The United Arab Emirates and Germany will provide joint humanitarian and development assistance to Ukraine ahead of winter and may announce a broader reconstruction partnership around the next Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2027. The commitments are set out in a joint declaration adopted during the state visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Germany on 9–11 September and published by the German government.
It was the first-ever state visit by a UAE president to Germany. Sheikh Mohamed came at the invitation of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and held talks with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
What Ukraine is promised
The joint winter assistance will focus on three areas: decentralised critical infrastructure for vulnerable communities, support for children, young people and families, and food security. The declaration gives no amounts or timelines.
The leaders condemned the escalation of attacks in Ukraine, which is increasing civilian casualties and damaging critical infrastructure. They agreed that a ceasefire in the Black Sea is urgently needed to allow grain exports and support global food security.
Germany thanked the UAE for facilitating talks between Ukraine and Russia. Both sides welcomed the latest prisoner exchange facilitated by the UAE, which brought the total number of prisoners exchanged since the start of the war to 7,997.
A signal for business
Germany also welcomed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and Ukraine, citing its potential to support the country’s long-term stabilisation and reconstruction. The recovery and development partnership Abu Dhabi and Berlin intend to explore is to be announced in connection with the 2027 Ukraine Recovery Conference.
For the two countries themselves, the visit was primarily about business: the UAE announced a €40 billion investment package in Germany, including around 1 GW of new data centres, and companies signed 29 agreements and memoranda worth more than €9.3 billion.
Background
Ukraine and the UAE signed the CEPA in Abu Dhabi on 17 February 2025. Ukraine’s parliament ratified it on 26 February 2026, and it entered into force on 1 July 2026. The agreement provides for the gradual removal of duties on a large share of goods and closer customs cooperation, borg.expert reported, citing Ukraine’s State Customs Service.
Qahwa.Media reported earlier on the Ukraine–UAE intergovernmental commission meeting in Abu Dhabi in January 2026.
