Germany and United Arab Emirates
Germany and the United Arab Emirates connect business activity, energy and education. The strategic partnership also provides channels for consular protection during regional crises.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07Businesses and regional presence
German companies use the Emirates as a base for regional operations.
Consular protection in 2026
The German profile describes Emirati cooperation to facilitate the departure of tourists after the start of the war with Iran.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 15,278.41 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU |
| Goods: Germany to United Arab Emirates | 13,160.14 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU |
| Goods: United Arab Emirates to Germany | 2,118.28 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU |
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Germany to United Arab Emirates | 0.74 % | 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU |
| Export share: United Arab Emirates to Germany | ||
| Investment stock: Germany in United Arab Emirates | ||
| Investment stock: United Arab Emirates in Germany |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU · Goods; full year; DEU reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: Germany to United Arab Emirates
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU · Goods; full year; DEU reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: United Arab Emirates to Germany
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU · Goods; full year; DEU reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Export share: Germany to United Arab Emirates
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU · Goods share: DEU exports to the partner / the same reporter's exports to the world, same year.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
Some annual indicators refer to different years. Check the period beside each value before comparing them.
| Indicator | Germany | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 5.05 trillion USD2025 · WB | 552.32 billion USD2024 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 60,496.44 USD2025 · WB | 50,273.51 USD2024 · WB |
| GDP growth | 0.24 %2025 · WB | 3.99 %2024 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 2.5 %2026-09-16 · BCE | |
| Inflation · annual average | 2.17 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 1.25 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 3.3 %provisionalprovisionalYear-on-year · Sept. 2026 · Destatis | |
| Unemployment | 3.71 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 2.17 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -2.7 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 5.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 62.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 34.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 4.51 %2025 · WB | 14.48 %2024 · WB |
| Population | 83,491,2492025 · WB | 10,986,4002024 · WB |
| Area | 357,680 km²2023 · WB | 98,648 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDGermany: 2025 · World BankUnited Arab Emirates: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personGermany: 2025 · World BankUnited Arab Emirates: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Germany: 2025 · World BankUnited Arab Emirates: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)Germany: 2026-09-16 · ECB: deposit facility; shared euro-area rate · European Central Bank
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Germany: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World BankUnited Arab Emirates: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedGermany: 2026-09 · Change in headline CPI from the same month of the previous year (%) · Destatis · Published: 2026-09-30 · provisional · Provisional · National headline CPI, year-on-year, not monthly inflation or an annual average. Provisional data or an official advance release; subject to revision.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionGermany: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.United Arab Emirates: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Germany: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.United Arab Emirates: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Germany: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.United Arab Emirates: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPGermany: 2025 · World BankUnited Arab Emirates: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Population
- PeopleGermany: 2025 · World BankUnited Arab Emirates: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date. Preliminary.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceGermany: 2023 · Area according to the series' coverage; does not determine sovereignty or effective control · World BankUnited Arab Emirates: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Germany to United Arab Emirates
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Vehicles and components | 2,655.5 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 2,533.8 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 1,595.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 624.7 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 63.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 32.3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 1.5 M USD2025 · Source |
| Meat and edible offal | 1.3 M USD2025 · Source |
United Arab Emirates to Germany
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Mineral fuels and oils | 531.7 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 135.8 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 57.6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Vehicles and components | 28.5 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 0.8 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 0.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 0 M USD2025 · Source |
| Meat and edible offal | 0 M USD2025 · Source |
How trade has changed
Billions of current USD · full calendar years
View chart figures
| Period | Total | Germany to United Arab Emirates | United Arab Emirates to Germany |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,593.3 | 8,562.8 | 1,030.5 |
| 2022 | 10,592.5 | 8,243.5 | 2,348.9 |
| 2023 | 15,426.9 | 9,478.1 | 5,948.8 |
| 2024 | 12,359.6 | 10,369.1 | 1,990.5 |
| 2025 | 15,278.4 | 13,160.1 | 2,118.3 |
Connections between people
Schools, universities and consular assistance link institutions and citizens. People assisted during a crisis are not counted as permanent residents. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Germany living in United Arab Emirates | ||
| Residents from United Arab Emirates living in Germany | ||
| Study and training: Germany in United Arab Emirates | ||
| Study and training: United Arab Emirates in Germany | ||
| Academic stays: Germany in United Arab Emirates | ||
| Academic stays: United Arab Emirates in Germany | ||
| Travel: Germany to United Arab Emirates | ||
| Travel: United Arab Emirates to Germany |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
A partnership since 2004
The strategic framework was agreed in April 2004. Energy cooperation was expanded into an energy and climate partnership in November 2021. [1]
Businesses and regional presence
German companies use the Emirates as a base for regional operations. The bilateral chamber supports trade, export financing and productive sectors; the number of offices does not equate to direct investment or local production. [1]
Schools and universities
German schools in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai and projects between academic institutions connect education and languages. These institutional networks are distinct from the student population living in the other country. [1]
The scale of both economies
Nominal GDP for Germany is 5,050.9 billion USD (2025), compared with 552.3 for United Arab Emirates (2024). The reference populations are 83.49 and 10.99 million, respectively. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [5] [6] [7] [8]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
Consular protection in 2026
The German profile describes Emirati cooperation to facilitate the departure of tourists after the start of the war with Iran. Consular assistance documents a specific action and does not prove that regional hostilities have ended. [1]
What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, merchandise trade between the two countries (Germany and United Arab Emirates) totalled 15,278.4 million current USD. Shipments from the first to the second were 13,160.1 million; those in the opposite direction, 2,118.3 million. The difference between the two flows was 11,041.9 million, in favour of Germany. This is a goods balance, not the total balance of the economic relationship: it excludes services, income and transfers. Both directions come from a single customs reporter to avoid adding mirror records. [2]
The partner's share of exports
Sales from Germany to the partner represented 0.74% of its worldwide goods exports in 2025. The share compares the same reporter, year and coverage. It measures export concentration, not the percentage of GDP dependent on this relationship. A partner may be important in a specific sector even if its share of total goods trade is small. [2]
Five years of trade trends
The consistent series shows 9,593.3 million USD in 2021 and 15,278.4 million in 2025. The change between the two endpoints was +59.3 % in current dollars. The highest annual value in the period was recorded in 2023, at 15,426.9 million. The chart allows the two directions to be compared to see whether they moved together or differently. The change combines quantities, prices and exchange rates; it is not automatically attributed to a treaty, a visit or a political decision. The same reporter is retained and missing years are not interpolated. [3]
Documented trade sectors
Within the selected chapters, vehicles and components stands out in shipments from Germany to United Arab Emirates, at 2,655.5 million USD in 2025. Within the selected chapters, mineral fuels and oils stands out in shipments from United Arab Emirates to Germany, at 531.7 million USD in 2025. The table compares eight selected chapters with the same coverage as the trade total. It is not a complete list or proof that the first item in this selection is the leading product across the entire relationship. A chapter groups numerous goods: machinery and components, for example, do not describe a single business transaction. [4]
Milestones and consequences
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations: DEU-ARE
Germany's Federal Foreign Office · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Annual TOTAL X/M; 2025; reporter 276; partners 0,392,36,76,792,784,682,376,818,124,710,528,56,756
UN Comtrade / DEU · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Trade series 2021–2025
UN Comtrade / DEU · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Selected HS2 chapters; reporter 276; annual 2025; same partner/flow/coverage as total
UN Comtrade / DEU · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- UN Comtrade / DEU
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · Selected HS2 chapters; reporter 276; annual 2025; same partner/flow/coverage as total.