BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – During a state visit to Berlin in September 2023, the United Arab Emirates and Germany initiated a Strategic Dialogue, agreeing to create 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 cover a broad spectrum of sectors including investment, energy, technology, aviation, security, legal cooperation, environmental issues, data systems, and culture. These accords strengthen the longstanding framework of the UAE-Germany Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2004.
The Strategic Dialogue aims to facilitate collaboration across areas such as regional security, defense, trade, investment, energy, climate initiatives, digital transformation, transportation, education, and emerging technologies. Both nations also signed a declaration of intent to set up the German-UAE Investment Council, which will serve as a platform for engagement between public and private sector stakeholders on investment projects. Additionally, officials reinstated the Joint Economic Committee, enhancing bilateral channels for commercial and economic discussions.
Among the government agreements are new arrangements for transport access, enabling UAE national carriers to operate at Berlin Airport. The accords also cover cooperation on passenger procedures, crime prevention, and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. Separate documents detail collaboration in defense and security, environmental policies, data hosting, and information systems. Both nations committed to further expanding energy cooperation and signed a memorandum focused on cultural collaboration.
Economic dimension heightened through €40 billion investment package
The visit resulted in a substantial UAE investment package worth 40 billion euros aimed at Germany. This initiative encompasses the development of advanced digital infrastructure and the creation of new data centers with approximately 1 gigawatt of capacity. Additionally, UAE and German firms signed 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 bilateral discussions.
Trade and investment figures highlight the depth of existing economic relations. In 2025, non-oil trade between the UAE and Germany reached $15.5 billion, reflecting an increase of more than 14% from the previous year. Cumulative investments between the two countries surpassed $10 billion from 2021 to 2025. Both governments also acknowledged ongoing negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement between the UAE and the European Union.
Expanding cooperation in energy, technology, and transportation sectors
The investment agenda includes additional corporate projects involving companies such as Covestro, RWE, ADNOC, and Masdar. Existing UAE-linked investments in Germany include XRG’s approximately 15 billion euro investment in Covestro. The two governments identified areas like liquefied natural gas, renewable energy, and hydrogen as key sectors for continued collaboration. Their agreements also extend to digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and other cutting-edge technologies within the broader bilateral framework.
Spanning from September 9 to September 11, the visit marked the first state visit to Germany by a UAE president. Discussions in Berlin covered economic cooperation, technological development, energy projects, cultural exchanges, educational initiatives, and regional issues. The Strategic Dialogue, Investment Council, and related agreements establish new formal channels for managing and enhancing cooperation. The measures announced encompass government policy, private sector deals, transport access, and major infrastructure initiatives.