BERLIN / RankWire.AI / – German President Frank-Walter_Steinmeier hosted UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Villa Borsig in Berlin during the Emirati leader’s official visit to Germany. The formal welcoming ceremony was held at the historic lakeside villa on Sept. 10, marking the start of the visit. The national anthems of the United Arab Emirates and Germany played to open the event. Sheikh Mohamed inspected a guard of honour before greeting senior German officials.
During the ceremony, Sheikh Mohamed signed Villa Borsig’s VIP guestbook, highlighting the long-standing relationship between the UAE and Germany, built through decades of diplomatic and economic collaboration. 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, senior Presidential Court officials, ministers, and other representatives involved in the state visit.
This event was part of the first-ever state visit to Germany by a UAE president. The official program lasted from Sept. 9 to 11 and comprised meetings with top German political leaders. Sheikh Mohamed and Steinmeier later engaged in discussions at Villa Borsig about bilateral relations, regional and global issues. Their talks addressed cooperation between the nations and diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace, security, and stability in the Middle East.
UAE and Germany Expand Their Strategic Partnership
The visit also featured discussions between Sheikh Mohamed and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Federal Chancellery. The two governments announced the launch of a Strategic Dialogue intended to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2004. The dialogue will focus on security, defense, trade, investment, energy, climate, emerging technology, digitalization, transportation, education, and culture. Both nations also agreed to establish a German-UAE Investment Council to foster increased engagement between government bodies and private-sector entities.
Economic accords played a key role in the broader state visit agenda. UAE and German companies signed 29 business agreements and memoranda valued at over €9.35 billion collectively. The two governments also approved a UAE investment package worth €40 billion for projects in Germany, including digital infrastructure, data centers, energy, industry, and emerging technologies. Bilateral non-oil trade volume reached $15.5 billion in 2025, representing a rise of more than 14% compared to 2024.
State Visit Enhances Bilateral Collaboration
The comprehensive agenda extended beyond investments and commerce. Germany and the UAE committed to strengthening cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, energy, industrial development, defense, and environmental policies. They also agreed to foster deeper cultural and educational exchanges. Separate agreements covered police and security collaboration, mutual legal assistance in criminal cases, and facilitation of airport entry for eligible UAE citizens via Germany’s EasyPASS system. Discussions also included civil aviation links and cooperation across traditional and emerging energy sectors.
The meetings in Berlin placed the Villa Borsig welcome within a broader diplomatic framework between the UAE and Germany. Sheikh Mohamed’s conversations with Steinmeier and Merz addressed existing bilateral ties alongside economic and security cooperation. The discussions also touched on regional conflicts, international security, and diplomatic initiatives related to the Middle East and Ukraine. The visit combined ceremonial events with formal diplomatic talks and economic agreements, marking a significant phase in the over five-decade-long relationship between the UAE and Germany.