ع
The meeting in Dubai reviewed opportunities to bolster ties between UAE financial institutions and the French banking group, according to remarks Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed shared on X. Sheikh Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, used the occasion to highlight the emirate’s emergence as a preferred base for international banks. Discussions centred on the banking, investment and financial sectors, building on existing links between the two sides.
Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed said global confidence in Dubai rests on ambitious visions, bold economic decisions and forward-looking financial expertise. “Global confidence in Dubai was built on ambitious visions, bold economic decisions and financial minds that look to the present with an eye on the future, and through them, Dubai became a regional headquarters for the most important global financial institutions,” he stated. He added that “in a world where economic centres of gravity are shifting, Dubai continues its economic leadership as a destination for creating opportunities, an incubator for major financial partnerships, and a centre that shapes global economic trends and helps lead the future.”
BPCE stands as the second-largest banking group in France with a substantial international footprint through its Natixis subsidiary, a French Treasury assessment found. The group signed a memorandum of understanding with Etihad Credit Insurance in 2018 to support UAE exporters and align with the country’s non-oil diversification goals, according to a BPCE newsroom statement from that period. Such initiatives illustrate the gradual expansion of financial sector links between France and the UAE.
Bilateral trade between the UAE and France reached 10.8 billion euros in 2025, a 27.7 percent increase from the previous year, French Treasury figures show. The UAE represents France’s leading customer in the Gulf, absorbing 55.1 percent of French regional exports, the same data set indicates. French foreign direct investment stock in the UAE stood at 6.1 billion euros at the end of 2024, the highest in the Gulf according to Banque de France statistics.
Around 600 French companies maintain operations in the UAE, employing more than 30,000 people across diverse industries, the French embassy in Abu Dhabi reported. These entities contribute to sectors ranging from aerospace and energy to banking and luxury goods, reinforcing the breadth of economic engagement. The latest meeting with BPCE fits within this pattern of sustained high-level contact.
The encounter was reported by the Emirates News Agency, which noted the emphasis on Dubai’s regulatory framework and infrastructure as attractions for global financial players. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed has held similar discussions with leaders of other international banks in recent months, underscoring a consistent outreach effort. BPCE’s engagement reflects continued European interest in the opportunities presented by the UAE’s financial ecosystem.
