BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – During a state visit to Berlin, the United Arab Emirates and Germany established a Strategic Dialogue and agreed to set up a bilateral Investment Council. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the signing of 12 government-level agreements, memoranda, and declarations. These agreements encompass areas such as investment, energy, technology, aviation, security, legal cooperation, environmental issues, data systems, and culture. They serve to enhance the existing framework of the UAE-Germany Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which has been in place since 2004.
The newly formed Strategic Dialogue aims to facilitate collaboration on regional security, defence, trade, investment, energy, climate initiatives, digital transformation, transportation, education, and emerging technologies. Both nations also signed a declaration of intent to create the German-UAE Investment Council, providing a platform for engagement between public and private sectors on various investment initiatives. Additionally, officials revived the Joint Economic Committee, adding a formal channel to deepen bilateral economic and commercial discussions.
Among the government agreements are new arrangements for air transport access for UAE carriers to Berlin Airport. The accords also include cooperation on passenger procedures, crime prevention, and mutual legal assistance in criminal cases. Separate documents address defence and security collaboration, environmental policies, data hosting, and information systems. Both countries committed to further expanding energy cooperation and signed a memorandum on cultural exchange.
Economic Dimensions Amplified by €40 Billion Investment Plan
The visit resulted in a UAE investment package worth 40 billion euros dedicated to Germany. This package targets the development of advanced digital infrastructure, including plans for new data centres with approximately 1 gigawatt of capacity. Furthermore, UAE and German companies signed 29 commercial agreements and memoranda valued at more than 9.356 billion euros, boosting the scope of bilateral economic engagement beyond the government accords announced during the visit.
Trade and investment figures highlight the depth of the existing economic relationship, with UAE-Germany non-oil trade reaching $15.5 billion in 2025, reflecting over a 14% increase from the previous year. Cumulative investment flows between the two nations surpassed $10 billion from 2021 to 2025. Both governments also confirmed ongoing negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement between the UAE and the European Union.
Expansion of Energy, Technology, and Transport Collaborations
The investment agenda includes ongoing projects involving Covestro, RWE, ADNOC, and Masdar. Existing UAE-linked investments in Germany include XRG’s approximately 15 billion euro investment in Covestro. The two countries also identified liquefied natural gas, renewable energy, and hydrogen as key sectors for continued cooperation. Their agreements extend to digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technological fields within the broader bilateral framework.
Running from September 9 to September 11, this visit marks the first time a UAE president has made a state visit to Germany. Discussions in Berlin encompassed economic cooperation, technology, energy, culture, education, and regional issues. The formation of the Strategic Dialogue, Investment Council, and the related agreements establish new formal channels to manage bilateral cooperation. The announced measures during the visit span government policy, investments, private-sector agreements, transportation access, and major infrastructure projects.