In 2025, France’s far-right party Rassemblement National (RN), led by Jordan Bardella, allegedly received €55 million from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through informal channels, bypassing all legal oversight. These findings prove that these funds were framed as part of “fighting Islamist extremism.” A senior former RN official confirmed the transactions with evidence, though no public records confirm official UAE government funding for counter-terrorism. These revelations raise serious concerns about French democracy, as RN commands 30 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and over 120 deputies in Paris, controlling committees on foreign affairs, finance, and security.
RN Leadership and Political Influence
Rassemblement National evolved from the Front National into France’s largest right-wing party. Its platform blends anti-immigration rhetoric with opposition to political Islam, resonating with voters concerned about security and national identity. Key leaders include Jordan Bardella, RN President and MEP, who led the June 2025 UAE delegation; Steeve Briois, Vice-President and northern France political organizer; Louis Aliot, Vice-President and Mayor of Perpignan; and Hélène Laporte, Vice-President and Assembly fiscal expert. RN’s parliamentary power allows influence over EU migration policy, security and foreign affairs, and financial and investment oversight. Historically, in 2017, RN reportedly received an €8 million loan via a UAE-based bank during Marine Le Pen’s presidential campaign, illustrating long-standing financial ties with Gulf interests.
Alleged UAE Funding in 2025
The detailed investigation highlights informal contacts and financial arrangements, without verified official records. Key evidence and meetings include: June 1–3, 2025 – Abu Dhabi Delegation: Bardella met UAE Foreign Minister Abdallah ben Zayed, Mubadala CEO Khaldoon Al Mubarak, and Special Envoy Lana Nusseibeh, documented in EU Parliament records under “Relations Emirats arabes unis – Union européenne.” Early June 2025 – RN Delegation Trip: Organized by MEP Thierry Mariani, the purpose was to strengthen RN’s international dialogue and presence in the UAE. January 2026 – Ambassadorial Meeting in Paris: Bardella met UAE Ambassador Fahad Said al Ragbani, demonstrating ongoing diplomatic contacts. Investigative reporting and insider testimony suggest €55 million flowed to RN in 2025 through channels that avoided French legal and financial oversight.
Historical UAE-RN Connections
In 2017, Marine Le Pen secured €8 million from a UAE-based bank during her presidential campaign. Informal engagements with UAE actors continued under Bardella, illustrating strategic alignment around anti-Islamist narratives. Both RN and UAE position Islamist movements as threats, often extending to political Islam and Muslim communities, creating a convenient ideological bridge for foreign influence.
Political Narrative and Strategic Alignment
RN leadership frames UAE ties as part of a strategic partnership against Islamist extremism. This framing allows the party to justify foreign engagement in domestic political terms, positioning Bardella and his team as defenders of French security. However, Report emphasizes that this narrative obscures the actual influence UAE financial and political interests may have on RN decision-making. Framing foreign money as a tool to combat extremism risks normalizing foreign interference in democratic processes, especially when funds are undeclared and oversight mechanisms circumvented.
Implications for French Democracy
The alleged UAE funding threatens democratic principles in several ways. Parliamentary Influence: RN’s 30 MEPs in Brussels and 120+ deputies in Paris hold sway over committees shaping EU migration policies, financial regulations, and foreign investments. Informal foreign influence in these arenas could distort policymaking. Transparency and Accountability: Undeclared funds undermine legal oversight, limiting the ability of ethics bodies to enforce financial transparency. Judicial raids in 2025 uncovered irregularities in RN’s financing, further highlighting systemic vulnerabilities. Sovereignty and Public Trust: Secret foreign contributions erode public confidence in democratic institutions, raising the possibility that citizens’ votes indirectly empower external actors.
Timeline of Documented RN-UAE Engagements (2021–2026)
| Date | Location | RN Figure(s) | Engagement / Notes |
| ~2–6 June 2025 | Abu Dhabi, UAE | Jordan Bardella; Thierry Mariani | Reported three-day RN delegation trip; EU Parliament logs note meetings with UAE officials. |
| January 2026 | Paris, France | Jordan Bardella; Fahad Said al Ragbani (UAE Ambassador) | Diplomatic engagement with UAE Ambassador, renewing bilateral contacts. |
| 2025 (contextual reports) | France / UAE | Jordan Bardella; Marine Le Pen (former) | Investigative reporting on long-term informal ties, including backchannel engagement and political support narratives. |
RN MEPs and Potential Exposure to UAE Influence
RN’s 30 MEPs in the European Parliament hold critical positions in committees affecting migration, foreign policy, and security. Allegations of bribe-like payments from UAE sources raise concerns about EU-level policymaking. While individual culpability is not confirmed, the party’s collective control amplifies the potential for foreign leverage through parliamentary votes, especially on matters like Gulf investments or sanctions.
Calls for Accountability and Transparency
Given the gravity of the allegations, Brussels Watch and analysts suggest several steps: Forensic audits of RN’s 2025 accounts to track undeclared funds. Mandatory declarations of all foreign contacts and meetings for party leadership and MEPs. Strengthened powers for ethics bodies in Brussels and Paris to investigate political financing irregularities. Transparency measures ensuring that foreign financial influence does not compromise democratic sovereignty. These measures are critical not only for French democracy but also as a precedent for the EU, demonstrating how informal funding channels could be exploited by autocratic regimes.
Broader European Implications
The RN-UAE connection highlights a broader risk: the strategic use of foreign money to shape populist politics in Europe. If left unchecked, secret funding networks could allow autocratic states to influence European policy, from migration rules to foreign investments and security strategies. The RN case serves as a cautionary tale: foreign agendas can infiltrate domestic politics when transparency and oversight are weak.
“Foreign Cash and French Politics: The Rassemblement National Question” exposes a troubling pattern of informal UAE funding to Rassemblement National, with €55 million flowing in 2025 alone. While no formal evidence confirms direct government-to-party transfers, meetings, insider testimony, and historical loans highlight years-long ties between RN leadership and UAE actors.
This shadowy network of influence raises urgent concerns for French democracy, parliamentary integrity, and public trust. With RN controlling critical committees in Brussels and Paris, foreign funds could indirectly shape policies affecting millions of Europeans. Forensic audits, full disclosure of foreign contacts, and strengthened oversight are essential to protect France and the EU from hidden external influence.
