BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – Building on a foundation of longstanding cooperation, the United Arab Emirates and Germany have enhanced their bilateral partnership amid a visit to Berlin. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the signing of 12 government agreements and declarations. These agreements span sectors including investment, energy, technology, aviation, security, environmental policy, legal affairs, and culture. Additionally, both nations launched a Strategic Dialogue aimed at fostering coordinated efforts across multiple government sectors. This initiative builds upon their existing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2004.
Furthermore, the two governments agreed to establish a German-UAE Investment Council to promote closer collaboration between public and private sectors. They also revived the Joint Economic Committee to serve as another platform for trade and investment discussions. The scope of the Strategic Dialogue encompasses security, defence, commerce, energy, climate policies, transport, education, and digital advancement. The dialogue will also facilitate cooperation on emerging technologies and other shared policy concerns. Germany and the UAE signed separate arrangements that address legal assistance, crime prevention, data systems, and government information services.
Aviation also played a significant role in the agreements unveiled during the visit. Among the new measures are expanded access privileges for UAE national airlines operating at Berlin Airport. Other documents focus on passenger procedures and cooperation between relevant authorities. The package also includes provisions for defence, security, and environmental collaboration. The two nations signed a memorandum dedicated to cultural cooperation and committed to continuing joint efforts in energy, covering areas such as liquefied natural gas, renewable energy, and hydrogen.
Economic ties strengthened through a substantial investment package
The visit culminated in an announcement of a UAE investment package valued at 40 billion euros for Germany. This fund aims to support advanced digital infrastructure and the development of new data centres with approximately 1 gigawatt of capacity. Additionally, companies from both nations finalized 29 commercial agreements and memoranda totaling more than 9.356 billion euros. These private-sector deals complement the government agreements announced in Berlin, underscoring the economic dimension of the broader cooperation agenda and the significance of this state visit.
Current UAE-Germany economic relations are notable, with non-oil trade reaching $15.5 billion in 2025—a rise of over 14% compared to the previous year. Cumulative investment flows from 2021 through 2025 have surpassed $10 billion. Existing UAE investments in Germany include XRG’s roughly 15 billion euro investment in Covestro. Both governments also highlighted ongoing negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement between the UAE and the European Union.
Progress in technology, energy, and transportation collaboration
The broader commercial relationship includes projects involving Covestro, RWE, ADNOC, and Masdar. The cooperation spans LNG, renewable energy, and hydrogen, supplementing existing investments. Digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence are also prioritized sectors for expanded partnership. These agreements establish formal channels for government agencies and companies to collaborate on these areas. Furthermore, Germany and the UAE incorporated transport, environmental policy, and advanced technology into their new bilateral framework.
The official state visit, taking place from September 9 to September 11, marks the first-ever visit by a UAE president to Germany. Meetings held in Berlin covered key areas such as economic affairs, technology, energy, culture, education, and regional issues. The introduction of the Strategic Dialogue and Investment Council creates new formal mechanisms to manage ongoing and future bilateral cooperation. The 12 government agreements complement the 29 commercial arrangements and the 40 billion euro investment package, collectively covering public policy, infrastructure, trade, aviation, security, technology, and energy collaboration.