Page 420 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - FEBRUARY 2025 Part 2

2/18/25, 3:30 PM UAE-German Business Forum convened in Abu Dhabi – UAE Business and Travel Insights – TotalUAE.com
In his opening remarks, Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi underscored the strength of the UAE-Germany economic
relationship and the potential to further expand bilateral trade and investment.

“Germany remains one of the UAE’s most important economic partners, with our non-oil trade reaching
US$13.8 billion in 2024, a 5.4 percent increase over the previous year and nearly double the global trade growth
average. Today’s forum provides a valuable opportunity to build on this momentum, identifying new areas for
collaboration in renewable energy, Industry 4.0, industrial technology, logistics, and advanced manufacturing,”
he stated.

He highlighted the UAE’s growing role as a gateway to high-growth markets, offering German businesses
unparalleled access to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East through its Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreements (CEPA) program, which covers over a quarter of the world’s population.

From the German side, Dr. Jörg Kukies reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to deepening its trade and investment
ties with the UAE.

“The UAE, as a major gateway to regional and global markets, is a strategic partner for Germany, and we look
forward to strengthening and expanding cooperation especially in the fields of advanced technology, clean
energy, trade and sustainable investment.

“As global economies transition toward green energy, digital transformation, and advanced industrialisation, we
see significant opportunities for German and Emirati businesses to collaborate on high-impact projects,” he said.

The forum discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in clean energy, finance, industrial technology, and
logistics, with an emphasis on sustainability and innovation.

One of the key highlights was the progress made under the Energy Security and Industry Accelerator Agreement,
signed in 2022. This agreement has facilitated investments in low-carbon ammonia, liquefied natural gas (LNG),
and renewable energy projects, including Masdar’s investment in the Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm, which
will soon supply clean energy to 475,000 households in Germany.

Additionally, discussions explored Germany’s increasing investment in the UAE’s advanced technology, AI, and
industrial automation sectors, benefiting from the UAE’s NextGen FDI initiative, which supports high-growth
companies expanding into the region.

The UAE and Germany continue to deepen their economic ties, with non-oil trade reaching US$13.8 billion in
2024, reflecting a 5.4 percent increase over 2023 and a 41 percent% rise compared to 2022. Germany remains
the UAE’s second-largest trade partner within the EU and 13th globally, reinforcing the strength of their long-
standing economic partnership and the steady growth of bilateral trade.

The UAE’s non-oil exports to Germany grew significantly by 44.7 percent in 2024, reaching US$616 million,
while re-exports totalled US$1.1 billion, highlighting Germany’s role as a key gateway for global trade.
Additionally, German imports to the UAE increased to US$12.1 billion, cementing Germany’s position as the
UAE’s second-largest import partner within the EU and further accelerating the upward trajectory of trade
relations between the two economies.

The forum concluded with networking sessions and business matchmaking meetings, facilitating direct
engagement between UAE and German business leaders to explore new investment and trade opportunities.

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