President Sheikh Mohamed and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron stand for the national anthem at an official reception

Macron Seeks Oil Supplies from UAE

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French President Emmanuel Macron began a four-nation Gulf tour in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi on Monday, October 19, 2026, seeking additional oil and diesel supplies and stronger maritime security partnerships to ease soaring energy costs as his government confronts violent domestic protests and severe economic pressure.

French President Emmanuel Macron began a four-nation Gulf tour in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi on Monday, October 19, 2026.

Stepping off the plane while his administration grappled with a weekend of riots and looting at home, Emmanuel Macron launched a diplomatic mission across Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar.

Macron Meets UAE President in Abu Dhabi | France–UAE Talks on Energy & Regional Security

The three-day tour aims to secure additional oil and diesel supplies and strengthen regional defense ties. The outreach follows months of severe disruption to international energy transportation through the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the US-Iran war in February 2026.

Before flying to Kuwait City, where he was received by Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Macron delivered a televised address on Sunday evening.

He told the French public that although France did not participate in the Gulf conflict, the nation was bearing its economic repercussions through soaring living costs and crippled fuel markets.

Energy Deals and Diesel Commitments in Abu Dhabi

During his stop in Abu Dhabi on Monday, October 20, 2026, Macron met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and attended the UAE-France Business Dialogue at Qasr Al Watan alongside Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed. The talks yielded tangible energy commitments designed to relieve pressure on European fuel pumps.

According to Elysee sources cited by regional reporting, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain agreed to sell the equivalent of 10% of France’s total diesel consumption in the coming weeks.

France previously secured guarantees from Saudi Arabia to purchase 95,000 tons of diesel across October and November. The UAE and Bahrain are expected to separately supply 100,000 tons of diesel to France over an unspecified period.

Emmanuel Macron Gets Grand Welcome From UAE President Sheikh Mohamed in Abu Dhabi | WATCH

French energy giant TotalEnergies will handle the sales. Chief Executive Officer Patrick Pouyanne accompanied the presidential delegation alongside executives from Engie.

Technology and AI Partnerships at Qasr Al Watan

Beyond traditional energy, the Abu Dhabi business dialogue revealed a deepening technological partnership.

Macron and Sheikh Khaled witnessed the signing of multiple memoranda of understanding and contracts spanning clean energy, advanced technology, and artificial intelligence.

Agreements in Abu Dhabi included three MoUs signed with startup AMI Labs to explore new applications and strengthen technological research. Additional pacts involved the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence focusing on joint research with AMI Labs, G42 establishing a framework for cloud infrastructure, and Adnoc Gas partnering with Schneider Electric to enhance operational efficiency. ADNOC Refining and Technip Energies finalized two contracts concerning a refining capacity enhancement project and a sustainable aviation fuel initiative.

Macron Seeks Oil Supplies from UAE
Photo: The Independent

Political Fallout and Domestic Backlash in France

While French officials brokered industrial agreements abroad, the optics of the presidential tour drew sharp criticism amid domestic turmoil.

The Prime Minister remained in Paris to quell nationwide unrest, implementing partial curfews after a weekend of rioting, looting, and over 2,500 arrests.

Even if Macron is actually seeking to address some of the challenges around oil prices that have meant such a high cost of living for the French people, at worst this will seem like a condescending action by a president who frequently appears to be out of touch with the concerns of ordinary people.

David Lees, reader in French studies at the University of Warwick

Constitutional experts and political figures warned that the timing of the Gulf tour risked projecting a vacuum of authority. Social media also amplified public ridicule over images of Macron attending a concert with his wife shortly before the civil unrest erupted.

Loïc Kervran, a former lawmaker from Macron’s camp, told Reuters that the president paralysed the country with his absurd decision to dissolve parliament in 2024, noting that the ongoing crisis has handed political momentum to opposition figures.

LIVE: French President Macron Visits UAE for Talks on Energy, Security and AI | AC1Z

Regional Talks Address Strait of Hormuz Security

Discussions in Kuwait and the UAE also addressed the ongoing crisis around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor that handled roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies before hostilities began.

State news agency WAM reported that key topics included developments in the Middle East and efforts to contain their repercussions on maritime security.

France and Britain have previously assembled an international demining mission aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, though operations remain on hold pending an agreement between the United States and Iran.

Macron’s itinerary continues through Wednesday, October 21, with scheduled diplomatic stops in Bahrain and Qatar to evaluate alternative transportation routes and regional defense cooperation.

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Gives Macron Grand Welcome in Abu Dhabi Amid Gulf Crisis | AC1G

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