BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – During a visit to Berlin in September, the United Arab Emirates and Germany expanded their bilateral partnership through a series of new agreements. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the signing of 12 government accords and declarations. These cover areas such as investment, energy, technology, aviation, security, environmental policy, legal affairs, and culture. The two nations also launched a Strategic Dialogue aimed at enhancing collaboration across multiple government sectors. This initiative builds upon their established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which dates back to 2004.
The governments also agreed to establish a German-UAE Investment Council to foster closer cooperation between the public and private sectors. The reactivation of the Joint Economic Committee will serve as an additional platform for trade and investment discussions. The scope of the Strategic Dialogue includes security, defence, commerce, energy, climate policy, transport, education, and digital development. It will also promote cooperation on emerging technologies and other shared policy priorities. Furthermore, Germany and the UAE formalized arrangements related to legal assistance, crime prevention, data systems, and government information services through separate agreements.
Aviation was another focus area of the agreements announced during the visit. The new measures include expanded access for UAE national airlines operating at Berlin Airport. Additional documents address passenger procedures and coordination between relevant authorities. The package also encompasses cooperation on defence, security, and environmental issues. Additionally, both sides signed a memorandum dedicated to cultural collaboration and committed to ongoing efforts in energy, including liquefied natural gas, renewable energy, and hydrogen.
Economic Relations Strengthened through a Major Investment Package
The visit featured an announcement of a UAE investment package valued at 40 billion euros for Germany. The planned investments focus on advanced digital infrastructure and the development of new data centres with approximately 1 gigawatt of capacity. Companies from both nations signed 29 commercial agreements and memoranda worth over 9.356 billion euros. These private-sector deals complement the government agreements disclosed in Berlin. The investment package provides a significant economic dimension to the state visit and the broader cooperation agenda.
Current economic data underscores the strength of UAE-Germany business relations. Non-oil trade between the two countries reached $15.5 billion in 2025, representing a growth of over 14% compared to the previous year. Cumulative investment flows from 2021 to 2025 exceeded $10 billion. Existing UAE-linked investments in Germany include XRG’s approximate 15 billion euro stake in Covestro. Both governments also referenced ongoing negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement between the UAE and the European Union.
Progress in Technology, Energy, and Transportation Sectors
In addition to the agreements, corporate projects involving Covestro, RWE, ADNOC, and Masdar form a key part of the expanding commercial relationship. Energy cooperation encompasses LNG, renewable energy, and hydrogen, alongside existing investment links. Digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence also feature prominently in plans for expanded collaboration. These agreements establish formal channels for government agencies and companies to work together in these fields. Transport, environmental policy, and advanced technology are also integrated into the new bilateral framework.
The state visit, held from September 9 to September 11, marked the first-ever by a UAE president to Germany. Discussions in Berlin covered economic issues, technology, energy, culture, education, and regional concerns. 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 encompass public policy, infrastructure development, trade, aviation, security, technology, and energy collaboration.