UAE and Germany seek to boost private-sector partnerships as trade tops €13.5 billion and cooperation expands across energy, technology, manufacturing and innovation, reports Asian Lite News Desk
The UAE and Germany are seeking to deepen economic cooperation by expanding private sector partnerships across a wide range of high-growth industries, reinforcing one of the Gulf region’s strongest European business relationships.
The renewed push came during an official working visit to Germany by Badr Jafar, Special Envoy of the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs for Business and Philanthropy, who held a series of high-level meetings with senior executives, industry leaders and institutional representatives in Düsseldorf and Munich.
Accompanied by UAE Ambassador to Germany Ahmed Alattar, Jafar’s visit focused on identifying new opportunities for trade, investment and innovation as both countries look to strengthen collaboration in sectors expected to drive future economic growth.
The discussions covered a broad spectrum of industries, including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, mobility, digital infrastructure, water technology, aerospace, culture, sport and innovation, reflecting the growing role of private-sector partnerships in strengthening bilateral relations.
The visit comes at a time of expanding commercial ties between the two countries.
Germany remains the UAE’s largest economic partner in the Gulf, with bilateral trade exceeding €13.56 billion in 2025. German imports from the UAE rose by more than 50 per cent during the year, highlighting the increasing momentum in two-way trade.
Around 2,000 German companies currently operate from the UAE, with many using the Emirates as a strategic base to serve markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
The visit also coincides with ongoing negotiations between the UAE and the European Union on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aimed at strengthening trade, investment and economic cooperation.
Given Germany’s position as Europe’s largest economy, officials believe closer UAE-Germany business engagement will play a pivotal role in shaping broader UAE-EU economic relations.
During the visit, Jafar held more than 15 bilateral meetings with representatives of leading German companies and organisations to explore practical opportunities for expanding cooperation.
The discussions included executives from Covestro, Wilo Group, Henkel, RWE, SEFE Energy, BMW Group, Airbus Defence and Space, Knorr-Bremse, Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), ALLPLAN, Nemetschek Group, DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga, NRW.Global Business and the Deutsches Museum.
Talks with industrial and manufacturing companies centred on strengthening cooperation in sustainable materials, advanced manufacturing, downstream industries, research and development, industrial integration and regional market expansion.
German companies already operating in the UAE also explored opportunities to further expand manufacturing, innovation and investment activities using the country as a gateway to international markets.
Energy cooperation featured prominently throughout the discussions.
Officials exchanged views on strengthening energy security through greater collaboration in clean energy technologies, hydrogen, battery storage, carbon management, low-carbon fuels and international energy trading.
The two sides also explored opportunities in water technology and sustainable infrastructure, focusing on advanced water management systems, smart logistics and artificial intelligence applications that could support future regional deployment from the UAE.
Emerging technologies formed another key pillar of the discussions.
Meetings examined collaboration in digital construction, rail and transport safety, secure communications, satellite technology, Earth observation systems and space-related industries, alongside initiatives promoting cultural exchange, knowledge sharing, youth development and football partnerships.
Speaking after the meetings, Jafar said the visit demonstrated the strength and maturity of the UAE-Germany relationship while highlighting the growing importance of private-sector engagement in transforming strategic ties into practical business opportunities.
He said both countries possess complementary strengths that position them to work together across sectors shaping the future global economy.
“The UAE and Germany share a strong foundation of economic partnership, industrial capability and long-term ambition,” Jafar said.
He added that the UAE continues to provide German businesses with an attractive platform for regional and global expansion, while German expertise in industry, mobility, infrastructure, energy and advanced technology creates significant opportunities for UAE companies.
Ambassador Alattar said relations between the two countries continue to deepen through growing cooperation in sectors critical to future economic development.
He described Germany as one of the UAE’s most important European partners and said both governments remain committed to building stronger collaboration in innovation, technology, infrastructure and sustainable growth.
