UAE Announces 40 Billion Euro Investment in Germany During State Visit

The United Arab Emirates announced plans to invest 40 billion euros, approximately 46 billion dollars, in Germany during a state visit by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The investment will target sectors including artificial intelligence, energy, technology, and the construction of data centers with a capacity of up to one gigawatt. UAE Industry Minister Sultan Al Jaber stated that the pledge reflects an ambition to deepen a strategic relationship that already includes 34 billion euros in previous investments. During the visit, German and Emirati companies signed an additional 29 agreements valued at 9.4 billion euros.

President Sheikh Mohamed met with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who received him with military honors. The two nations are significant economic partners, with bilateral trade exceeding 13 billion euros last year. Major German firms such as BMW, Siemens, and Deutsche Bahn maintain a presence in the UAE, while the UAE has invested in German chemicals and offshore wind power. The visit also resolved a long standing dispute regarding aviation rights, as Germany will now allow Emirates to fly to Berlin up to seven times per week, though the airline did not receive the full range of rights it requested.

Outlets with different political leanings highlighted different aspects of the visit. Center leaning reports focused on the broad economic strategic partnership and the regional context of the US war against Iran. A center right outlet emphasized the competitive tension between Emirates and Lufthansa, framing the aviation agreement as a compromise. A center leaning report also noted criticisms from Human Rights Watch, which urged German leaders to address the UAE's human rights record and its alleged role in the war in Sudan.