Magazine fbc dcci speciale edition by French Business Council

ECONOMIC RELATIONS Between UAE & FRANCE an Overview

FBC / DUBAI CHAMBE R OF COMME RCE & INDUSTRY MAGAZINE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2017/2018 SPECIAL E DITION

SUMMARYIC 02

06 09

H.E. MAJID SAIF AL GHURAIR

Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry

HE LUDOVIC POUILLE

Ambassador of France to the UAE

BRUNO DE RENEVILLE

President of French Business Council - Dubai & Northern Emirates

THE FRENCH ECONOMIC TEAM IN THE UAE

FRENCH ECONOMIC PRESENCE in UAE

BILATERAL EXCHANGES between UAE & France

20 40 42 45 COPYRIGHT

TESTIMONIES

FRENCH COMPANIES

FOCUS - OPPORTUNITY THE FRENCH TECH HUB

FOCUS - MOBILITY

FOCUS - SUSTAINABILITY

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR : AGNES LOPEZ CRUZ PUBLICATION COORDINATORS : MILENA CHEMIN & CLAIRE ANNE RUSSELLE DESIGN/PRODUCTION : STAMP INTERNATIONAL DUBAI EDITORS : CAROLINE ROUSSEAU & OMRAN AL KHAMIRY

& VALERIE ALLARD

‫‪FOREWORD‬‬

‫وﻗﺪ ﺑﻠﻐﺖ ﻗﻴﻤﺔ ﺗﺠﺎرة اﻹﻣﺎرات ﻏﻴﺮ اﻟﻨﻔﻄﻴﺔ ﻣﻊ ﻓﺮﻧﺴﺎ ﺧﻼل‬ ‫اﻟﻌﺎم ‪ ٢٠١٦‬ﺣﻮاﻟﻲ ‪ ٧٫٣‬ﻣﻠﻴﺎر دوﻻر أﻣﺮﻳﻜﻲ أي ﺑﻨﻤﻮ ﺑﻨﺴﺒﺔ ‪٪١٤‬‬ ‫ﻣﻘﺎرﻧﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﻌﺎم ‪ .٢٠١١‬وﻗﺪ ﻛﺎن ﻟﻠﺘﺒﺎدل اﻟﺘﺠﺎري وزﻳﺎدة اﻟﺼﺎدرات‬ ‫اﻟﻔﺮﻧﺴﻴﺔ إﻟﻰ اﻟﺪوﻟﺔ ﺧﻼل اﻟﺴﻨﻮات اﻟﻤﺎﺿﻴﺔ ﺑﺎﻹﺿﺎﻓﺔ إﻟﻰ ﺗﻮﺳﻴﻊ‬ ‫وﺗﺴﻬﻴﻞ اﻟﺘﺠﺎرة واﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎرات ﺑﻴﻦ اﻟﻄﺮﻓﻴﻦ اﻟﻌﺎﻣﻞ اﻷﺑﺮز ﻓﻲ ﺗﻄﻮﻳﺮ‬ ‫اﻟﻌﻼﻗﺔ اﻻﻗﺘﺼﺎدﻳﺔ اﻟﺜﻨﺎﺋﻴﺔ ﺑﻴﻦ اﻟﺠﺎﻧﺒﻴﻦ‪.‬‬ ‫وﻳﺄﺗﻲ ﺗﻨﻈﻴﻢ ﻣﻨﺘﺪى اﻷﻋﻤﺎل اﻹﻣﺎراﺗﻲ اﻟﻔﺮﻧﺴﻲ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻮﻗﺖ اﻟﻤﻨﺎﺳﺐ‬ ‫ﺧﺼﻮﺻﺎ ً ﻣﻊ اﻧﺨﺮاط اﻟﻄﺮﻓﻴﻦ ﺑﺘﺤﻘﻴﻖ رؤى اﺳﺘﺮاﺗﻴﺠﻴﺔ ﻣﺴﺘﻘﺒﻠﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺑﻬﺪف ﺗﻨﻮﻳﻊ اﻗﺘﺼﺎداﺗﻬﻤﺎ واﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎر ﻓﻲ اﻟﺼﻨﺎﻋﺎت واﻟﺘﻘﻨﻴﺎت اﻟﺠﺪﻳﺪة‬ ‫واﻟﺘﻲ ﺳﺘﺼﺐ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺼﻠﺤﺔ اﻟﺒﻼد‪ .‬وﻗﺪ ﺳﺎﻫﻤﺖ اﻟﺠﻬﻮد اﻟﻤﺘﻨﻮﻋﺔ‬ ‫واﻻﺳﺘﺮاﺗﻴﺠﻴﺎت اﻟﺘﻲ اﻋﺘﻤﺪﻫﺎ اﻟﺮﺋﻴﺲ اﻟﻔﺮﻧﺴﻲ اﻳﻤﺎﻧﻮﻳﻞ ﻣﺎﻛﺮون‪،‬‬ ‫ﻓﻲ ﺗﻤﻬﻴﺪ اﻟﻄﺮﻳﻖ أﻣﺎم ﻓﺮﻧﺴﺎ ﻟﺘﻌﺰﻳﺰ ﻣﻜﺎﻧﺘﻬﺎ ﻛﺄﺣﺪ رواد اﻻﺑﺘﻜﺎر ﻓﻲ اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻢ‪.‬‬ ‫وﻗﺪ اﺗﺨﺬت دﺑﻲ ﺧﻄﻮات ﻣﻠﻤﻮﺳﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺻﻌﻴﺪ ﺻﻨﺎﻋﺔ ﻣﺴﺘﻘﺒﻠﻬﺎ‪،‬‬ ‫وذﻟﻚ اﺳﺘﻌﺪادا ً ﻻﺳﺘﻀﺎﻓﺘﻬﺎ ﻣﻌﺮض إ ﻛﺴﺒﻮ ‪ ٢٠٢٠‬دﺑﻲ ﺗﺤﺖ ﻋﻨﻮان‬

‫"ﺗﻮاﺻﻞ اﻟﻌﻘﻮل وﺻﻨﻊ اﻟﻤﺴﺘﻘﺒﻞ" واﻟﺬي ﺳﻴﺮﻛﺰ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺛﻼﺛﺔ ﻣﺠﺎﻻت‬ ‫رﺋﻴﺴﻴﺔ وﻫﻲ اﻟﻔﺮص واﻟﺘﻨﻘﻞ واﻻﺳﺘﺪاﻣﺔ‪ .‬وﺳﻴﻜﻮن ﻫﺬا اﻟﺤﺪث اﻟﻀﺨﻢ‬ ‫ﺑﻤﺜﺎﺑﺔ ﻣﻨﺼﺔ ﻣﺜﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﻟﻌﺮض إﻧﺠﺎزات دﺑﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻫﺬه اﻟﻤﺠﺎﻻت‪ .‬وﺑﺎﻋﺘﺒﺎر‬ ‫ﻣﺪﻳﻨﺔ ﺑﺎرﻳﺲ ﻗﺪ ﺳﺒﻖ ﻟﻬﺎ اﺳﺘﻀﺎﻓﺔ ﻣﻌﺮض ا ﻛﺴﺒﻮ‪ ،‬وﻫﻲ ﻣﺮﺷﺤﺔ‬ ‫ﻻﺳﺘﻀﺎﻓﺔ اﻟﻤﻌﺮض اﻟﻘﺎدم "ا ﻛﺴﺒﻮ ‪ ،"٢٠٢٥‬ﻧﺘﻄﻠﻊ ﻣﻌﺎ ً إﻟﻰ ا ﻛﺘﺸﺎف‬ ‫اﻟﺮؤى واﻟﺨﺒﺮات اﻟﻤﺘﻤﻴﺰة ﻣﻦ ﺑﺎرﻳﺲ ﺑﻬﺪف اﻻﺳﺘﻤﺮار ﺑﻤﺴﻴﺮة‬ ‫ﻧﺠﺎﺣﺎﺗﻨﺎ وإﻧﺠﺎزاﺗﻨﺎ‪.‬‬

‫‪FOREWORD‬‬

‫‪The UAE-France Business Forum comes during an exciting‬‬ ‫‪time as both countries push ahead with ambitious strategies‬‬ ‫‪to diversify their economies and invest in new industries and‬‬ ‫‪disruptive technologies. A pro-business agenda put into‬‬ ‫‪place by French President H.E. Emmanuel Macron has paved‬‬ ‫‪the way for France to become a world leader in innovation.‬‬ ‫‪Dubai has taken a similar path as it prepares to host Expo‬‬ ‫‪2020 under the theme "Connecting Minds, Creating the‬‬ ‫‪Future," while the sub-themes will focus on Opportunity,‬‬ ‫‪Mobility, and Sustainability.‬‬ ‫‪The mega event will serve as an ideal platform to showcase‬‬ ‫‪the emirate’s achievements in these key areas. As former‬‬ ‫‪host city and candidate city for Expo 2025, Paris can offer‬‬ ‫‪Dubai unique insights and experiences in creating a lasting‬‬ ‫‪legacy.‬‬ ‫‪As a representative of Dubai’s private sector, Dubai Chamber‬‬ ‫‪is honored to organize the UAE-French Business Forum in‬‬ ‫‪cooperation with the French Embassy and the French‬‬ ‫‪Business Council. We remain committed to providing all‬‬ ‫‪necessary support and resources to assist French companies‬‬ ‫‪that want to set up in Dubai, and ensure that Franco-UAE‬‬ ‫‪relations continue to ﬂourish in the future.‬‬

‫وﺑﺎﻋﺘﺒﺎرﻧﺎ ﻣﻤﺜﻠﻲ اﻟﻘﻄﺎع اﻟﺨﺎص ﻓﻲ اﻹﻣﺎرة‪ ،‬ﻳﺴﺮﻧﺎ ﻓﻲ ﻏﺮﻓﺔ ﺗﺠﺎرة‬ ‫وﺻﻨﺎﻋﺔ دﺑﻲ أن ﻧﻨﻈﻢ ﻣﻨﺘﺪى اﻷﻋﻤﺎل اﻹﻣﺎراﺗﻲ اﻟﻔﺮﻧﺴﻲ ﺑﺎﻟﺘﻌﺎون ﻣﻊ‬ ‫اﻟﺴﻔﺎرة اﻟﻔﺮﻧﺴﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺪوﻟﺔ وﻣﺠﻠﺲ اﻷﻋﻤﺎل اﻟﻔﺮﻧﺴﻲ‪ ،‬ﻣﻊ اﻹﻟﺘﺰام اﻟﻜﺎﻣﻞ‬ ‫ﻣﻦ ﻗﺒﻠﻦ ﺑﺘﻮﻓﻴﺮ اﻟﺪﻋﻢ واﻟﻤﻮارد اﻟﻼزﻣﺔ ﻟﻤﺴﺎﻋﺪة اﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎت اﻟﻔﺮﻧﺴﻴﺔ‬ ‫اﻟﺮاﻏﺒﺔ ﺑﺘﺄﺳﻴﺲ ﻋﻤﻠﻬﺎ اﻟﺘﺠﺎري ﻓﻲ دﺑﻲ‪ ،‬ﺑﺎﻹﺿﺎﻓﺔ إﻟﻰ ﺿﻤﺎن ﺗﻌﺰﻳﺰ‬ ‫وﺗﺮﺳﻴﺦ اﻟﻌﻼﻗﺎت اﻟﺜﻨﺎﺋﻴﺔ ﺑﻴﻦ اﻹﻣﺎرات وﻓﺮﻧﺴﺎ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﺴﺘﻘﺒﻞ‪.‬‬

‫‪CHAIRMAN‬‬ ‫‪DUBAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY‬‬

‫ﻋﺰزت دوﻟﺔ اﻹﻣﺎرات اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪة ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﺪى اﻟﺴﻨﻮات‬ ‫ﻋﻼﻗﺎﺗﻬﺎ اﻟﺘﺠﺎرﻳﺔ ﻣﻊ اﻟﺠﻤﻬﻮرﻳﺔ اﻟﻔﺮﻧﺴﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻣﻊ ﻗﻴﺎم اﻟﺠﺎﻧﺒﻴﻦ‬ ‫ﺑﺘﻮﻗﻴﻊ اﺗﻔﺎﻗﻴﺎت ﺗﺠﺎرﻳﺔ واﻗﺘﺼﺎدﻳﺔ ﻫﺎﻣﺔ‪ ،‬وﺗﻨﻈﻴﻢ زﻳﺎرات رﻓﻴﻌﺔ‬ ‫اﻟﻤﺴﺘﻮى‪.‬‬ ‫وﺗﻌﺪ دوﻟﺔ اﻹﻣﺎرات ﻣﻘﺮا ً رﺋﻴﺴﻴﺎ ً ﻟﻌﺪ ٍد ﻣﻦ أﺑﺮز وأﻫﻢ اﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎت‬ ‫اﻟﻔﺮﻧﺴﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﺣﻴﺚ أن ﻋﺪد اﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎت اﻟﻔﺮﻧﺴﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﺴﺠﻠﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻋﻀﻮﻳﺔ‬ ‫ﻏﺮﻓﺔ دﺑﻲ ﺳﺠﻞ ارﺗﻔﺎﻋﺎ ً ﻣﻠﺤﻮﻇﺎ ً ﺧﻼل اﻟﺴﻨﻮات اﻟﻤﺎﺿﻴﺔ‬ ‫وﺗﺨﻄﻰاﻟـ ‪ ٦٠٠‬ﺷﺮﻛﺔ وﻣﺆﺳﺴﺔ‪.‬‬ ‫وﺗﺘﺸﺎرك دوﻟﺔ اﻹﻣﺎرات وﻓﺮﻧﺴﺎ رؤﻳﺔ واﺣﺪة ﻟﻠﻤﺴﺘﻘﺒﻞ‪ ،‬ﺣﻴﺚ ﻳﺒﺮز‬ ‫ﺣﺮﺻﻬﻤﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺗﻌﺰﻳﺰ اﻟﺘﻌﺎون اﻻﻗﺘﺼﺎدي ﺑﻴﻨﻬﻤﺎ واﻻﺳﺘﻔﺎدة ﻣﻦ‬ ‫اﻹﻣﻜﺎﻧﺎت اﻟﻤﻮﺟﻮدة ﻟﺪى اﻟﻄﺮﻓﻴﻦ ﻣﻦ أﺟﻞ ﻣﺴﺘﻘﺒﻞ ﻣﺰدﻫﺮ‪.‬‬ ‫وﻳﺸﻜﻞ اﻟﺘﻌﺎون اﻟﻘﻮي واﻟﻤﺸﺘﺮك ﻓﻲ ﻗﻄﺎﻋﺎت اﻗﺘﺼﺎدﻳﺔ رﺋﻴﺴﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺑﻴﻦ اﻟﺠﺎﻧﺒﻴﻦ ﻣﺜﻞ ﻗﻄﺎع اﻟﻄﻴﺮان واﻟﺒﻨﻴﺔ اﻟﺘﺤﺘﻴﺔ واﻟﻄﺎﻗﺔ واﻟﺼﻴﺮﻓﺔ‬ ‫واﻟﺘﻤﻮﻳﻞ ﻋﻨﻮاﻧﺎ ً ﻟﻠﺸﺮا ﻛﺎت اﻟﻤﺴﺘﻘﺒﻠﻴﺔ ﺑﻴﻦ اﻟﺠﺎﻧﺒﻴﻦ‪.‬‬

‫ﺳﻌﺎدة ﻣﺎﺟﺪ ﺳﻴﻒ اﻟﻐﺮﻳﺮ‬ ‫رﺋﻴﺲ ﻣﺠﻠﺲ اﻹدارة‬ ‫ﺑ‬ ‫ﻏﺮﻓﺔ ﺗﺠﺎرة وﺻﻨﺎﻋﺔ د ﻲ‬

‫‪3‬‬

‫‪H.E. MAJID SAIF AL GHURAIR‬‬

‫‪Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview‬‬

‫‪The UAE’s trade relationship with France has strengthened‬‬ ‫‪over the years, supported by trade agreements and‬‬ ‫‪high-level visits from both sides. The country is home to‬‬ ‫‪many successful French businesses, and we have seen the‬‬ ‫‪number of French companies registered with Dubai Cham‬‬‫‪ber grow steadily to exceed 600. The two countries share‬‬ ‫‪many synergies as open economies that are geared toward‬‬ ‫‪global trade and foreign investment.‬‬ ‫‪Collaboration has been strong in key economic sectors such‬‬ ‫‪as aviation, infrastructure, energy, banking and ﬁnance.‬‬ ‫‪Non-oil trade between the UAE and France amounted to‬‬ ‫‪$7.3 billion in 2016, marking a 14% increase compared to‬‬ ‫‪2011.‬‬ ‫‪This growth has largely been driven by a steady increase in‬‬ ‫‪French exports to Dubai in recent years, as well as combined‬‬ ‫‪efforts to facilitate and expand bilateral trade and invest‬‬‫‪ment.‬‬

‫‪2‬‬

FOREWORD

For several years now, France has been one of the main foreign investors in the United Arab Emirates (the second largest in Abu Dhabi and the third largest in Dubai). The United Arab Emirates is home to the largest number of French companies in the region, with more than 600 branches from large Corporates or small and medium enterprises. From the United Arab Emirates, most of these branches expand their business to the Middle East and beyond, in strategic sectors such as the aeronautic and space industry, luxury goods, energy, sustainable development, urban transport, banking and insurance, hospitality and large scale distribution.

H.E. LUDOVIC POUILLE

AMBASSADOR OF FRANCE TO THE UAE AMBASSADEUR DE FRANCE AUX EAU

Investments from the United Arab Emirates in France are also particularly dynamic such as in real estate, but also, since the creation of the joint fund between the CDC International Capital and the Mubadala Development Company, in the health and education sectors, and port infrastructures as shown by the establishment of P&O Ports in Sète in 2017 (owned by Dubai Ports World).

France and the United Arab Emirates have been friends and allies ever since the creation of the federation. Our relationship is a component of a wider strategic partnership illustrated by landmark projects such as the foundation of the Abu Dhabi Paris-Sorbonne University in 2006, and the inauguration of the Louvre in Abu Dhabi this year.

La France et les Emirats Arabes Unis sont deux pays amis et alliés depuis la création de la fédération. Nos relations s’inscrivent dans le cadre d’un partenariat stratégique illustré par des projets emblématiques tels que la fondation, en 2006, de l’Université Paris-Sorbonne Abu Dhabi et l’inauguration, cette année, du Louvre Abu Dhabi.

The visit by the President of the Republic of France to the United Arab Emirates on the 8th and 9th of November is the opportunity to celebrate and deepen this strategic partnership, especially in the economic domain; one of the main pillars of our diplomatic action -, around the different partners committed to the development of exchanges and investments between the two countries; in particular: Business France, Atout France, Bpifrance, French foreign trade advisers, the French Business Council in Dubai, the French Business Group in Abu Dhabi and Sopexa.

La visite du Président de la République française aux Emirats Arabes Unis, les 8 et 9 novembre 2017, est l’occasion de célébrer et d’approfondir ce partenariat stratégique, en particulier dans le domaine économique, qui est l’un des axes principaux de notre diplomatie, autour des différents partenaires engagés en faveur du développement des échanges et des investissements entre les deux pays : Business France, Atout France, Bpifrance, Conseillers du Commerce Extérieur de la France, French Business Council à Dubai, French Business Group à Abu Dhabi et Sopexa.

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

The business forum, which will be attended by the President of the Republic of France during his visit to the United Arab Emirates, encapsulates the new momentum in the relationships between the economic players of both countries, especially in the run up to Dubai Expo 2020, where our companies will be united in showing their innovative projects to the world. In this regard, I wish to thank in particular, the organiser of this event, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, for its remarkable contribution to the deepening of the economic ties between France and the United Arab Emirates, together with the French Business Council.

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

La France est, depuis plusieurs années, l’un des principaux investisseurs étrangers aux Emirats Arabes Unis (le second à Abu Dhabi et le troisième à Dubaï). Les Emirats Arabes Unis accueillent le plus grand nombre d’entreprises françaises dans la région avec plus de 600 ﬁliales, qui sont aussi bien celles de grands groupes que de petites et moyennes entreprises. La plupart de ces implantations rayonnent, depuis les Emirats Arabes Unis, sur le Moyen-Orient voire au-delà, dans des secteurs stratégiques tels que l’industrie aéronautique et spatiale, les produits de luxe, l’énergie, le développement durable, les transports urbains, la banque et l’assurance, l’hôtellerie et la grande distribution. Réciproquement, les investissements en provenance des Emirats Arabes Unis en France sont particulièrement dynamiques dans l’immobilier mais aussi, depuis la création d’un fonds conjoint entre CDC International Capital et Mubadala Development Company, dans les secteurs de la santé et de l’éducation, ainsi que les infrastructures portuaires, comme l’illustre l’implantation en 2017 de P&O Ports à Sète. Le forum d’affaires auquel participe le Président de la République française pendant sa visite aux Emirats Arabes Unis symbolise la nouvelle impulsion donnée aux relations entre les acteurs économiques des deux pays, notamment dans la perspective de Dubaï Expo 2020, où nos entreprises seront réunies pour présenter au monde leurs projets novateurs. A cet égard, je tiens à remercier tout particulièrement l’organisateur de cet évènement, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, pour sa remarquable contribution apportée, aux côtés du French Business Council, à l’approfondissement des liens économiques entre la France et les Emirats Arabes Unis.

FOREWORD

BRUNO DE RENEVILLE

PRESIDENT FRENCH BUSINESS COUNCIL DUBAI AND NORTHERN EMIRATES

The President of the French Republic chose the United Arab Emirates as his ﬁrst destination for an ofﬁcial visit to the Middle-East following his election. This sends a strong signal to the Emirati and French communities and highlights the strength of the relationship between our two countries.

Le Président de la République française a choisi les Emirats Arabes Unis comme première destination pour une visite ofﬁcielle au Moyen-Orient depuis son élection. Il s’ agit d’un signal fort pour nos communautés respectives et souligne l’excellence de la relation entre nos deux pays.

This event is also an ideal opportunity for us to take stock of the French economic presence in the Emirates, and of the possible synergies in the context of the large upcoming projects, beginning of course with Expo 2020 and its three sub-themes: ‘ Opportunity’, ‘Mobility’ and ‘Sustainability’.

Cet événement est également une belle opportunité pour nous de faire le point sur la présence économique française aux Emirats et sur les synérgies possibles dans le cadre des grands projets à venir, dont bien entendu en premier lieu l’Exposition Universelle 2020 et ses trois piliers : « Opportunity » , « Mobility » et « Sustainability ».

Our French companies in the Emirates, including start-ups, intermediate size companies, SMEs and large corporates, are particularly engaged, innovative and integrated within the local environment.

Nos entreprises françaises aux Emirats, qu’il s’agisse de start-ups, ETI, PME ou grand groupes, sont particulièrement actives, innovantes et bien intégrées dans leur écosystème local.

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

The French Business Council Dubai and Northern Emirates represents the largest French business community in the Middle East and the 10th largest in the world.

Le French Business Council de Dubaï et des Emirats du Nord représente la plus grande communauté d’affaires française au Moyen-Orient et la 10ème au niveau mondial.

Our continued growth stems from favourable factors; a business environment that is particularly suitable to the establishment of foreign companies, a strategic location and the undeniable role of Dubai as regional hub, also the excellent quality of life and a welcoming culture. All contribute to make the Emirates the country of choice for our entrepreneurs and our companies.

Notre croissance continue s’explique par des facteurs favorables : un environnement des affaires aux Emirats particulièrement propice à l’implantation d’entreprises étrangères, la position stratégique et le rôle incontestable de Dubaï comme plateforme régionale. L’excellente qualité de vie et la culture accueillante des Emirats en font un pays de choix pour nos entrepreneurs et nos entreprises.

The French Business Council Dubai and Northern Emirates, who is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2017, is today a preferred partner in the long term development of the Emirati economy. We wish to thank in particular the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, who is much more than our legal sponsor, as the DCCI is our foremost strategic partner in the country.

Le French Business Council de Dubaï et des Emirats du Nord, qui fête ses 30 ans en 2017, est aujourd’hui un partenaire privilégié du développement de l’économie émirienne sur le long terme. Nous souhaitons remercier tout particulièrement la Dubai Chamber of Commerce, qui bien plus que notre sponsor légal, est notre partenaire stratégique dans le pays.

It is therefore my hope that our bilateral economic ties will continue to grow, and that we will see the development of new fruitful collaborations for our companies and for both of our countries.

Je forme ainsi le vœu que notre relation économique bilatérale puisse encore progresser et voir se développer de nouvelles collaborations fructueuses pour nos entreprises et nos deux pays.

In this magazine, you will discover or rediscover a few of the French ﬂagship companies that are present in the Emirates, an original initiative such as the French Tech Hub, as well as the views of French companies on their host country and its potential.

Ce magazine vous fera découvrir ou redécouvrir quelques-uns des ﬂeurons français présents aux Emirats, nos initiatives originales comme le French Tech Hub, ou bien encore la vision des entreprises françaises sur leur pays d’accueil et ses potentialités.

We wish you a pleasant and fruitful read of this special edition!

En vous souhaitant une bonne et fructueuse lecture de cette édition spéciale !

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

TEAM

YOUR FRENCH PARTNER FOR A SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT IN THE UAE

780

Members

Largest

French Chamber in the

The French Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates (FBC) is the largest French Chamber of Commerce in the Middle East region, gathering almost 800 members.

Middle East

This booming French community includes ambitious entrepreneurs, budding SMEs and prominent MNCs, as well as representatives of local companies and authorities seeking to establish partnerships or with an interest in the French market. FBC is also a founding member of the French Tech Hub Dubai UAE.

+100

410

Events per year

Companies

T HE F RE NCH E CONOM I C T E A M I N THE UAE

AGNĂ&#x2C6;S LOPEZ CRUZ

MANAGING DIRECTOR FBC

Our main mission is to help foster and develop the economic, commercial and ďŹ nancial relationships between France and the UAE through a wide range of events and services including 14 dynamic business oriented sectorial committees, clubs and working groups.

In addition, we organize around 100 events per year, including conferences, business forums, workshops, networking gatherings, awards and the largest Gala Dinner organized by a foreign business council in Dubai with more than 1,000 participants. Over time we have developed strong relations with the local authorities, especially with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry which is our legal sponsor and a strategic partner for our business community.

Business Centers in Dubai

#10

Largest French

Chamber Abroad

www.fbcdubai.com Follow us :

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

TEAM

T HE F RE N C H E CO N O MI C TE A M I N TH E UA E

PATRICE POUS

HEAD OF THE ECONOMIC DEPARTMENT AT THE FRENCH EMBASSY IN UAE

Run under the authority of the French Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, the Economic Service of Abu Dhabi forms part of the international network of the ministry of economy and ﬁnance treasury’s general directorate. This network is comprised of professionals in trade and economic policy. It serves the country’s needs in terms of macro-economic, ﬁnancial and public policy analysis, international negotiations, and support to large contracts.

The Economic Service of Abu Dhabi is committed to the internationalisation of French companies in the United Arab Emirates, to the attractiveness of France for Emirati investors and to the coordination of French stakeholders in the economic arena. It promotes the bilateral economic relationship (via representation of French interests and dialogue with Emirati authorities on bilateral and multilateral commercial and financial issues), participates in the organisation of official visits of an economic nature, and assists with the design of the ‘French offer’ on big projects in the framework of sectorial clusters, grouped under the ‘French Efficiency’ banner in the following areas: energy efficiency, traveller experience, airport technologies in the field of information and communication, large events security. The Economic Service of Abu Dhabi also hosts a regional advisor from the National Institute of Industrial Property Rights (INPI), whose role is to provide technical support to the authorities and French companies related to the application of standards in the intellectual property domain in the Middle East.

T HE F RE N CH E CON OM I C T E A M I N THE UAE

MARC CAGNARD

MANAGING DIRECTOR BUSINESS FRANCE NEAR EAST & MIDDLE EAST

Ties between France and the UAE are very strong. The UAE are an important partner for France, particularly in the ﬁelds of trade and investment. Our two countries have developed numerous commercial, ﬁnancial, industrial and technological partnerships over the past few years.

France exports mainly consumer goods, which include cosmetics and healthcare products, capital goods (technological solutions for industry, transportation, cleantech, etc.), agricultural goods and agrifood products as well as tech and ﬁntech solutions promoted by La French Tech. In terms of investments, our country is the 4th foreign direct investor to the UAE with 6,3 billion USD. On a professional level, let’s not forget that the UAE are a strategic hub to access to the Middle East markets as well as Africa and the Indian subcontinent. This is one of the reasons why Business France chose this country to promote la French Touch organizing 20 French Pavilions in various trade shows such as Arab Health with 150 French exhibitors and Gulfood with more than 200 exhibitors. France develops innovative products and creative solutions which meet the country’s vision and requirements linked with the huge projects currently under way : Expo 2020, Al Maktoum Airport and Dubai Smart City to name just a few. Business France has just been appointed as the organizer of the French Pavilion at Expo 2020. Regarding inward investment, France has changed : we are now committed to supporting your development projects, and this includes providing investment opportunities. If you are a local company or an investor wishing to know more about our value-added services both in trade and investment, please follow us on twitter : bf_MiddleEast and reach us by email at : dubai@businessfrance.fr.

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

TEAM

T HE F RE N C H E CO N O MI C TE A M I N TH E UA E

T HE F RE NCH E CONOM I C T E A M I N THE UAE

Bpifrance is the French Public Investment Bank, equally owned by the French State and the Caisse des Dépôts, dedicated to promoting the ﬁnancing and the development of companies operating in France, and in particular of SMEs.

MIKAIL HOUARI

PRESIDENT FRENCH FOREIGN TRADE ADVISORS

The “Conseillers du Commerce Extérieur de la France” (CCE - French Trade advisors) are a benchmark network of 4,000 french business leaders and experts in international trade present in 149 countries all over the world. Selected for their competence, their experience, they are appointed on the recommandation of the Secretary of State for Foreign Trade by a Decree of the French Prime minister in order to contribute to the international development of the French economy.

EMMANUEL BRECHARD

As part of the partnership with Business France and in order to develop its export ﬁnance activity fostering French SMEs exportations, Bpifrance has recently opened its Middle East ofﬁce in Dubai.

BPI FRANCE AREA MANAGER MIDDLE EAST

Mandated for three years by the French Government, the CCEs have four missions to undertake on a voluntary basis : 1 - Advising the French public economic decision makers on international trade issues and speciﬁc markets (recommendations, market studies, survey, etc.) 2 - Support French companies (mentoring, networking events, support and advice on international development, etc.) 3 - Training for young people abroad (visit universities, support internships, organize challenges, events, etc.) 4 - Promoting the attractiveness of France (six-monthly index of France's attractiveness as seen from abroad, recommendations to government authorities on promoting France's attractiveness, comparative studies, country guides, networking events with local decision makers on investment in France, etc.)

MARINA HASHIM PRESIDENT FBG

The French Business Group is the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Abu Dhabi. The French Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1974 in Abu Dhabi by French companies. Today, it represents a dynamic and powerful business network from various sectors.

The French Business Group (FBG - Abu Dhabi) is a non-proﬁt organization whose main focus is to promote business relations between United Arab Emirates and France. The FBG’s main goals are: 1- To promote bilateral trade, exchanges and investment between France and UAE 2- To represent, federate, inform, stimulate and serve the interests of its members 3- To support commercial endeavours of french companies in Abu Dhabi and UAE companies in France 12

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

ASMAA ASSID

DIRECTOR MIDDLE EAST, TURKEY & IRAN REGIONAL OFFICE

Atout France Middle East, Turkey and Iran is the France Tourism Development Agency, responsible for promoting France on the Middle Eastern markets & developing France’s tourism economy. As the French government's sole operator regarding the promotion of all aspects of tourism in France, we provide services and events for tourism professionals (press, tour operators and travel agents as well as event planners) and information to the general public.

We work in partnership with public and private organizations and companies involved in the tourism industry, i.e. over 1,300 members representing the whole spectrum of France's tourism sector, as well as with partners based in the region. Atout France is the ofﬁcial government agency whose mission is to develop travel and tourism to France. http://me.france.fr/ Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

TEAM

T H E F RE N C H E CO N O MI C TE A M I N TH E UA E

ecologist EDWINA SALVATORI MANAGING DIRECTOR MIDDLE EAST & INDIA

SOPEXA - INTERNATIONAL MARKETING & COMMUNICATION AGENCY ON FOOD, DRINK, LIFESTYLE

compacts

Sopexa develops bespoke marketing and communications strategies for your products and brands throughout the world. With its in-depth knowledge of markets, key players and food cultures, Sopexa advises and assists you in your communications and marketing campaigns, enabling you to set the hottest food & drink trends today and in the future. Our commitments: intelligent proposals, creative solutions and high-impact campaigns with ROI metrics. Sopexa UAE’s business is... ... building connections between producers, the market and consumers. The agency’s added value in 3 words: a return on investment mentality, multi-country coverage and strong knowledge of local consumers. Our market is: past growing, multilingual and has diversiﬁed consumption styles. Consumers with high spending power are always out there seeking the latest trends, innovations and new experiences. Call the agency if you want: premium services, provided by dedicated consultants experts in the marketing of food and drink products. The geographical scope of the Middle East agency also covers countries such asthe United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Iran..

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

businessfrance.fr

ECONOMY

FRENCH ECONOMIC PRESENCE IN THE

France, one of the main historical investors in the UAE

UAE

Key ﬁgures: France in the UAE

According to the federal statistics, France is the 3rd foreign investor in the UAE with 5,6% of the stock, behind the UK and India, getting in front of Japan (5,5%) and the US (4,3%). It is a positive evolution comparing with France’s 4th position in 2010 and 2011 and 8th positon in 2008. According to data collected in 2015, France is the 2nd foreign investor in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, with 7 billion AED (7,9% of the stock). In the Emirate of Dubai, France is the 3rd investing country in 2016 behind Canada and the UK. With more than 2, 8 billion AED of investments, France represents 11% of the total FDI ﬂux in the emirate, according to Dubai FDI.

Numerous French companies setting up

3rd investing country in the UAE considering the Foreign Direct

Investment (6% of the stock)

2nd investing country in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in 2015 € 4,7 billion of trade exchanges in 2016 9th supplier of the UAE in 2016 +660 French subsidiaries in the Federation

The UAE is the country with the largest number of French companies in the region, with more than 600 subsidiaries (+10% per year). More than 75% of CAC 40 companies have a presence in the country. Many of them choose to establish themselves in one of the Dubai free zones. In addition, the UAE has the largest French expatriates’ community in the Middle East, with more than 24,000 French citizens registered with the consulate of Dubai and in Abu Dhabi. The French presence in highly diversiﬁed and our companies are well represented in the strategic sectors such as oil&gas and generally speaking the energy sector, sustainability, mobility and transportation. France is also noticeably present in the luxury, hospitality and retail sectors.

UAE’s non-oil trade with France (2011-2016) YEAR USD

2011 6.4 billion

USD

6.3 billion

2013

2014

2015

2016

6.6 billion

7.4 billion

7.1 billion

7.3 billion

Dubai’s non-oil trade with France (2011-2016)

YEAR YEAR

2012

2011 4.4 billion

2012 4.9 billion

2013

2014

2015

2016

5.2 billion

5.7 billion

5.5 billion

5.6 billion

The United Arab Emirates is a favourite destination for French companies in the Middle East More than 7,000 companies export from France to the United Arab Emirates, with whom French Foreign Trade achieves its 4th highest trade surplus.

Source: French Customs Authorities - Business France calculations

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

The United Arab Emirates is home to the largest number of French companies in the region, with more than 600 overseas branches. That number increases by an average of 10% each year. The branches are from large corporates, as well as small and medium enterprises. Most of these choose to set up in the UAE in order to expand their business to the Middle East and beyond in strategic sectors, such as the aeronautic and space industry, luxury goods, energy, sustainable development, urban transport, banking and insurance, hospitality and large scale distribution.

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

ECONOMY

BILATERAL EXCHANGES BETWEEN FRANCE & UAE Key ﬁgures: FRANCE & UAE € 2.22 billion of commercial exchanges during the 1st semester of 2017

France’s exports to the United Arab Emirates are worth €3.6 billion and have also remained stable, accounting for 27% of French exports to the Middle East. Exports from the air/spacecraft sector – France’s leading export sector (26%), worth €3.4 billion – rose 7% in 2016. The second largest export sector - boilers / machinery / mechanical appliances (10%) - fell 2% in 2016 to €1.3 billion. The United Arab Emirates was the leading client in this sector, receiving 36% of exports. From 2001 to 2016, rising sales in air/spacecraft (up 7%), pharmaceutical products (up 5%), and essential oils/perfumes/cosmetics (up 12%) go some way to explaining the growth in French exports to the Middle East.

The air/spacecraft (€3.3 billion), boilers/machinery/mechanical appliances (€1.3 billion), electrical machinery/equipment (€1.2 billion) and pharmaceutical products (€1 billion) sectors made the largest contributions to France’s trade surpluses with countries in the Middle East.

€ 1.25 billion of commercial surplus 4th worlwide surplus of France

BILATERAL EXCHANGES BETWEEN France is Dubai’s 19th largest trading partner globally, and one of the emirate’s top trading partners 2nd commercial partner of France in the GulfFRANCE AND UAE in Europe.

France’s trade relationship with Dubai has ﬂourished over the years, supported by trade agreements, high-level visits, and an uptick in commercial and trade activity with the fashion, retail, food, tourism, and aviation sectors.

The UAE is the second partner of France in the Gulf with bilateral trade nearing $5 billion in 2016

There is plenty of scope to expand and diversify Dubai’s trade with France to other sectors and areas such as logistics and transport, smart city solutions, sciences and healthcare, technology, real estate, and tourism.

Source: French Customs Authorities - Business France calculations Source: French Customs Authorities - Business France calculations

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

TESTIMONIAL

HOSPITALITY SECTOR

What is the contribution of

AccorHotels

in the hospitality sector in the UAE ?

OLIVIER GRANET

Accor Hotels is a pioneer in the economy, mid and luxury hospitality and travel markets, having been one of the ﬁrst international companies to enter the Middle East over 35 years ago.

Managing Director & Chief Operating Ofﬁcer Hotel Services Middle East & Africa

Since then, we have expanded our portfolio through the introduction of our upscale and luxury brands such as Soﬁtel and Pullman, complemented with the integration of Fairmont, Rafﬂes and Swissôtel into our portfolio.

This year alone, we introduced the largest Mercure hotel in the world as well as the largest Sofitel in the region, both located in Dubai. We have cemented our strong legacy and expertise as a market leader by adapting our strategy to fit market conditions, consumer trends and regional initiatives. This was evidenced by the introduction of our first lifestyle brand to the UAE with the Mama Shelter Dubai, expected to open in time for Expo 2020. At present, AccorHotels operates over 65 hotels in operation and in development, across each segment, representing close to 20,000 rooms in the UAE. Within the Middle East, we recently surpassed a very ambitious milestone of 100 hotels in operation and I am confident that we will reach our target of 50,000 rooms in operation by 2020. Our core values of ‘Feel Welcome’ and ‘Feel Valued’ are at the heart of everything we do at AccorHotels, and through our focus on development, innovation and operational expertise, AccorHotels continues to contribute significantly to the UAE’s development as a global travel destination.

What are the perspectives on

the evolution of the sector ?

The United Arab Emirates is a dynamic market with a growing number of business and leisure attractions. The vision, pace and vitality of the country has been a key element in its development as a leading tourism destination within the region. As such, the hospitality segment plays an important role in the UAE’s ambitions and goals of expanding the tourism industry in Dubai to accommodate 20 million visitors by 2020.

Our partnership with DTCM plays a key role in our strategy towards providing visitors in Dubai with a personalized experience and we look forward to continue working together in the future. With over 20 brands, ranging from economy, midscale to upscale and luxury, AccorHotels is well positioned to cater to the UAE’s growth aspirations in the travel and hospitality space.

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

TESTIMONIAL

What is

MIKAIL HOUARI

President Airbus Africa Middle East

FLY Airbus is a glober leader in aeronaut i c s , space

and

services

with

workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats. Airbus is also a global leader in providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as Europe’s number one space enterprise and the world’s second largest space business. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient

civil

and

solutions worlwide. Together. we make it fly

airbus.com

military

rotorcraft

AVIATION SECTOR

AIRBUS contributionto the UAE aviation sector ?

Airbus has invested in the regional industrial footprint through numerous commercial agreements and partnerships in several countries such as UAE. Airbus partners in the region include local organisations from both public and private sectors¬ and international institutions. In the UAE, Airbus works with Strata of Mubadala and TPI of Tawazun Group. Today the UAE is a major supplier on all Airbus programs.

Not only does this contribute to the Airbus global supply chain efﬁciency but it creates opportunities for skills development and the stimulation of new revenue streams for local economies. In addition to the important role that aviation plays in the diversiﬁcation of the economy, Airbus also remains dedicated to helping to develop the UAE as an incubator of talent, through several initiatives that aim to address the local and global talent shortages within the sector. Constantly exploring ways to best harness future talents in the Middle East, at all levels. We have already implemented numerous projects in association with industry partners such as Mubadala, Strata and the GCAA in the UAE, highlighting the importance of entrepreneurship and STEM careers and the impact they have on the future of the industry. Airbus continues to support the nation’s youth through a number of grassroots initiatives including talent building programs such as ‘Airbus Little Engineer’ program aimed at instilling a passion for science, technology and engineering. Furthermore, Airbus’ ‘Future Scientists’ initiative in collaboration with Al Bayt Mitwahid, an association founded by the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi aims to inspire and ignite passion for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) among young Emiratis by challenging entrepreneurial and innovative young men and women to propose smart ideas that can advance the national and global aerospace industry. Airbus is continually working with all authorities and entities across the UAE to consider new opportunities for collaboration, particularly in the areas of innovation and talent building, to ensure that the UAE continues to play a key role in advancing the aviation sector in the region and globally through the development of a diverse and sustainable industry led by young, local talent.

What are the development

perspectives of the sector ?

The Middle East’s proximity to the world’s population and growth markets has been key to the continued growth of its aviation sector and Airbus believes that the region will continue to experience impressive growth rates over the next two decades.

Airbus predicts that the Middle East will order 2,590 new aircraft over the next twenty years, including 1,080 twin-aisle aircraft, the same number of single-aisle aircraft and 430 large aircraft. Around three quarters of the predicted 2,590 will be needed to accommodate capacity growth. The future demand for the Middle East’s needs is valued at US$600 billion worth of orders. Predictions suggest that traffic routes to and from Middle East destinations by Airbus is tipped to grow at 5.9% annually until 2036 - beating the world average of 4.4 per cent. The highest growth is expected to be on routes connecting with Latin America. Meanwhile, freight traffic growth from the region is expected to be highest between the Middle East and Asia-Pacific with 4% annual growth.

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

An increase in the number of mega cities will also present opportunities for growth. Airbus predicts that the number of ‘mega cities’ that account for more than a million daily long-haul passengers will increase from 58 to 95 by 2036. Airbus forecasts that the number of mega cities in the Middle East alone will more than double over the next 20 years. There are great opportunities for the aviation sector in the region, but in order to take full advantage of these, it is important for all entities, organisations and authorities to come together to ensure that the industry continues to develop from an infrastructure perspective to meet increasing demands in the sky. Talent development will also be key to ensuring that innovation continues to deﬁne the growth direction of aviation in the region. Airbus remains committed to working with all of its partners to continue to grow the industry and ensure invaluable training and development opportunities are available to the nation’s youth to prepare them for the future challenges and opportunities that the ever-growing aviation industry presents.

TESTIMONIAL

INDUSTRY SECTOR

What is the contribution of

AIR LIQUIDE

in the industry sector in the UAE ? We supply industrial and specialty gases in a wide array of volumes and purities, along with related application technologies and services.

OMAR GERMOUNI

Managing Director Air Liquide Emirates for Industrial Gases

Our customized solutions are geared toward improving process safety, maximizing productivity and reducing the environmental footprint of our industrial customers.

In the UAE, Air Liquide contributes to a variety of industrial markets such as Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals, Food & Beverages, Water Treatment or Construction, just to name a few. We would like to quote two practical examples of our contributions: Our one-stop- shop offer to Oil & Gas customers contributes to their success from exploration to refining and distribution by providing them with a bundled array of high performance equipment, gases and services in the most innovating supply mode or gas packaging. Our UAE food and beverage customers are enjoying our innovative food-grade gas solutions, which are compliant the most stringent health and safety standards. Whether for food freezing, modified atmosphere packaging, flavor preservation, carbonation, quality control, food processing chain and cold chain management, we guarantee the safety and high quality of the products for the consumer, while increasing the productivity of our customers by reducing energy consumption, extending product shelf life and eliminating waste.

How do you see

the evolution of this sector in the UAE ? The industry in the UAE is fast evolving, in the frame of Vision 2021 and its underpinning roadmap.

Air Liquide World leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health.

As an industrial actor in the Emirates, we see the non-oil sector playing a wider and sustainable role in future, whereby new industry sectors will emerge to reinforce the current entire ecosystem. We typically see signiﬁcant opportunities around power generation and distribution, water management, clean mobility, food safety and healthcare. 24

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

www.airliquide.com/united-arab-emirates

TESTIMONIAL

BANKING SECTOR

BNP Paribas is a leading bank in Europe with an international reach. It has a presence in ٧٤ countries, with more than ١٩٢,٠٠٠ employees. The Group has key positions in its three main activities: Domestic Markets, International Financial Services and Corporate & Institutional Banking.

JACQUES MICHEL

The Group helps all its clients to realize their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance.

Head of BNP Paribas Middle East & Africa

In its Corporate & Institutional Banking and International Financial Services activities, BNP Paribas also enjoys top positions in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas, as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has been operating in the MEA region for over ٤٠ years, where it is active in the fields of Corporate & Institutional Banking and International Financial Services. The bank has a presence in five of the Gulf countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The bank also has a presence in South Africa via a Full Commercial Branch, which acts as a regional hub for operations in Southern Africa, and in Morocco through BNP Paribas Regional Investment Company (BRIC), which acts as a hub for wider Africa. In the United Arab Emirates, BNP Paribas has been supporting the development of its Corporate, Institutional and High Net Worth Individual clients through its two on-shore branches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and a dedicated Wealth Management regional set up located in the DIFC. The bank is committed to further support the growing and rapidly transforming local economy while expanding its historical footprint in the country. Through its presence on the ground and with the expertise of a team of talented and diverse individuals, the bank’s MEA network enjoys a leading position in many areas including: fixed income, debt capital markets, cash management, trade finance and advisory services.

٢٦

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

TESTIMONIAL

LUXURY SECTOR

What is the contribution of

CHALHOUB GROUP

to the luxury sector in UAE ? PATRICK CHALHOUB

Co-CEO Chalhoub Group

Our passionate teams build brands in the region by blending our Middle East expertise, deep understanding of the local consumer and intimate knowledge of luxury.

We contribute to the luxury sector by implementing those brands in the UAE, distributing them, opening franchise stores and creating innovative concept stores, offering the consumer an unforgettable omni-channel experience and expert services. We increasingly cooperate with our partners to adapt and tailor the offer and its marketing to the region and the local consumers. We offer our partners one point of access with tailormade solutions helping to build, promote and develop their brands in the UAE.. Chalhoub Group also try to attract and develop talents with over 350 French team members and Emirati team members particularly through our Emirati Graduate Program. We also are supporting young entrepreneurs, through mentoring, partnering and investing in local brands and support and participate to many Initiatives to promote Dubai as a retail, fashion and luxury such as the Dubai Design Fashion Council and Dubai Retail Committee.

How do you see

the evolution of the luxury sector in the UAE ?

The knowledge we build is knowledge we share

L E A D I N G PA R T N E R F O R L U X U R Y ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST

W W W. C H A L H O U B G R O U P. C O M

We have challenging times ahead in the luxury sector in the UAE; therefore, we need to adapt to the new norm and to the changing consumer behaviour and proﬁle. This consumer is young, connected, well-travelled and he is now knowledgably, demanding and looking for memorable experiences, outstanding service, curated and personalized offer and storytelling. The potential remains huge for the luxury market if we succeed to be relevant and meaningful in our offer.

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

We believe in this region and sustainable growth will come if we work harder, increase our investment, expect lower returns, be aspirational, pertinent, competitive and extremely innovative and creative in a very competitive and global environment. I am optimistic about the future of the luxury sector iin the UAE as there is a young population full of dynamism and enthusiasm innovative entrepreneurial movement; creating wealth and luxury is not anymore a deﬁnition of one status but has now become a real part of our lives appreciated by our consumers.

TRANSPORT SECTOR

What is the contribution of

809 111 552 RCS Paris 20, rue le Peletier – 75320 Paris Cedex 09, France

TESTIMONIAL

KEOLIS

to the transport/mobility sector in the UAE ? Keolis established itself in the Middle East in ٢٠١٣. As Keolis Middle East, we are able to offer efficient and effective multi-model mobility solutions to the UAE.

LEILA FRANCES

President Middle East & Hyderabad Chair of Keolis Downer

In the time that we have been present in the market we have shared our international expertise with the Department of Transport (DoT), Abu Dhabi, providing them with an overview of transportation solutions and the operations and maintenance management of transport networks, through detailed training sessions.

In addition, we supported the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai with a visit to France and have facilitated local workshops with Business France.

The foundation of our global transport service delivery is a ‘zero-harm’ business culture, which is built upon by a focus on continuous improvement, environmental and social responsibility, community engagement and innovation. All of this is encapsulated by our values of ‘we imagine’, ‘we care’ and ‘we commit’. This is the contribution we seek to make on a daily basis to the mobility sector in the UAE.

At the core of Keolis’ business is a commitment to excellence that has been established through listening, dialogue and transparency. These principles are the key features of our approach to both clients and customers as we develop our business in the Middle East.

ww w. k eolis .c om

How do you see

the evolution of the transport sector in the UAE ?

The transport sector in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to be one of the fastest growing within the Middle East.

In the capital Abu Dhabi the Surface Transport Master Plan has set a clear agenda for meeting the future needs of the Emirate as part of the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 programme. Within this framework the Abu Dhabi Transport Department has set itself clear goals to deliver efficient, sustainable integrated public transport. Similarly, in Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai in association with the Road and Transport Authority have also been forward thinking through plans such as the Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy. ٣٠

This important plan demonstrates a clear understanding of the people and city’s continuing needs, using both current technology and future innovative solutions to resolve the transportation challenges in the growing Emirate.

In addition, this Emirate already has the Dubai Metro, which is the longest driverless metro network in the world, with extensions being built to support Dubai during Expo 2020. All of these elements point to a positive evolution inthe transport sector for the UAE. This is an evolution that will provide the country with the transport infra structure to deliver economic and social benefits for its people in the years ahead. -

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

Keolis, pioneer in shared mobility Leader in the development of public transport, internationally recognised as the leading operator of automatic metros and trams, Keolis also operates multimodal transport modes that include: trains, buses, cars, trolleybuses, shared private hire vehicles, river shuttles, ferries, cycles, car sharing services, electric autonomous vehicles and urban cable cars. In France, Keolis is the leader in medical transport. services through the creation of Keolis Santé and positioned as the number two car park operator, through its subsidiary EFFIA.

TESTIMONIAL

HEALTHCARE SECTOR

SANOFI

What is ’s contribution to the structuring of the healthcare sector in the UAE ?

JEAN-PAUL SCHEUER

Country Chair & General Manager, & General Sanoﬁ Gulf,Manager, Rx Sanoﬁ Gulf, Rx Head of Generics Middle East & General Manager, Globalpharma

As a global life sciences company, Sanoﬁ is committed to improving access to healthcare. From prevention to treatment, our collaborators in over 100 countries work to transform scientiﬁc innovation into healthcare solutions. Human vaccines, rare diseases, multiple sclerosis, oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, diabetes and cardiovascular solutions and consumer healthcare are the areas we are deeply committed in.

Sanofi Gulf is one of the major players in the UAE. Having been in the country for more than 30 years, we are honored to share meaningful history with the people and communities we serve here. We are over 500 colleagues working every day in this country to contribute to a healthier society. Our economic footprint here includes a local manufacturing facility following the integration of Globalpharma, which became the platform to manufacture and promote a part of the generics portfolio of Sanofi in Middle East. Through a transfer of technology, Sanofi has contributed to strengthening the local industry and implemented first inclass technology procedures to establish and grow generic presence in the Middle East. Moreover, Sanofi in the UAE also serve as a distribution hub to 11 countries across the Middle East and Levant. Sanofi is a long-standing partner of the UAE Ministry of Health & Prevention, and over the years we have collaborated on different national strategic initiatives to reduce the burden of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, immunology-related diseases, and others. We have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry, further strengthening this partnership. Among the key programs under this partnership include the implementation of the ‘Kids and Diabetes in Schools’ (KiDS) program in UAE. The initiative aims to foster a supportive school environment for students with diabetes and increase awareness on healthy lifestyles to help prevent the occurrence of type 2 diabetes in children. To date, the program has successfully educated more than 4,600 students, 500 teachers, over 800 parents, and trained 22 nurses. Globally and locally, we invest heavily in research, development, and clinical trials. Here in the Gulf researches are underway to benefit the local community.

HEALTHCARE SECTOR

What are the development perspectives of the sector ? The UAE is one of the most dynamic markets for pharmaceutical and healthcare providers in the Middle East and African region, with strong healthcare infrastructure and the highest per capita drug expenditure in the region. It remains the most attractive market in the Middle East and African regional matrix. The UAE's relative political stability also contributes to the country's high regional score. The score is reflective of the market's strong growth prospects with a fast-growing private healthcare sector, which brings with it demand for innovative drugs. The UAE has a strong patented drug market. Drug approval times and regulatory/access conditions are moving very fast in line with that of developed markets, giving swift access to innovative medicines in the UAE. Local manufacturing industry activity has increased notably over the past few years, with a strong focus on regional and global exports. Many reports and analysis forecast a real GDP growth of 2.4% in 2017 compared with 3.8% in 2015. An increase in population, including expatriates, has fed through to significantly higher healthcare expenditure. An increasingly Westernized disease profile is now being observed, with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, featuring strongly. In 2014, an integrated healthcare insurance system was introduced, backed by law making it mandatory to have insurance. The UAE has seen substantial investment in the healthcare sector, with large projects, such as the Dubai Healthcare City and Dubai Science Park, encouraging foreign direct investment (FDI). This investment in healthcare has played an important part in the increase in medical tourism. Measures have also been taken by the government to increase anti-counterfeiting activity to boost legal market values and FDI attractiveness. The government's unwavering commitment to improving healthcare will remain one of the key drivers of growth within the healthcare sector over the next decade, as it addresses the nation's rising non-communicable disease burden. However, with lower oil prices, impacting healthcare budgets, we expect the environment to continue to be challenging.

We are committed to being a major contributor to the continuous medical education of the healthcare community. Physicians, pharmacists, and nurses have beneﬁted from our medical training in speciﬁc disease areas, and we also provide technical training to a broader audience in areas such as pharmacoeconomics. The inaugural GCC Pharmacoeconomic Forum, which aims to advance the understanding of health economics in the region, is a recent notable example of this. It brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on relevant issues and challenges concerning healthcare funding for the success of pharmaceutical innovation and access. The CME accredited event was attended by over 400 decision makers, regulatory authorities, healthcare providers, healthcare professionals, payers, health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and academia in the GCC Region. 32

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

TESTIMONIAL

ENERGY SECTOR

What is the contribution of

ENGIE

to the structuring of energy sector in the UAE ? Present in the region since 30 years, ENGIE is active in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through four businesses: power generation, seawater desalinization, liqueﬁed natural gas (LNG) distribution and energy services.

SEBASTIEN ARBOLA

CEO of ENGIE Middle East, South and Central Asia, Turkey

The Emirates market is characterized by a strong demand for electricity and drinking water.

In the country, ENGIE operates 6 IWPP and has a total gross capacity of 10 GW. The Group has recently confirmed full commercial operation of the Mirfa IWPP Project – its sixth IWPP– with Project Commercial Operation Date (PCOD) reached on 18 October 2017. Regarding LNG, ENGIE delivered its first LNG carrier in Dubai, in August 2013. ENGIE contributes also to the energy transition of the country, providing energy services in the field of Facilities Management, through its subsidiary Cofely Besix FM, working on Yas Island, the Dubai Mall, Masdar City and the Abu Dhabi airport. Moreover, ENGIE recently acquired a 40% stake of Tabreed, becoming the worldwide leader of district cooling. In the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, ENGIE is the leading IWPP developer and producer with a total gross portfolio of 30 GW power and over 4.5 MIGD desalination water production.

What are the development

perspectives of the sector ?

ENGIE believes that low carbon gas-ﬁred power generation will continue to play an important role in meeting the country’s energy and water needs, which is in line with the UAE’s clean energy targets (44% renewables, 38% gas, 12% clean fossil and 6% nuclear energy). ENGIE supports other initiatives that drive towards the decarbonization of the UAE’s economy. Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

In January 2017, ENGIE sponsored the country’s ﬁrst Electric Vehicle Road Trip, an event to pave the way for green mobility. As a key sponsor, ENGIE provided the charging stations along the route to contribute to the creation of an infrastructure for electric vehicles in the UAE.

TESTIMONIAL

ENERGY SECTOR

Energy management specialist

Schneider Electric

supports the UAE’s energy needs

Energy is a fundamental need that powers society and drives economies. In recent years, there has been a sharp spike in the demand for energy globally.

JEAN PASCAL TRICOIRE Chaiman & CEO, Schneider Electric

In the UAE alone, the demand for energy is expected rise 9 per cent annually, which has led the government to seek out greater efﬁciencies in energy production and from cleaner sources.

Companies like Schneider Electric can play an important role in the UAE, by helping clients meet their energy needs more efficiently and creating smarter businesses. The IoT-enabled EcoStruxure platform owned by the 170-year old French company allows users to measure, monitor, and control energy consumption and demand. The unique infrastructure integrates information technology with operational technology to help reduce operational inefficiency and waste. Supporting the region’s energy needs is a core commitment of Schneider Electric. We are working hard with our partners to build a sustainable energy ecosystem and contribute to the industries of the future, especially in energy management and digital applications. The UAE’s leadership, through various initiatives such as the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy and Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, sets an exemplary model in a sustainable future that balances environmental goals with economic needs We look forward to leveraging our expertise in the local market and boosting our portfolio in this space, amid growing infrastructure investments and a high demand for state-of-the-art, smart facilities. Schneider Electric can offer the UAE a broad range of specialized products, that aims to help reduce carbon emissions and shape the future of efficient energy solutions and industries. As a pioneer of the energy revolution, Schneider Electric aims to unlock answers to our future energy challenges based on the simple assumption that ‘less is more’. Our future sources of energy need to be safer, greener and more efficient so as to ensure that generations to come can have access to energy that does not come at the cost of our environment.

How do you see the evolution of the transport sector in the UAE ?

Serving the UAE government’s vision, the Transport sector has already contributed to the development and growth of UAE. Dubai metro is already serving around 500, 000 people on daily basis and Dubai airport with more than 83 million passengers per year is one of the world's busiest airport by international passenger trafﬁc.

Furthermore, this sector will keep developing and growing with the extension of Dubai Metro and iconic Al Maktoum International airport project to play a key role in the success of Expo 2020 where more than 25 million visitors are expected. As part of the UAE governments vision, a wide series of

transport aspects such as trade ﬂows, passengers’ movements, and infrastructure buildings are being developed to connect the emirates and remove bottlenecks. Over the years, the transportation sector in the UAE has been evolving rapidly by drawing heavy investments towards clean technologies and renewable energy. Notably, we have seen the launch of the Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy, which aims to transform 25 percent of the total transportation in Dubai to autonomous methods by 2030, saving AED 22 billion annually. Dubai's vision incorporates all mass transit modes including trains, buses, boat and taxis, as well as private vehicles, and the city’s Roads. Moreover, advancements in transportation technology can be witnessed in driverless busses, the Hyperloop and ﬂying taxis. Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

www.schneider-electric.com

TESTIMONIAL

What is the contribution of

ENERGY SECTOR

VEOLIA

to the energy sector in the UAE ?

Dubai has been the second place in the world where Veolia has implemented its internal tool for energy management called “Hubgrade”, a smart monitoring platform collecting, analyzing, and reporting on all resources usage data: energy consumption, water consumption &amp; waste production.

XAVIER JOSEPH

Enova, a joint venture between Veolia and Majid Al Futtaim Ventures managing this tool, became the ﬁrst energy services company (ESCO) in Dubai, certiﬁed under the accreditation scheme for ESCOs that was launched by Regulatory and Supervisory Bureau (RSB) of the Emirates.

CEO VEOLIA Middle East

In this context, Enova provides Building Energy Efﬁciency Services for DEWAs buildings guaranteeing 31% energy savings per year, representing over 2 Million AED saved per year, and provides similar services also to Jebel Ali Freezone (JAFZA) buildings and we are proud to claim 18.5 tons of CO2 emissions reduction, 26.4 GWh saved per year and 1.2 Billion IG water saved per year.

What are the development

perspectives of the sector ?

Veolia, through its subsidiary Enova, is now able to offer a full comprehensive offer in energy and facilities management, which includes providing solar energy. Within the context of an Energy Performance Contract (EPC), Enova relies on solar photovoltaic plants as an effective solution to complement Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) thus reducing energy consumption costs and balancing the energy mix.

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

We deliver tailored solar PV solutions that integrate the specific constraints and capabilities of each building and their environment, while strictly complying with local regulations and client requirements. Our one-stop shop offer covers the whole life cycle of solar PV plants to maximize buildings’ energy efficiency, guarantee significant savings for our clients, and support their sustainability strategy.

FOCUS

OPPORTUNITY

THE UAE

OPPORTUNITY

Launch of the French Tech Hub Dubai UAE at GITEX, October 2016

BECOMES FIRST

CHOICE FOR

FRENCH ENTREPRENEURS

acked by an exceptionally strong support network, French startups are booming in the Emirates, eager to capture the opportunity that Expo 2020 presents

By Edward Clowes

“French Tech in Dubai is for us a really good way to develop our network and get new customers, and more generally make known the talents of French IT companies. Even though Daxium only entered in to the Middle East in 2014, we have managed in four years to take advantage of this hub, so that in 2017, a third of our business is carried out in our ofﬁce based in Dubai, across ﬁfteen countries in the Middle East and Africa,” said Yann de Saint Vaulry, CEO of Daxium, a provider of mobile applications for businesses.

Dubai: The UAE is increasingly becoming the ﬁrst choice of French entrepreneurs, buoyed by a rapidly growing, technology-savvy population, say the founders of several French startups here in the Emirates.

Al Rifai’s fellow entrepreneurs agree with him: French Tech has created a strong community in the UAE for startups, says Marc Fleschen, the founder and CEO of ZERO.1.

Back home, the French tech scene is in great health, as regulations become friendlier to businesses and the country regains its sense of optimism, they add.

was really good was French Tech…Now it’s available in Dubai too, it’s actually helpful…And bringing it to Dubai is a great opportunity for us to be part of a larger network,” he said.

Earlier this year, Fleschen won the top prize at the French Tech Dubai UAE Award by FBC for his work with ZERO.1, a light ﬁdelity (Li-Fi) company that works with optic ﬁbre cables up to 100 times faster than conventional Wi-Fi systems.

According to the French Tech Hub Dubai UAE, there are currently 390 people involved in French Tech hub in Dubai, whilst in October of this year 50 French startups (including SigFox, Efﬁlab, Parrot, Daxium, Iconiction, ZERO.1, Fetchr, Glambox, MyList, Bodyo, and EADMAP) celebrated their one year anniversary of being based at the hub.

He is positive about the direction of French technology companies in the UAE: “The UAE is a great place where you can start having a lot of opportunities in terms of development and marketing, and different places for commerce also. It’s deﬁnitely a great place to go.”

These optimal conditions are culminating in Dubai at a moment of opportunity for French startups, ahead of Expo 2020 in three years’ time.

“I’m surprised by the number of French entrepreneurs [in

the UAE] – there are a lot. It comes back to French people being innovators. As you can see right now with what’s going on in France, if you have the right conditions for tech to blossom, you will have tonnes of French entrepreneurs. It’s the DNA of the nation” said Idriss Al Rifai, co-founder of leading UAE-based logistics startup Fetchr.

“The ﬁrst thing that France introduced some time ago that

French Tech excels within these key sectors: Big Data, Internet of Things (IoT), MedTech, Smart Cities, Artiﬁcial Intelligence, and Smart Transportation.

These conditions are very much present in the UAE for French companies, argued Al Rifai, not only in the projected growth of the market, but also in the support networks available to entrepreneurs, namely the French Tech Hub, spanning multiple global cities such as Shanghai, Los Angeles, and London.

The founder of Fetchr concurs with this. “It will only get better for entrepreneurs in general here in the UAE, and it will get better for French entrepreneurs too,” Al Rifai said. One of the most appealing things about starting a technology company in the UAE, according to Fleschen, is its culturally diverse population.

“The

group of entrepreneurs at French Tech are really good, honestly they’re top notch. We share experiences and all that stuff,” he said, adding: “I didn’t take as much help as I could’ve done when I was getting started, but I found the French Business Council (FBC) and the French Tech guys to be a lot more helpful once I began to reach growth stage.”

French Tech is a hub intended to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, and other key stakeholders, in order to foster and support the French startup community in the UAE. Dubai is the ﬁrst city in the Middle East to be included in the global network. 40

Fleschen added that the opportunities for French startups in Dubai would only continue to grow with Expo 2020 fast approaching, and the many technology initiatives that the UAE government continues to introduce.

“There are so many nationalities here, so you get an advan-

tage to test a product at a smaller scale, but in an international way. If something works across all nationalities in the UAE, you have those learnings to take it to India and other places,” he said.

The UAE is reportedly home to as many as 200 different nationalities from around the world. Al Rifai believes it’s factors like these, combined with France’s entrepreneurial streak, that is drawing more and more French startups to the UAE.

Marc Fleschen ZERO.1

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

“Firstly, the French are really good at innovation – look at what’s going on in Paris, it’s crazy,” he said. This is perhaps best exemplified by the recent opening of Station F in Paris, the largest startup campus in the world. Set to be home to thousands of young entrepreneurs, French entrepreneur Xavier Niel has reportedly spent hundreds of millions of euros building what he believes will be the heart of the French startup ecosystem for decades to come. As for the UAE, Al Rifai says that many of these French innovators made their way to Dubai, “and then what happened here was you had a lot of young, smart French dudes who started their own companies,” he said. The numbers of French entrepreneurs who are setting up their businesses in the UAE, rather than just coming here for a couple of years and leaving, seem to support this theory, says Fleschen. Timothée Désormeaux is one such entrepreneur, who in 2015 helped set up the firm Effilab in the UAE. Already present in France, Effilab has made a name for itself in Europe tracking online advertising. Working out of the tech hub Astrolabs, where Désormeaux says he hears “people speaking French all the time,” the executive was surprised by how big, and supportive, the community was when he first arrived in the UAE.

“There

are a lot of French people in the startup scene. Everyone is very helpful. From the French Tech hub, to Business France, the French Business Council in which I am a board member and the French Embassy and Consulate, everyone is helping French companies here,” he said.

Ultimately, he said, this is helping French startups realise their potential, and capture the vast opportunity that the UAE represents.

“The

market is here…There’s deﬁnitely opportunity [for French companies],” Désormeaux said, adding that because the UAE is an emerging market, “It’s easier to make a difference here.”

www.dubai.lafrenchtech.com

FOCUS

MOBILITY

FRENCH COMPANIES

HELP TO KEEP UAE ON TRACK TO 2020

ransportation companies like Thales and Alstom are playing an integral part in expanding the UAE’s mobility infrastructure ahead of Expo 2020.

With a world-class high-speed railway network, it is little surprise that one of France’s key exports to the UAE is its transportation industry. Playing a role in every rail project undertaken in the country, French companies such as Thales, Alstom, and Systra have been instrumental in the creation of the UAE’s railway networks.

“One particular project that we are extremely proud of is

the implementation of our communications-based train control (CBTC) solution that allows the longest driverless line in the world, the Dubai Metro, to operate seamlessly,” said Bernard Roux, Country Director – UAE at Thales, a French multinational transport services supplier. In Dubai, Thales provided fully automated train control systems on both the Green and the Red lines of the metro, in addition to access gates and ticket vending machines. Looking ahead, Roux says that Thales will have a hand in a number of the UAE’s transportation projects in the years to come. Thales has been selected bu Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) and Alstom (leader of Expolink consortium), to deliver the Signalling system’s extension and upgrade of the Dubai metro’s Red Line. The Red Line is reportedly the longest driverless metro line in the world, and will help transport some of the 25 million expected visitors during the World Expo 2020 in Dubai. French company Alstom is another firm with an illustrious track record of working on the UAE’s mobility infrastructure, including the Route 2020 Metro and the Dubai Tram. In November 2014, Alstom delivered to RTA the unique Dubai Tram: this tramway system is the first 100 per cent catenary free tramway in the world and the very first tramway in the GCC.

By Edward Clowes

Accoring to Alstom, 11 Citadis trams are in operation, on 11km of track and across 11 stations, with the highest levels of availability and punctuality. This is also the ﬁrst tramway system to be adapted to such high temperatures (up to 50 degrees Celcius), sand, and such a high level of humidity. Alstom has a contract for 13 years for the maintenance of the Dubai Tram. The Alstom-led consortium Expolink, also composed of Acciona (Spain) and Gulermark (Turkey), has signed a contract with RTA (Roads & Transport Authority) to design and build the extension of Dubai’s Red metro line and upgrade the system of the existing line.

MOBILITY

In business in general, Tran added, “I feel that pragmatism allied to creativity would characterize the French ‘touch.”

“Yes, the French network here is deﬁnitely strong, and it’s getting stronger every day,” said Tran.

It is France’s culture of innovation that makes its transportation industry so respected around the world, experts say.

She pointed to the strength of the French Chamber of Commerce and the French-Emirati business community as evidence of this.

This is reflected in a recent report published by Cornell University, the business school Insead, and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), which looked at the number of patents filed in an effort to pinpoint innovation hubs in countries. According to the Global Innovation Index 2017, France was placed 10th in these rankings, with Paris- based businesses filing a total of 13,461 patents between 2011 2015. The main technology field for patents was transport, the report said. On innovation, Roux says that “the UAE’s continued drive to innovate chimes with ourselves at Thales as this is built into our core value as a group as we continue to innovate and deliver upon our customers ambitions.” Roux added that coupled with the “cultural understanding between France and UAE,” these two factors were a “key differentiator [that] has allowed business to be conducted with ease and trust.” Both Roux and Tran agree that the French business network in the UAE is in a strong position to support French companies, allowing them to capitalise on future mobility opportunities.

The total value of the project, also called Route 2020 , is €2.6 billion.

Roux for his part said that Thales has “been a supporter of several French business networks such as FBC and others since their inception,” noting that they have “brought together key ﬁgures from the business landscape, big and small, to create an environment of knowledge sharing, business development and relationship building.”

“We

will continue to support them in their efforts,” he added. A signal of the two countries commitment to developing the industry, the French Business Council and the RTA organized a mobility forum in Dubai in September 2017, to foster collaboration in terms of transportation.

Overall, Tran is optimistic about the prospects for French transportation companies: “The future looks bright for innovation in…technology,” she said, adding: “These will be some of the pillars for the development of French companies and institutions, but also for the partnerships between French and Emirati companies.”

“In the rail and road sectors, French companies like Alstom

can promote and bring a lot of innovative solutions in digital mobility, sustainable transportation, and automation, to serve the multiple public transport lines to come,” Tran concluded.

Dubai Tram - JBR Station

Photo credit : ALSTOM / TOMA – C. Sasso

Alstom will provide and integrate the whole metro system on the 15km line from Nakheel Harbour station to the World expo site station including 50 Metropolis trainsets, power supply, communication, automatic fare control, track works, platform screen doors.

“France is a long privileged and historical partner of the

UAE, we can say that many deep links have been developed along the years. [The ﬁgures regarding the involvement of French companies in the UAE] are self-explanatory and highlight the robustness of the links between the UAE and France,” said Thi-Mai Tran, Managing Director of the Gulf region at Alstom Group. On what differentiates French transport companies in the region from their competition, Tran said: “I think that the particular French ‘touch’ is very speciﬁc in our transportation business.”

She deﬁnes this touch as the cultural heritage of French design, such as “the styling of our trains, their exterior shapes or their interior reﬁnement.”

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

Dubai Metro

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

FOCUS

NICOLAS ANDRIEU Managing Director, Sigfox Middle East

Nicolas Andrieu, Sigfox Middle East managing director commented: “Since its inception in 2010, the ambition of Sigfox, embodied in the slogan «Make Things Come Alive», is to give a voice to the physical world around us and to allow billions of objects to play a role in economic and social development. This ambition is aligned with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid recent launch of the Dubai IoT strategy and smart living initiatives”. “Thanks to this shared vision, Sigfox is willing to play a signiﬁcant role by helping government and private entities in UAE to meet the challenges of their digitization and the associated IoT adoption”, he added.

Your idea needs a sigfox.com

SUSTAINABILITY

THE FRENCH SCHOOL

of ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES SETS FRENCH COMPANIES APART IN THE UAE

the race to make the UAE one of the most sustainable

countries in the world, French ﬁrms are at the forefront

with their centuries of experience and unique approach.

French companies are leading the drive for sustainability in the UAE, helped by France’s diplomatic efforts and encouraged by the emirates’ strong message on renewable energy. The success of these companies can be attributable to the support from the French government, the willingness of the UAE to take action to become sustainable, and the fundamental philosophy of French energy companies, dating back centuries, that set them apart from their competition. This is according to Xavier Joseph, CEO of Veolia Middle East, a French water and energy company founded in 1853. Veolia operates in 20 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Large French companies are complimented in the UAE, Joseph said, by a strong diplomatic effort to strengthen bilateral ties with the emirates.

“French diplomacy is really actively and daily involved to

help companies like us to develop their activities in the UAE,” he noted.

Veolia works in the environmental services ﬁeld, undertaking projects in water treatment and desalination, waste management treatment, energy efﬁciency, and so on.

By Edward Clowes

This push from the French government to promote its companies in the region goes hand in hand with the UAE authorities’ enthusiasm to gain knowledge, and to act on its promises in the ﬁeld of sustainability. According to Joseph, when it comes to the environment, there is no discrepancy between what their rhetoric, and their action.

“It’s not only about discussion, it’s really about concrete

action, and the government here has a real, genuine, strong willingness to improve and enhance their environmental performance,” he said, adding: “[Veolia] can deliver concrete and working solutions that make us well positioned with respect to their own policy.”

Many more French big players have already succes stories and tracking records in the UAE such as EDF, AKUO Energy or Schneider Electric. Indeed, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) has awarded few months ago a AED 58 million consultancy contract for the pumped-storage hydroelectric power station at Hatta Dam to France’s EDF. The project is the ﬁrst of its kind in the Arabian Gulf, with a total capacity of 250MW, and is expected to last between 60 to 80 years.

The core business of Veolia frequently involves dealing with large public clients, Joseph said.

“Naturally,

French diplomacy, like all diplomacy, is more comfortable when discussing with big public bodies, such as ministries and public authorities, rather than with private stakeholders. So for a French company working in that ﬁeld of business, environmental services, the French diplomacy has a very efﬁcient action to support us,” he said.

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview

FOCUS

SUSTAINABILITY

Another French company helping the UAE to achieve its sustainable agenda is Engie, formally known as GDF Suez. The company says that in the UAE, it is trying to innovate in the renewable energy sector, storage grid management and in the design of a clean desalination process.

“There

is a French history with water management. Companies like Veolia were created in the nineteenth century in France and have really developed a model. This model is well known, and the knowledge and know-how of the French industry in the ﬁeld of sustainability is something which is acknowledged around the world,” Joseph continued.

To this end, Engie signed a research contract with Masdar in January 2015 to study seawater desalination, using only solar power.

“It is yet another reason we are helped to succeed in this region,” he added.

The signing took place at the World Future Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of Ségolène Royal, the former French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development & Energy.

As for what the future holds for French environmental services companies in the UAE, Joseph said that they would carry on playing a big part in the region’s push to become greener.

The contract provided for a study to be performed by Engie’s research and development (R&D) team at Masdar in Abu Dhabi.

They would, however, continue to need the support of the French government’s diplomatic efforts, he added.

So what is it, in particular, about French water companies that make their services so highly sought after? According to Joseph, at an essential level there is a big philosophical difference between the French companies and their competition.

“It is well known and absolutely clear that there is a French School in the water industry,” he said.

“The opportunity here is a lot... [But] we will need more

and more the support of the French diplomacy to help us, because we have more and more competition in our ﬁeld of expertise,” he said.

Veolia, and other French companies, would also be aided by their record, according to the CEO.

“We have had a lot of very nice success here and around

the world, and this is our main advantage. We have references,” he concluded.

Economic Relations between UAE & FRANCE : an Overview