BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – During a state visit to Berlin, the United Arab Emirates and Germany initiated a Strategic Dialogue and reached an agreement to create a bilateral Investment Council. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz attended the event where the announcement of 12 government-level accords, memoranda, and declarations was made. These agreements encompass sectors such as investment, energy, technology, aviation, security, legal cooperation, environmental issues, data systems, and cultural exchanges, thereby broadening the scope of the longstanding UAE-Germany Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2004.
The newly formed Strategic Dialogue aims to facilitate collaboration across multiple domains including regional security, defense, trade, investment, energy, climate change, digital transformation, transportation, education, and emerging technologies. Additionally, both nations signed a declaration of intent to set up the German-UAE Investment Council, which will serve as a platform for engaging both public and private sectors in various investment initiatives. The resumption of the Joint Economic Committee further enhances bilateral economic and commercial discussions by providing an official forum for dialogue.
Among the governmental agreements are arrangements that improve air transport access for UAE national carriers at Berlin Airport, alongside cooperation on passenger procedures, crime prevention, and mutual legal assistance in criminal cases. Separate documents address collaboration in defense and security, environmental policies, data hosting, and information systems. Both nations also committed to expanding energy cooperation and signed a memorandum focused on cultural collaboration.
Economic implications of the investment package
The visit resulted in a UAE investment commitment of 40 billion euros for Germany, primarily aimed at developing advanced digital infrastructure and establishing new data centers with an approximate capacity of 1 gigawatt. Furthermore, companies from both countries signed 29 business agreements and memoranda valued at over 9.356 billion euros, supplementing the governmental accords and broadening the economic scope of the discussions held during the visit.
Trade and investment figures further reveal the depth of the economic relationship, with UAE-Germany non-oil trade reaching $15.5 billion in 2025—a rise of more than 14% compared to the previous year. Cumulative investments flowing between the two countries from 2021 through 2025 exceeded $10 billion. The governments also highlighted ongoing negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement between the UAE and the European Union, which could further enhance their economic partnership.
Expansion of energy, technology, and transportation collaborations
The investment agenda also promotes further corporate projects involving companies such as Covestro, RWE, ADNOC, and Masdar. Notably, existing UAE-linked investments in Germany include XRG’s approximately 15 billion euro stake in Covestro. Both nations identified key areas for continued energy cooperation, including liquefied natural gas, renewable energy, and hydrogen. Their agreements also encompass digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and other cutting-edge technologies within the broader bilateral cooperation framework.
Taking place from September 9 to September 11, this visit marked the first time a UAE president has made a state visit to Germany. Discussions in Berlin covered a range of topics such as economic cooperation, technology, energy, cultural exchanges, education, and regional affairs. 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 cooperation. Altogether, the measures announced during the visit span government policies, investment initiatives, private-sector agreements, transportation access, and major infrastructure developments.