Abu Dhabi:Paris France has successfully secured significant diesel supplies from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain as part of a strategy to reduce energy prices. This development occurred during President Emmanuel Macron's Gulf tour, which also included signing advanced technology agreements.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain have agreed to provide France with diesel amounting to 10% of its consumption needs in the upcoming weeks. This agreement was reached with the help of Elysee sources, as cited by the UAE-based National News. The diesel deal is expected to alleviate the energy price pressures in Europe, especially after recent public protests in France.

President Macron initiated the Gulf tour on Monday, starting with Kuwait and the UAE, and plans to visit Bahrain and Qatar. The French government had previously secured commitments from Saudi Arabia for the purchase of 95,000 tonnes of diesel in both October and November, totaling 190,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, the UAE and Bahrain are projected to sell an additional 100,000 tonnes of diesel to France in the coming weeks.

An Elysee adviser noted that these arrangements are partly due to France's reliable political stance in the region and its past contributions, such as deploying air defense capabilities. French energy company TotalEnergies, with CEO Patrick Pouyanne accompanying Macron, will manage the diesel transactions.

In addition to energy deals, France and the UAE have signed preliminary agreements in energy, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology sectors to strengthen economic relations. The agreements were formalized in Abu Dhabi, attended by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed and President Macron.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office reported collaborations with French startup AMI Labs aimed at exploring new technological applications. This includes a focus on research at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and establishing a cloud infrastructure framework by computing company G42. Furthermore, Analog plans to integrate AI models into industrial applications, while Adnoc Gas and Schneider Electric have signed a pact to assess advanced technologies for improved energy systems. ADNOC Refining and Technip Energies have also signed contracts concerning a refining capacity enhancement project and a sustainable aviation fuel initiative.