BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – On September 9 to September 11, in Berlin, the United Arab Emirates and Germany embarked on a significant new chapter in their relationship by establishing a bilateral Investment Council and a Strategic Dialogue during a state visit. 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 initiatives span sectors such as investment, energy, technology, aviation, security, legal cooperation, environmental affairs, data systems, and culture. These accords further strengthen the framework of the UAE-Germany Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2004.
During the negotiations, the Strategic Dialogue aims to promote collaboration across regional security, defence, trade, investment, energy, climate change, digital innovation, transport, education, and emerging technologies. Both nations also committed to creating the German-UAE Investment Council through a declaration of intent, offering a platform for public and private sector engagement on investment opportunities. Additionally, officials revived the Joint Economic Committee, providing an official channel for bilateral commercial and economic discussions.
Among the government agreements are new arrangements facilitating air transport access for UAE national airlines to Berlin Airport, along with cooperation on passenger procedures, crime prevention, and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. Separate accords address defence and security partnerships, environmental policies, data hosting, and information systems. Both countries also agreed to further expand energy cooperation and signed a memorandum on cultural collaboration.
New investment package injects substantial economic momentum
The diplomatic visit culminated in a UAE investment commitment of 40 billion euros to Germany. The package prioritizes digital infrastructure, including plans for new data centres with approximately 1 gigawatt of capacity. Moreover, UAE and German companies formalized 29 business agreements and memoranda valued at over 9.356 billion euros, complementing the government accords announced during the visit and broadening the economic scope of the bilateral discussions.
Trade and investment figures reflect the depth of existing economic ties, with UAE-Germany non-oil trade reaching $15.5 billion in 2025, marking over a 14% increase from the previous year. Cumulative bilateral investment flows exceeded $10 billion from 2021 to 2025. Additionally, both governments highlighted ongoing negotiations toward a comprehensive trade agreement between the UAE and the European Union.
Strengthening of energy, technological, and transportation collaborations
The investment agenda encompasses numerous corporate projects involving companies such as Covestro, RWE, ADNOC, and Masdar. Existing UAE-related investments in Germany include XRG’s approximately 15 billion euro stake in Covestro. The two nations also identified key sectors like liquefied natural gas, renewable energy, and hydrogen for continued energy cooperation. Their agreements further extend into digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and other cutting-edge technologies as part of their broader bilateral framework.
This official visit, which took place from September 9 to September 11, marked the first time a UAE president visited Germany on a state level. During the trip, meetings covered topics such as economic cooperation, technology, energy, culture, education, and regional issues. The establishment of the Strategic Dialogue, Investment Council, and the signing of related agreements provide the two governments with formal mechanisms to manage and deepen their collaboration. Overall, the announced measures during Berlin talks encompass government policies, investments, private-sector agreements, transport access, and major infrastructure initiatives.