BERLIN / RankWire.AI / – German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier received UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Villa Borsig in Berlin during the Emirati leader’s state visit to Germany. The event was formalized with a ceremony at the historic lakeside estate on Sept. 10, during which the national anthems of the United Arab Emirates and Germany signaled the commencement. Sheikh Mohamed inspected a guard of honour before engaging with senior German officials.
During the ceremony, Sheikh Mohamed signed the VIP guestbook at Villa Borsig. He emphasized the enduring partnership between the UAE and Germany, cultivated over decades through diplomatic and economic ties. Steinmeier also greeted members of the UAE delegation accompanying the president, which included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, high-ranking Presidential Court officials, ministers, and other government representatives involved in the visit.
This event marked the inaugural state visit to Germany by a UAE president. The official schedule spanned from Sept. 9 to 11, with meetings involving Germany’s top political figures. Sheikh Mohamed and Steinmeier later held discussions at Villa Borsig focusing on bilateral relationships, regional, and international issues, including cooperation efforts and diplomatic initiatives aimed at fostering peace, stability, and security across the Middle East.
UAE and Germany Enhance Their Strategic Alliance
Part of the visit involved conversations between Sheikh Mohamed and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Federal Chancellery. The two nations announced the initiation of a Strategic Dialogue aimed at bolstering their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was established in 2004. This dialogue encompasses sectors such as security, defense, trade, investment, energy, climate, emerging technology, digitalization, transport, education, and cultural exchange. Both parties also endorsed the establishment of a German-UAE Investment Council to deepen cooperation between governmental and private sector entities.
Economic arrangements played a key role throughout the broader agenda of the state visit. UAE and German enterprises signed 29 business agreements and memoranda valued at over €9.35 billion combined. Moreover, the two governments announced a UAE investment package worth €40 billion for projects in Germany, focusing on digital infrastructure, data centers, energy, industry, and emerging technologies. Bilateral trade in non-oil goods hit $15.5 billion in 2025, reflecting an increase of more than 14% from 2024.
Visit Strengthens Multidimensional Cooperation
Beyond trade and investment, the agenda extended to collaborations in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, energy, industrial development, defense, and environmental policies. They also committed to broadening cultural and educational exchanges. Additionally, separate agreements were signed concerning police and security collaboration, mutual legal assistance in criminal cases, and facilitating airport entry for eligible UAE citizens via Germany’s EasyPASS system. Discussions also covered civil aviation links and cooperation in both conventional and emerging energy sectors.
These meetings in Berlin complemented a wider diplomatic framework involving the UAE and Germany. Sheikh Mohamed’s dialogues with Steinmeier and Merz addressed not only the longstanding bilateral relations but also focused on economic, security, and regional concerns. The discussions spanned regional conflicts, international security issues, and diplomatic efforts related to the Middle East and Ukraine. The state visit combined ceremonial events, formal political discussions, and economic agreements, marking a new chapter in over fifty years of UAE-Germany relations.