France & UAE share values of creativity 1,050 guests from the business community celebrated Creativity in Dubai!

French major companies and SMEs, local partners and authorities as well as international VIP guests… all attended together the annual Gala Dinner of the French Business Council in Dubai and Northern Emirates, the largest French business community event of the year in the UAE! This remarkable evening took place on April 21st under the theme of creativity: ‘So French, So Creative!’ 

The French Business Council, a non-profit organization and business platform in Dubai, aims to promote economic and trade activities between France and the UAE by supporting a network of more than 700 members. The FBC Gala Dinner was a great occasion to highlight innovation and creativity values ​​of France throughout the world, and especially in Dubai. 

The international campaign launched by the French government, CREATIVE FRANCE, was part of the evening to strengthen perceptions towards France image and create positive conditions for French economic development. Creative France was a partner of the French Business Council Gala to send out a strong and clear message: France is a global leader of creativity.

H.E Michel Miraillet, Ambassador of France to the United Arab Emirates highlighted the strong synergies between both countries: “When it comes to creativity, the city of Dubai knows what it’s doing. The Gulf Metropolis experiences it and lives of it, every day. It’s in its DNA. Having risen from the desert in the space of a few decades, this metropolis was built on the vision, audacity and courage of a handful of visionaries and the leadership of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, continuously driving initiatives. The Emirates, we’ll never say it enough, represent our most important trade outlet in the Gulf and our 4th highest export worldwide. France as we see it in Dubai is dynamic, ambitious, with a conquering spirit, diverse... and creative!”

The gala was also marked by the presence of public personalities from political and business spheres: Bruno de Reneville, President of the French Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates and David Douillet, Vice President of the Paris France region (and French former high level sportsman), who placed the French innovative know-how and expertise at the heart of their official speeches which contribute to Dubai economic dynamism.

The highlights of this evening were: 

• The 1st edition of the ‘French creative entrepreneur award’

The winner, Julie Leblan, CEO and founder of Mylist.ae, the first online gift registry in the UAE, received her award from the hands of Hussain Al Jaziri, Honorary President of the FBC, and the famous Guillemot brothers, Chairmen, CEO and Co-founders of the global companies Ubisoft Entertainment and Gameloft.

The ‘French creative entrepreneur award’ is part of the FBC mission to support start-ups and innovative SMEs. 

- Worlwide premiere artistic show and technological demos

The evening was punctuated by exceptional creative moments. In first part, the Creativity Village was the right place to discover new French innovations: Drones by PARROT, 3D experience by WOW, Hologram and Mechatronics by FRACTAL, Robot by BLUEFROG ROBOTICS, Wireless speakers by DEVIALET...

Among the sponsors and partners of this exceptional evening, major Francophile companies like FedEx and Chalhoub Group, as well as French companies including Assystem, Veolia, EDF, benefited the large audience to demonstrate their creative and innovative expertise in the Middle East.

The dinner was prepared by talented Chefs from prestigious restaurants and hotels for a unique culinary experience at their live cooking stations... A team coordinated by Chef Andreas Mensch, Executive Chef at Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach.