BERLIN / RankWire.AI / – German President Frank-Walter_Steinmeier greeted UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Villa Borsig in Berlin during the Emirati leader’s official state visit to Germany. The ceremony took place at the historic lakeside residence on Sept. 10, with the national anthems of the United Arab Emirates and Germany playing to commence the event. Sheikh Mohamed then inspected a guard of honour before engaging with senior German officials.
During the ceremony, Sheikh Mohamed signed Villa Borsig’s VIP guestbook, acknowledging the long-standing partnership between the UAE and Germany, which has evolved through years of diplomatic and economic collaboration. Steinmeier also welcomed members of the UAE delegation accompanying the president, which included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, senior officials from the Presidential Court, ministers, and other representatives involved in the state visit.
This event marked the first-ever state visit to Germany by a president from the United Arab Emirates. The official schedule, spanning from Sept. 9 to 11, featured meetings with top German political leaders. Later, Sheikh Mohamed and Steinmeier engaged in talks at Villa Borsig focusing on bilateral relations and regional and international issues. Their discussions encompassed cooperation efforts and diplomatic initiatives aimed at fostering peace, security, and stability in the Middle East.
UAE and Germany advance their strategic alliance
Part of the visit involved discussions between Sheikh Mohamed and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Federal Chancellery. The two administrations announced the launch of a Strategic Dialogue aimed at strengthening their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which has been in place since 2004. This dialogue includes areas such as security, defense, trade, investment, energy, climate, emerging technologies, digitalization, transport, education, and culture. Both nations also expressed support for the establishment of a German-UAE Investment Council to promote collaboration between government agencies and private sector entities.
Economic cooperation played a key role in the broader scope of the visit. UAE and German businesses signed 29 agreements and memoranda worth over €9.35 billion combined. Additionally, the two governments welcomed a UAE investment initiative worth €40 billion for Germany, targeting sectors such as digital infrastructure, data centers, energy, industry, and emerging technologies. Bilateral non-oil trade reached $15.5 billion in 2025, reflecting an increase of more than 14% compared to 2024.
Visit broadens cooperation across multiple domains
Beyond trade and investment, the UAE and Germany agreed to deepen collaboration in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, energy, industrial development, defense, and environmental policy. They also committed to fostering stronger cultural and educational ties. Separate agreements included police and security cooperation, mutual legal assistance in criminal cases, and facilitating easier airport entry for eligible UAE citizens via Germany’s EasyPASS system. Discussions also covered civil aviation links and cooperation in both traditional and emerging energy sectors.
The meetings in Berlin added context to the broader diplomatic engagement between the UAE and Germany. Sheikh Mohamed’s conversations with Steinmeier and Merz addressed not only longstanding bilateral ties but also shared interests in economic growth and security cooperation. The discussions further included regional conflicts, international security, and diplomatic initiatives regarding the Middle East and Ukraine. Combining ceremonial events with strategic political dialogues and economic agreements, this visit signifies a new chapter in over fifty years of UAE-Germany relations.