The UAE has pledged €15B ($17B) in additional investments in Greece over the next five to eight years, targeting infrastructure, energy, technology and hospitality as it expands economic ties with Europe.
The investments were announced during Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to Athens, according to the UAE’s state news agency Wam. The new commitment builds on an existing joint investment initiative worth €4B.
UAE Foreign Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said the additional investments would cover energy, hospitality, artificial intelligence, technology, industry and infrastructure.
He also highlighted Greece’s maritime capabilities, describing the country as a strategic logistics hub and a historic gateway to Eastern Europe.
Private sector companies signed 18 agreements worth approximately €13B at the UAE-Greece Strategic Forum, Wam reported.
UAE-Greece Trade Grows
Bilateral trade between the UAE and Greece reached $300M in the first half of 2026, up 13% year on year despite the US-Iran war.
Al Zeyoudi also said negotiations on a UAE-European Union FTA were continuing, with the latest round of talks, held almost two weeks ago, proving more positive than previous rounds.
In July, the minister said negotiations with the EU were progressing more slowly than talks with other trading partners because the bloc was seeking to include non-trade issues in the agreement.
The FTA negotiations began in May 2025. The UAE has concluded 37 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), 18 of which are already in force, as it seeks to expand market access and strengthen trade ties internationally.
UAE Non-Oil Trade Reaches $517B
The latest investment announcement comes as the UAE continues to expand its non-oil trade despite regional geopolitical tensions.
The country’s non-oil foreign trade rose 13% year on year to AED 1.9T ($517B) in the first half of 2026, according to figures released by the UAE.
IMF Revisions
However, the IMF’s MENAP update for FY26 saw only one of the six GCC economies maintain positive growth rates this year.
Oman had its growth rate revised upwards of 0.6% on preliminary figures released earlier this year, with a sustained rate of 4.1%, while the UAE is forecast to contract by 3.9%.
Growth came despite four months of geopolitical tension linked to the Iran war.
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