The United Arab Emirates (UAE) plans to invest approximately €40 billion ($46 billion) in the German economy, including projects in artificial intelligence, energy, and defense.

Operativ Media reports that this was stated by the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, in an interview with Bloomberg TV.

According to him, approximately €10 billion of the investment will be directed toward projects in the federal state of Bavaria, while the remaining funds will be invested in projects across various areas of cooperation between the two countries.

"Forty billion euros is just the beginning. We will look for more promising opportunities that will allow us to take this relationship to a new level," Al Zeyoudi said.

The minister noted that the investments will serve to strengthen the "long-term relations and strategic partnership" between the UAE and Germany.

According to Bloomberg, data centers and artificial intelligence are among the key areas of the UAE's economic diversification. Amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the country is also seeking to expand its defense cooperation outside the United States.

According to Al Zeyoudi, the new investments will build upon the approximately €34 billion that the UAE has previously invested in Germany.

Notably, the minister accompanied UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his first official state visit to Germany since 2019.