy projects, reflecting shared expertise and a commitment to energy security and the transition toward more efficient and sustainable systems.

On artificial intelligence, the dialogue highlighted the Campus AI initiative, which brings together MGX with French and international partners to develop advanced computing and AI infrastructure in France, alongside G42’s investments in advanced computing infrastructure. Both sides framed these efforts as a shared commitment to harnessing strategic investment and technological expertise to accelerate innovation and reinforce their standing in a global economy driven by knowledge and technology.

For the officials and executives who took part, the message was that the partnership is meant to reach beyond government-to-government ties. The agreements, organisers said, demonstrate a commitment to broadening economic and investment cooperation, strengthening integration between industrial, technological and research capabilities, and opening new avenues for public-private partnerships in shared priority sectors. The dialogue, they added, underscores both countries’ intent to build on their achievements by developing high-impact projects that advance growth, innovation and competitiveness, while contributing to shared economic prosperity.

What remains to be seen is how quickly these signed intentions turn into projects that people in both countries will feel in their homes, workplaces and industries in the years ahead.