France is set to strengthen its presence in the Gulf’s rapidly evolving energy sector as 13 French companies prepare to showcase their latest power and energy technologies at Middle East Energy 2026, scheduled for September 1–3 at Dubai World Trade Centre.
The companies will participate under a dedicated Business France Pavilion, presenting technologies designed to address the region’s growing demand for reliable, efficient and digitally connected power infrastructure.
The French delegation will focus on several key areas, including grid resilience, smart infrastructure, energy efficiency, critical power systems and renewable-energy integration. Their participation comes as electricity consumption continues to increase across the GCC, while governments accelerate renewable-energy projects and digital transformation of power networks.
UAE Energy Investment Creates New Opportunities
The UAE’s updated Energy Strategy 2050 is expected to drive significant investment in the country’s energy infrastructure. The strategy envisages between AED150 billion and AED200 billion ($41 billion) in investment by 2030, creating opportunities across smart grids, energy storage, digital infrastructure and sustainable power systems.
As renewable-energy capacity expands, strengthening electricity networks has become increasingly important to maintaining reliability and supporting the integration of new generation sources.
Regional grid connectivity is also receiving greater attention. The GCC Interconnection Authority is planning a direct connection between Oman and the GCC electricity grid, involving approximately 530 kilometres of 400kV transmission lines. The project is intended to improve regional electricity exchange while strengthening overall grid resilience.
Meanwhile, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is investing AED7 billion in its Smart Grid Programme through 2035, underlining the emirate’s focus on building a more intelligent and digitally enabled electricity network.
France-UAE Energy Cooperation
The French participation at Middle East Energy comes against the backdrop of expanding economic and strategic cooperation between France and the UAE.
Bilateral trade increased from EUR8.5 billion in 2024 to EUR10.8 billion in 2025, with cooperation extending across energy transition, climate initiatives, advanced technologies and artificial intelligence.
The French pavilion is expected to provide an opportunity for participating companies to engage with Gulf utilities, infrastructure developers, technology providers and other industry stakeholders seeking solutions for modern power networks.
Technologies Covering the Power Sector
The exhibitors will feature technologies covering areas such as grid protection, network monitoring, automation, power distribution and critical energy systems.
Among the participating companies are CITEL-2CP, INDELEC, SERGI TRANSFORMER PROTECTOR, CHAUVIN ARNOUX, AOIP, MICHAUD EXPORT, ENERSYS and INFOSEC UPS SYSTEM.
Their portfolios include solutions for surge protection, transformer safety, electrical measurement, energy storage, batteries and uninterruptible power supplies.
With electricity demand rising and renewable-energy deployment accelerating across the Gulf, the French delegation will use Middle East Energy 2026 to demonstrate how its technologies can contribute to more resilient, connected and intelligent energy infrastructure.
The participation also reflects the wider shift in the region’s power sector, where grid modernisation, digitalisation and renewable integration are becoming central to long-term energy planning.
