Business & Markets
UAE to invest €40bn in Germany, Berlin says
The United Arab Emirates intends to invest 40 billion euros ($46.5 billion) in Germany, including in data centres with capacity of up to one gigawatt, the German government said during President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's state visit on September 10.
Germany and the UAE also plan to set up an Investment Council to strengthen business links between the two countries. UAE Industry Minister Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said the additional intended investment reflected the UAE's ambition to invest in its long-term relationship with Germany.
German and Emirati companies signed another 29 agreements worth a total of 9.4 billion euros during the visit, the German government said.
Sheikh Mohamed met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after being received with military honours by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. No joint press conference between Merz and Sheikh Mohamed was scheduled.
The UAE is Germany's largest trading partner in the Gulf, with bilateral trade topping $15 billion last year. Major German companies operating in the UAE include BMW, Siemens, ThyssenKrupp and Deutsche Bahn.
The Gulf has become a major source of capital for artificial intelligence infrastructure as oil-rich states invest energy wealth. The UAE has also invested in Germany's chemical industry and offshore wind power.
Human Rights Watch called on German leaders during the visit to publicly address the UAE's human rights record and its role in regional conflicts. In the Sudan war, the UAE is widely accused of arming the Rapid Support Forces, an accusation it has repeatedly denied.
Update
German and Emirati companies signed 29 further agreements valued at 9.4 billion euros during the visit, according to the German government.
The UAE is Germany's largest trading partner in the Gulf, with bilateral trade topping $15 billion last year.
President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Chancellor Friedrich Merz after being received by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Human Rights Watch urged German leaders to publicly address the UAE's human rights record and its role in regional conflicts.
The UAE again denied accusations that it arms Sudan's Rapid Support Forces.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 16:45:49 UTC.
Update
Germany and the UAE plan to set up an Investment Council to boost investment between the two countries.
UAE Industry Minister Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said the intended investment reflected the UAE's ambition to invest in its relationship with Germany.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 16:26:14 UTC.
Update
Berlin said the investment package includes data centres with a capacity of about one gigawatt.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 16:14:59 UTC.
Update
Berlin said the UAE will invest 40 billion euros in Germany.
The investment will include data centres.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 16:03:50 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The exact timing, structure and recipients of the full 40 billion euro intended investment were not specified.
The data centre investments were described as part of the package, but the amount allocated to them was not specified.
Source
AFP news report published on .