Paris: Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, held a bilateral meeting with Serge Papin, France's Minister for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Trade, Crafts, Tourism and Purchasing Power, to explore opportunities for bolstering economic cooperation between the UAE and France. The discussions focused on tourism, aviation, entrepreneurship, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
According to Emirates News Agency, the meeting took place during the UAE delegation's visit to France for VivaTech 2026, an entrepreneurship and advanced technology exhibition in Paris. The event, themed 'Artificial Intelligence: Impact, Not Illusion,' runs from June 17th to 20th. Bin Touq highlighted the strong economic and investment ties between the UAE and France, driven by the visionary leadership of both nations aiming to enhance sustainable development.
During the discussions, both sides explored ways to strengthen cooperation in tourism through capacity-building initiatives and new partnerships between academic institutions in both countries. They emphasized the mutual promotion of tourist attractions to enhance cultural understanding and strengthen bilateral bonds.
The ministers also discussed collaboration under UN Tourism programmes and joint initiatives to support the growth and sustainable development of the sector. The UAE is set to host the next UN Tourism Executive Council meeting in the latter half of the year.
Tourism is a key driver of economic cooperation. In 2025, French visitors to the UAE totaled approximately 840,000, a four percent increase from 2024. There are currently 53 weekly flights between the two countries, facilitating partnerships and business activities.
Bin Touq detailed the UAE's competitive advantages for startups and SMEs, including 100 percent foreign ownership, access to over 2,000 economic activities, and full profit repatriation. The UAE has implemented over 10 government programmes to foster entrepreneurship, with SMEs constituting 95 percent of companies, generating 85 percent of private-sector jobs, and contributing 63 percent to GDP.
He noted the growth of the French business community in the UAE, with French registered companies increasing from 7,089 in 2024 to 10,202 by the end of 2025, a 44 percent growth. In 2026, 1,153 new French companies were established, bringing the total to over 11,000.
Additionally, more than 20,458 French trademarks are registered in the UAE, reflecting the robust business ties and the attractiveness of the UAE's economic environment.