BERLIN / RankWire.AI / – German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier received UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Villa Borsig in Berlin during the Emirati leader’s state visit to Germany. The formal welcome ceremony was held at the historic lakeside residence on Sept. 10, with the national anthems of the United Arab Emirates and Germany signaling the start of the event. Sheikh Mohamed inspected a guard of honour before greeting high-ranking German officials.
During the ceremony, Sheikh Mohamed signed Villa Borsig’s VIP guestbook, highlighting the long-standing alliance between the UAE and Germany, built through decades of diplomatic and economic cooperation. Steinmeier also greeted members of the UAE delegation accompanying the president. This delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, senior Presidential Court officials, ministers, and other government representatives participating in the state visit.
This ceremony marked the first-ever state visit of an Emirati president to Germany. The official schedule spanned from September 9 to 11 and featured discussions with Germany’s top political leaders. Later, Sheikh Mohamed and Steinmeier held bilateral talks at Villa Borsig focusing on bilateral relations and regional and global issues. Topics discussed ranged from cooperation between the two nations to diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace, security, and stability across the Middle East.
UAE and Germany Expand Their Strategic Alliance
A key part of the visit involved meetings between Sheikh Mohamed and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Federal Chancellery. Both governments announced the launch of a Strategic Dialogue aimed at bolstering their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2004. This dialogue encompasses areas such as security, defense, trade, investment, energy, climate change, emerging technologies, digitalization, transport, education, and culture. Both nations also endorsed the creation of a German-UAE Investment Council to facilitate increased collaboration between government agencies and private sector entities.
Economic accords played a prominent role throughout the broader state visit. UAE and German businesses signed 29 agreements and memoranda valued collectively at over €9.35 billion. Additionally, the two governments welcomed a UAE investment package amounting to €40 billion in Germany. Focus areas include digital infrastructure and data centers, energy, manufacturing, and emerging technologies. Bilateral non-oil trade hit $15.5 billion in 2025, representing an increase of more than 14% from 2024.
Expanding Cooperation Marks a New Phase in UAE-Germany Relations
Beyond economic and investment talks, the discussions between Germany and the UAE extended to cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, energy, industrial growth, defense, and environmental policies. Both sides expressed support for enhancing cultural and educational exchanges. Separate agreements covered police and security collaborations, mutual legal assistance in criminal cases, and facilitating airport entry for eligible UAE citizens through Germany’s EasyPASS system. Additional topics included civil aviation links and collaboration across conventional and emerging energy sectors.
The diplomatic activities in Berlin took place within a broader framework of engagement between the UAE and Germany. Sheikh Mohamed’s meetings with Steinmeier and Merz focused on strengthening existing bilateral ties as well as advancing economic and security cooperation. The discussions also addressed regional conflicts, international security issues, and diplomatic efforts related to the Middle East and Ukraine. The state visit combined ceremonial events with formal diplomatic negotiations and economic agreements, signifying a new chapter in more than five decades of UAE-Germany relations.