Gulf states to deliver emergency diesel shipments as France battles fuel crisis
Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain commit to selling diesel equivalent to 10% of France's consumption in coming weeks as energy prices fuel widespread protests and economic disruption.
Omar Al Nuaimi
Gulf states to boost diesel shipments to struggling France
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have agreed to supply France with diesel equivalent to 10 per cent of the country's consumption in the coming weeks, according to sources at the Elysee Palace.
The emergency fuel deliveries aim to ease a deepening energy crisis that has seen diesel prices soar to record levels, triggering widespread public anger and violent protests across France. Diesel prices peaked at €2.41 per liter in September 2026 before declining slightly to €2.328 per liter by mid-October, still 9 per cent above the European Union average and 45 per cent higher than a year earlier.
"The greater the quantity, the lower the price. It's quite simple," said an advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron, explaining the government's strategy to flood the market with imported fuel.
A significant portion of the deal was secured during Macron's Gulf tour, which began on October 19 in Kuwait and the UAE, hours after he delivered a national address following a weekend of violent rioting. The president's itinerary includes visits to Bahrain and Qatar through October 21.
Details of the Gulf diesel commitments
France had previously obtained guarantees from Saudi Arabia to sell 95,000 tonnes of diesel in both October and November, totaling 190,000 tonnes over two months. The UAE and Bahrain are expected to separately sell 100,000 tonnes of diesel to France in the coming weeks, though the exact duration of these deliveries remains unclear.
"These are political commitments obtained from countries in the region because they know us and they know we are reliable—because we have been there during every critical moment, notably by deploying air defence capabilities," the presidential adviser said.
The diesel sales will be processed through French energy giant TotalEnergies, whose chairman and chief executive Patrick Pouyanné is accompanying Macron on the Gulf tour. Pouyanné has led the company since October 2014 and has deep operational experience in the Gulf region, having worked in Qatar and other Middle Eastern markets since the 1990s.
Multi-pronged government response
The Gulf diesel purchases form part of a broader government strategy to address the fuel crisis. On October 7, French authorities announced they would release 10 million barrels of diesel from strategic stockpiles over three months, a measure expected to lower retail prices by 12 to 18 euro cents per liter.
The government has committed €1.4 billion in total spending on fuel relief measures, including €450 million in new initiatives announced in September 2026. The emergency response comes as diesel sales fell 7.3 per cent in the first half of 2026, with consumers reducing consumption in response to record-high prices.
UAE-France cooperation expands
During the Abu Dhabi leg of his visit, Macron witnessed the signing of new agreements between the UAE and France covering energy, artificial intelligence and advanced technology. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, attended the signing ceremony alongside the French president.
In the AI sector, three preliminary agreements were signed involving Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Abu Dhabi technology firm G42, and computing company Analog, all partnering with French AI start-up AMI Labs to strengthen research cooperation and explore applications across vital fields.
Energy cooperation was also bolstered through agreements between Adnoc Gas and Schneider Electric to assess advanced technologies for operational improvements, while Adnoc Refining signed two contracts with Technip Energies relating to a refining capacity enhancement project and a sustainable aviation fuel initiative.
The diplomatic and commercial activity underscores France's reliance on its Gulf partnerships during a period of domestic economic strain, as Macron seeks to leverage long-standing regional relationships to ease pressure on French consumers struggling with the highest fuel costs on record.
