BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – During a state visit to Berlin, the United Arab Emirates and Germany enhanced their bilateral collaboration. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the signing of 12 government accords and declarations. These agreements span sectors including investment, energy, technology, aviation, security, environmental policy, legal affairs, and culture. Additionally, both nations established a Strategic Dialogue to coordinate efforts across various government sectors. The steps reinforce their existing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was founded in 2004.
A consensus was reached to form a German-UAE Investment Council aimed at strengthening engagement between public and private sectors. The resumption of the Joint Economic Committee was also agreed upon as another platform for trade and investment dialogue. The Strategic Dialogue will encompass security, defence, commerce, energy, climate policy, transport, education, and digital development, including collaboration on emerging technologies and shared policy issues. Furthermore, Germany and the UAE signed separate agreements concerning legal assistance, crime prevention, data systems, and government information services.
The agreements also addressed the aviation sector, which saw new measures such as expanded access for UAE national airlines operating at Berlin Airport. Additional documents focused on passenger procedures and cooperation between relevant authorities. The package also covers defence, security, and environmental collaboration. Both countries signed a memorandum dedicated to cultural cooperation and committed to ongoing work in energy sectors, including liquefied natural gas, renewable energy, and hydrogen.
Economic links strengthened through investment initiatives
The visit featured a UAE investment initiative valued at 40 billion euros dedicated to Germany. The planned investments include advanced digital infrastructure and new data centres with approximately 1 gigawatt of capacity. Companies from both nations executed 29 commercial agreements and memoranda totaling over 9.356 billion euros. These private-sector deals complemented the government agreements announced in Berlin. The investment initiative significantly enhances the economic dimension of the state visit and broadens their cooperative agenda.
Trade data reveal the magnitude of the current UAE-Germany business relationship. Non-oil trade between the two countries reached $15.5 billion in 2025, marking a more than 14% increase from the previous year. Cumulative investment flows exceeded $10 billion between 2021 and 2025. Existing UAE-related investments in Germany include XRG’s approximately 15 billion euro investment in Covestro. Both governments also acknowledged ongoing negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement between the UAE and the European Union.
Progress in technological, energy, and transportation collaborations
The broader commercial relationship involves projects with Covestro, RWE, ADNOC, and Masdar. Energy cooperation focuses on LNG, renewable power, and hydrogen, building on existing investments. Digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence are also key sectors targeted for expanded cooperation. These agreements establish formal channels for government agencies and companies to collaborate within these areas. Transport, environmental policy, and advanced technology are integral parts of the new bilateral framework.
The state visit, held from September 9 to September 11, marks the first time a UAE president has visited Germany. Discussions in Berlin covered economic affairs, technology, energy, culture, education, and regional matters. The establishment of the Strategic Dialogue and Investment Council introduces new formal mechanisms to manage bilateral cooperation. The 12 government agreements are complemented by 29 commercial deals and the 40 billion euro investment package. Collectively, these initiatives span public policy, infrastructure, trade, aviation, security, and technological and energy collaborations.