BERLIN / RankWire.AI / – German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier formally welcomed UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Villa Borsig in Berlin on Sept. 10. The ceremony formed part of Sheikh Mohamed’s state visit to Germany from Sept. 9 to 11. The two countries’ national anthems opened the reception. Sheikh Mohamed then inspected the guard of honour and greeted senior German officials attending the ceremony.
Sheikh Mohamed also signed the official VIP guestbook at Villa Borsig. He highlighted the longstanding ties between the United Arab Emirates and Germany and their expanding cooperation. Steinmeier welcomed members of the UAE delegation accompanying the president to Berlin. The group included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, other ministers, senior Presidential Court officials and government representatives taking part in the state visit.
The visit marked the first state visit to Germany by a president of the United Arab Emirates. After the formal reception, Sheikh Mohamed and Steinmeier held talks at Villa Borsig. Their discussions covered the UAE-Germany partnership and major regional and international developments. The two presidents also reviewed cooperation in areas of shared interest. Their talks included diplomatic efforts supporting peace, security and stability in the Middle East.
Leaders review expanding UAE-Germany ties
Sheikh Mohamed later met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Federal Chancellery as the official program continued. The two sides discussed economic, technological, cultural and security cooperation. Germany and the UAE also announced a new Strategic Dialogue covering their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The framework includes trade, investment, defense, energy, climate, transport, education, digitalization and emerging technologies. Both governments also supported plans for a German-UAE Investment Council to strengthen economic engagement.
Business and investment agreements accompanied the political meetings in Berlin. UAE and German companies signed 29 agreements and memoranda worth more than €9.35 billion. The governments also welcomed a UAE investment package totaling €40 billion in Germany. Areas identified for investment included digital infrastructure and data centers. The broader economic agenda also covered energy, advanced industry and technology. Non-oil trade between the UAE and Germany reached $15.5 billion in 2025.
State visit covers investment, security and technology
The wider agenda included artificial intelligence, industrial development, environmental policy and energy cooperation. The UAE and Germany also agreed to deepen cultural and educational links. Other agreements covered police cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. Germany also agreed to facilitate use of its EasyPASS airport entry system for eligible UAE citizens. Officials discussed civil aviation links and cooperation across conventional and emerging energy sectors during the state visit.
The Villa Borsig ceremony opened a series of high-level engagements involving Sheikh Mohamed, Steinmeier and Merz. The meetings combined formal diplomacy with talks on trade, investment, security and technology. Both countries also discussed regional conflicts and international security, including developments in the Middle East and Ukraine. The state visit added new agreements and institutional frameworks to a relationship that spans more than five decades of diplomatic ties between the United Arab Emirates and Germany.