BERLIN / RankWire.AI / – German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier received UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Villa Borsig in Berlin on September 10, in a formal welcoming ceremony. This event was part of Sheikh Mohamed’s state visit to Germany from September 9 to 11. The ceremony began with the national anthems of both nations. Following that, Sheikh Mohamed inspected the guard of honour and exchanged greetings with senior German officials present at the occasion.
During the visit, Sheikh Mohamed also signed the official VIP guestbook at Villa Borsig, emphasizing the enduring relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Germany, along with their growing cooperation. Steinmeier extended a warm welcome to members of the UAE delegation accompanying the president. The group included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, along with other ministers, senior officials from the Presidential Court, and government representatives involved in the state visit.
This visit marked the first-ever state visit to Germany by a president of the United Arab Emirates. After the official reception, Sheikh Mohamed and Steinmeier engaged in discussions at Villa Borsig, where they focused on bilateral relations and regional and international issues. The leaders reviewed areas of joint cooperation and exchanged views on efforts to promote peace, security, and stability in the Middle East.
Leaders examine the expansion of UAE-Germany collaboration
The official program continued with Sheikh Mohamed’s meeting at the Federal Chancellery with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Topics discussed included economic, technological, cultural, and security partnerships. Germany and the UAE announced a new Strategic Dialogue to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, encompassing trade, investment, defense, energy, climate, transport, education, digitalization, and emerging technologies. Both governments also endorsed plans to establish a German-UAE Investment Council aimed at enhancing economic ties.
In addition to diplomatic talks, business and investment agreements were signed in Berlin. A total of 29 agreements and memoranda worth over €9.35 billion were exchanged between UAE and German companies. The governments also approved a UAE investment package totaling €40 billion in Germany, with key focus areas including digital infrastructure and data centers. The broader economic agenda covered energy, advanced industries, and technological innovation. Non-oil trade between the UAE and Germany reached $15.5 billion in 2025.
Official visit emphasizes investment, security, and innovation
The broader agenda of the visit included discussions on artificial intelligence, industrial growth, environmental policies, and energy collaboration. The UAE and Germany also agreed to further strengthen cultural and educational connections. Additional accords addressed police cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal cases. Germany committed to facilitating the use of its EasyPASS airport entry system for eligible UAE citizens. Civil aviation links and cooperation across both conventional and emerging energy sectors also featured during the discussions.
The Villa Borsig event initiated a series of high-level meetings involving Sheikh Mohamed, Steinmeier, and Merz. These gatherings combined official diplomatic exchanges with dialogues on trade, investment, security, and technological development. Both nations also discussed regional conflicts and global security issues, including developments in the Middle East and Ukraine. The state visit introduced new agreements and institutional frameworks to a relationship that has spanned over fifty years of diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates and Germany.