Dubai-based IFZA Global has strengthened its international investment push after joining the UAE delegation during President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s state visit to Germany.
The visit brought government officials, investors and business leaders together as the UAE and Germany looked for practical ways to expand trade, technology and investment ties.
For IFZA, the trip produced a concrete result. The business enablement platform signed several Memoranda of Understanding with German companies covering industrial manufacturing, advanced technology and artificial intelligence. According to IFZA, the planned investment and expansion projects represent around €1 billion in potential investment commitments in the UAE.
IFZA Joins UAE Delegation During Germany State Visit
IFZA Global participated in the UAE delegation during the state visit, with the company represented by Chief Financial Officer Holger Schlechter. Its involvement placed IFZA alongside government representatives, institutional stakeholders and private-sector leaders examining new opportunities for cooperation between the UAE and Germany.
President Sheikh Mohamed visited Germany from September 9 to 11, 2026, marking the first state visit to Germany by a UAE President. During the trip, discussions focused heavily on trade and investment, while also covering energy, emerging technology, digitalisation, transport, sustainability and industrial development.
For IFZA, joining the delegation created direct access to German companies that may be looking at the UAE as a base for regional expansion.
IFZA Signs Agreements Representing Around €1 Billion in Potential Investment
One of the biggest developments from IFZA’s participation was the signing of several MoUs with German companies.
The agreements involve businesses operating across industrial manufacturing, advanced technology and AI innovation. IFZA said the planned projects and UAE expansion initiatives connected to the agreements could represent approximately €1 billion in potential investment commitments.
That figure should be viewed as a proposed investment pipeline rather than capital that has already been fully deployed. Even so, it signals the level of interest emerging from German businesses exploring opportunities in the UAE.
The agreements also fit into the UAE’s wider effort to attract companies working in high-value sectors such as technology, manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
UAE and Germany Expand Their Strategic Economic Partnership
The IFZA agreements formed part of a broader effort to deepen economic relations between the UAE and Germany.
During the visit, both countries announced a new Strategic Dialogue designed to strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The framework covers a wide range of areas, including trade, investment, security, energy, climate, emerging technology and digitalisation.
A German-UAE Investment Council is also being established to create a more structured platform for government and private-sector stakeholders. The aim is to make it easier for companies in both countries to identify investment opportunities, build partnerships and move projects forward.
For businesses considering expansion into the Gulf or Europe, this kind of government-level coordination can make cross-border investment more practical.
UAE Announces Major Investment Plans in Germany
The wider state visit also highlighted the scale of capital moving between the two countries.
The UAE announced an investment package worth €40 billion in Germany, with projects expected to include industrial development and advanced digital infrastructure. Data centres with approximately 1 gigawatt of capacity were among the areas highlighted.
Germany and the UAE also welcomed 29 business-to-business MoUs and agreements valued at more than €9.356 billion during the visit.
That broader commercial activity gives more context to IFZA’s own agreements. The organisation was participating in a much larger wave of investment discussions rather than operating through a standalone business mission.
UAE-Germany Trade Continues to Grow
The economic relationship between the UAE and Germany already has a strong base.
Bilateral non-oil trade reached around $15.5 billion in 2025, representing double-digit growth from the previous year. Investment flows between the two countries have also expanded in recent years.
Thousands of German businesses are already active in the UAE, showing that the country has become an established regional base for European companies.
What is changing now is the type of investment receiving attention. Artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and other technology-driven sectors are becoming increasingly prominent.
Why the IFZA Germany Agreements Matter for Dubai
The potential €1 billion investment pipeline gives IFZA another opportunity to position Dubai as an entry point for German companies looking to expand into the Middle East.
This matters particularly for businesses in manufacturing and technology, where companies often need more than a licence. They also need access to partners, infrastructure, talent and regional markets.
IFZA operates from Dubai Silicon Oasis and supports entrepreneurs, international investors and companies establishing businesses in the UAE. Its involvement in the Germany delegation shows how free zone operators are increasingly acting as international business connectors rather than simply company formation providers.
If the proposed investments move forward, the agreements could bring additional capital, technology and commercial activity into Dubai.
IFZA Strengthens Its Role Beyond Business Setup
IFZA’s participation in the state visit also reflects a wider change in the UAE free zone sector.
Free zones are increasingly competing on international reach, investment networks and sector specialisation. Company formation remains important, but overseas partnerships now play a much bigger role in attracting businesses before they have even entered the UAE market.
The Germany agreements fit that direction closely. Instead of relying only on inbound interest, IFZA is building direct relationships with companies in strategic international markets.
For German businesses considering expansion into the Gulf, that kind of early engagement could make entering the UAE market more straightforward.
UAE-Germany Investment Ties Enter a Bigger Phase
The Germany state visit showed that economic cooperation between the UAE and Germany is moving into a broader phase.
Large investment commitments, new institutional frameworks and private-sector agreements are all being developed at the same time.
For IFZA, the opportunity is clear. As more German companies explore the UAE, Dubai’s free zone ecosystem could become an increasingly important part of how those businesses establish operations, build regional networks and scale across the Middle East.
Sources
IFZA Global:
https://ifza.com/en/ifza-global-uae-delegation-germany-state-visit/
UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/MediaHub/News/2026/9/10/uae-Germany
Emirates News Agency (WAM):
https://www.wam.ae/en/article/c26ddh8-uae-president-and-german-chancellor-witness-launch
German Federal Government:
https://www.bundeskanzler.de/bk-en/news/visit-united-arab-emirates-2452286