Ambassade Emirats Arabes Unis, Paris

The United Arab Emirates consists of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm al-Qaiwain, Fujairah, Ajman and Ra’s al-Khaimah. Four-fifths of the UAE is desert but has contrasting landscapes—from the towering red dunes of the Liwa to the rich palm-filled oases of Al Ain, from the precipitous Hajar Mountains to the more fertile stretches of its coastal plains. Though small in size (similar to the size of Scotland), the UAE has become an important player in regional and international affairs. In 1971, the late President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan unified the small, underdeveloped states into a federation—the only one in the Arab world. With his visionary leadership, oil wealth was used to develop the UAE into one of the world’s most open and successful economies. In 2004, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan became president and has since continued to strive towards an ambitious vision for the UAE. In just over three decades, the nation has transformed from a tribal culture reliant on agriculture and fishing to an entrepreneurial success story with world-class infrastructure. The leadership has improved education (effectively eliminating illiteracy), advanced health care and embraced change as the UAE modernizes, consistent with its history and cultural values. Since the independence, and under the impetus efforts and guidance of their President H.H Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates has adopted a policy of peace, dialogue, cooperation and opening on all countries of the world. On the Arab, regional and international levels, excellent relations have been woven with many countries all over the world. The relations between France and UAE are the perfect illustration of this fact. These bilateral relations are the fruit of the conjunction of tow political wills which have been always affirmed from emirates and French both sides. The result was a special strategic partnership on all scopes.