• 1st edition of French Tech Award, won by a Dubai based Entrepreneur
• Middle East unveiling of PSA new vehicle, 3008 Peugeot 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 1st 2017 - Under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hasher bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, Director General of Dubai Information Department and His Excellency Michel Miraillet, Ambassador of France to the UAE, Gala Dinner 2017 of the French Business Council in Dubai and Northern Emirates was attended by more than 1,100 representatives of French major companies, local partners and international VIP guests to honor 30 years of relationship between France and UAE.

As the largest French business event in Dubai, the gala dinner was a historic evening celebrating 30 years of effective collaboration, ambitious projects and success of France in the UAE.

This year, the ceremony has been marked by a new initiative to highlight the tech and digital startups in the UAE, in partnership with the French Tech Hub Dubai UAE and supported by its partner KPMG to audition the candidates. La French Tech is a label powered internationally by Business France, the national agency in charge of the international development of the French economy. 

The jury of high-level professional and institutional members awarded Marc Fleschen, Founder and CEO of ZERO.1, as the winner for the development of a Light Fidelity (LiFi) solution that uses LEDs to provide data. He received his award from the hands of Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor Hotels, who specially came from France.

France is one of UAE’s top trading partners in Europe and bilateral relations have strengthened in recent years, with 3.6 billion euros of exports. UAE is therefore the main market in the Gulf region. Both countries then share synergies while they remain attractive markets for foreign direct investment. 

Michel Miraillet, Ambassador of France to the UAE stated: “I wish to thank Dubai authorities for placing their trust in us. Today, a tourist comes to Dubai with an Airbus A380, takes a metro equipped by Thales, and catches a connection to the Tramway built by Alstom to reach his hotel operated by Accor Hotels chain”. 

FBC Gala Dinner was also a great occasion to highlight automotive innovation when PSA Group revealed in sneak preview its new 3008 Peugeot vehicles. EDF and Veolia demonstrated their strong position on the power and sustainability fields, and Chalhoub Group participated in the success of this event.

“And beyond the well-known solutions of our large corporations, what France also has to offer to the UAE is a wide network of startups and SMEs that create a smarter and happier future!”, Miraillet added.