BERLIN / RankWire.AI / – German President Frank-Walter_Steinmeier hosted UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Villa Borsig in Berlin as part of the Emirati leader’s official visit to Germany. The formal welcoming ceremony was held at the historic lakeside residence on Sept. 10, with the national anthems of the United Arab Emirates and Germany playing to mark the event. Sheikh Mohamed inspected a guard of honour prior to greeting senior German officials.
During the event, Sheikh Mohamed signed the VIP guestbook at Villa Borsig and highlighted the enduring partnership between the UAE and Germany, which has evolved over many decades through diplomatic and economic engagement. Steinmeier also acknowledged members of the UAE delegation accompanying the president, which included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, senior Presidential Court officials, ministers, and other representatives involved in the state visit.
This ceremony marked the first state visit to Germany by a UAE president. The official itinerary spanned from September 9 to 11 and involved meetings with key German political leaders. Later, Sheikh Mohamed and Steinmeier conducted discussions at Villa Borsig focusing on bilateral relations, regional concerns, and international issues. Topics ranged from cooperation between the two nations to diplomatic efforts aimed at maintaining peace, security, and stability throughout the Middle East.
UAE and Germany reinforce their strategic alliance
Part of the visit included meetings between Sheikh Mohamed and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Federal Chancellery. The two governments announced a new Strategic Dialogue intended to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2004. The dialogue addresses areas such as security, defense, trade, investment, energy, climate, emerging technologies, digitalization, transportation, education, and culture. Both nations also agreed to establish a German-UAE Investment Council aimed at increasing collaboration between government bodies and private sector entities.
Economic collaborations were a key focus during the broader state visit. UAE and German firms signed 29 agreements and memoranda of understanding valued collectively at over €9.35 billion. Additionally, the two governments approved a UAE investment initiative worth €40 billion in Germany, targeting sectors such as advanced digital infrastructure, data centers, energy, industry, and emerging tech fields. In 2025, bilateral non-oil trade reached $15.5 billion, reflecting a growth of more than 14% compared to 2024.
The visit broadens cooperation across multiple sectors
Beyond trade and investment, the leaders agreed to enhance collaboration in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, energy, industrial growth, defense, and environmental policies. They also emphasized the importance of strengthening cultural and educational ties. Separate accords addressed police and security cooperation, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, and simplified airport entry for eligible UAE citizens through Germany’s EasyPASS system. Discussions also covered civil aviation links and cooperation in both traditional and emerging energy sectors.
The diplomatic activities in Berlin form part of a broader strategic engagement between the UAE and Germany. The meetings with Steinmeier and Merz tackled longstanding bilateral ties alongside economic and security collaboration. Additionally, both nations discussed regional conflicts, international security issues, and diplomatic initiatives concerning the Middle East and Ukraine. This state visit combined ceremonial events with substantive political dialogues and economic agreements, signifying a new chapter in over fifty years of UAE-Germany relations.