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 official visit to Germany. The formal event occurred at the historic lakeside residence on Sept. 10, with the national anthems of both nations opening the ceremony. Sheikh Mohamed inspected a guard of honour prior to greeting senior German officials.
During the ceremony, Sheikh Mohamed signed the VIP guestbook at Villa Borsig, highlighting the long-standing cooperation between the UAE and Germany, built over many decades of diplomatic and economic partnerships. 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 Presidential Court officials, ministers, and other government representatives involved in the state visit.
This event marked the first state visit to Germany by a UAE president. The official schedule ran from September 9 to 11, featuring meetings with Germany’s leading political figures. Later, Sheikh Mohamed and Steinmeier held discussions at Villa Borsig focusing on bilateral relations, regional issues, and international concerns. Their talks covered cooperation on diplomatic initiatives to promote peace, security, and stability across 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 governments announced the launch of a Strategic Dialogue aimed at enhancing their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2004. The dialogue encompasses areas such as security, defense, trade, investment, energy, climate, emerging technologies, digital transformation, transportation, education, and culture. Both nations also endorsed establishing a German-UAE Investment Council to foster cooperation between government bodies and private enterprises.
Economic collaborations played a key role during the broader visit. UAE and German firms signed 29 agreements and memoranda of understanding valued collectively at over €9.35 billion. Additionally, a UAE investment package worth €40 billion was announced for Germany, targeting sectors like advanced digital infrastructure and data centers, alongside energy, manufacturing, and emerging technologies. Bilateral non-oil trade totaled $15.5 billion in 2025, reflecting an increase of more than 14% compared to 2024.
Enhancing bilateral cooperation through the state visit
Beyond trade and investment, the agenda included agreements to bolster cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, energy, industrial growth, defense, and environmental policies. The nations also committed to strengthening cultural and educational links. Separate accords addressed police and security collaboration, mutual legal assistance, and facilitating airport entry for eligible UAE nationals via Germany’s EasyPASS system. Discussions also covered civil aviation connectivity and cooperation in conventional and emerging energy sectors.
These meetings in Berlin extended the diplomatic engagement initiated by Sheikh Mohamed’s discussions with Steinmeier and Merz, which focused on existing bilateral relations and areas such as security and economic development. The officials also addressed regional conflicts, international security, and diplomatic efforts concerning the Middle East and Ukraine. The state visit combined ceremonial events with formal negotiations and economic deals, signifying a new chapter in over five decades of UAE-Germany relations.