UAE-Germany Business Forum Signs €9.66 Billion in Agreements to Expand Economic Cooperation
Munich, The Gulf Observer: The UAE-Germany Business Forum was held in Munich on the sidelines of the state visit of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Germany, bringing together senior government officials, business leaders, investors and representatives of chambers of commerce from both countries.
The forum was attended by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister for Foreign Trade, and Katherina Reiche, Federal Minister of Economic Affairs of Germany, along with prominent representatives of the private sector.
A total of 30 memoranda of understanding, agreements and commercial partnerships were signed between UAE and German entities during the forum, with a combined value of €9.66 billion. The agreements span several strategic sectors, including renewable and clean energy, oil and gas, advanced technology and artificial intelligence, industry and manufacturing, logistics, transport, ports and aviation, healthcare and life sciences, agriculture and food security, and consumer goods.
The agreements underscore the growing commitment of the private sectors in both countries to develop joint projects, expand investment and explore emerging high-growth areas.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Al Zeyoudi said UAE-German relations were entering a new phase of economic partnership, building on decades of cooperation while opening broader horizons for investment and growth.
He noted that the close engagement between the leadership and business communities of the UAE and Germany reflected the advanced level of bilateral relations and their forward-looking economic trajectory. He described Germany as Europe’s economic engine and the UAE as a global hub for trade, logistics and investment in the Middle East, saying the complementary strengths of both economies provided a strong foundation for a comprehensive economic partnership.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi highlighted that non-oil trade between the UAE and Germany reached €13.4 billion in 2025, accounting for approximately one-fifth of the UAE’s total non-oil trade with the European Union. He added that cumulative UAE investments in Germany had reached €34.5 billion, reflecting the depth of economic ties between the two countries.
He identified “acceleration” as the guiding principle for the next phase of UAE-German economic cooperation, encompassing the expansion of existing industries, development of new sectors, adoption of advanced technologies and establishment of joint ventures capable of scaling up and generating tangible economic value.
The minister described the 30 agreements signed at the forum as a qualitative step forward in the bilateral partnership, saying they build on decades of economic cooperation and contribute to translating the shared vision of the two countries into concrete opportunities for progress and prosperity.
He further noted that the forum was taking place against the backdrop of significant global economic transformations, including the restructuring of trade routes and supply chains and the increasing role of technology in reshaping industrial capabilities and production centres. These developments, he said, create new opportunities for the UAE and Germany to deepen economic and investment cooperation.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi stressed that the UAE-German partnership extends beyond connecting two markets, instead linking two complementary economic systems and creating opportunities to access wider global markets by leveraging the competitive advantages and capabilities of both countries.
He also emphasised the importance of strengthening public-private partnerships by combining political support with the investment capabilities, expertise and innovation of the business communities in both nations.
The minister called on businesses in the UAE and Germany to translate the forum’s ambitions into action by moving from dialogue to implementation and turning agreements into tangible projects, initiatives and investments.
The forum featured a comprehensive programme aimed at promoting dialogue and networking among business leaders and investors. It included a panel discussion on the future of cooperation in artificial intelligence and energy, as well as specialised sessions and roundtables addressing industry, advanced manufacturing, technology, robotics, medical technology and healthcare.
Further discussions focused on logistics, infrastructure, transport, ports and aviation, while investment matchmaking sessions and bilateral business-to-business meetings provided companies and organisations from both countries with opportunities to identify potential partnerships and expand commercial cooperation.
