UAE Roundup: Historic Germany visit, Iran attack condemned, agentic AI push accelerates

Mohamed bin Zayed begins first-ever UAE presidential state visit to Germany

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Berlin on September 9, 2026, beginning what UAE officials described as the first state visit to Germany by a president of the United Arab Emirates. His aircraft was escorted by German military jets after entering German airspace, while his arrival was marked by a 21-gun salute and guard of honour. His delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Industry and Advanced Technology Minister Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Foreign Trade Minister Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Mazrouei, and other senior officials. On September 10, Mohamed bin Zayed was formally welcomed at Villa Borsig in Berlin by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The UAE president signed the guestbook and referred to the longstanding relationship between the two countries, while expressing hope that bilateral ties would continue to deepen. The visit includes talks with Steinmeier and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with discussions focusing on economic and development cooperation as well as regional and international issues. The UAE and Germany have maintained diplomatic relations since 1972, while a strategic partnership agreement was signed in 2004.

UAE condemns Iranian missile attack on Jordan and backs Amman’s security response

The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned an Iranian missile attack on Jordan on September 9, describing it as a violation of Jordanian sovereignty and a threat to regional security. In an official statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attack represented a “flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan” and threatened the country’s security and stability. The ministry reiterated what it called the UAE’s full solidarity with Jordan and said Abu Dhabi supported measures taken by Amman to safeguard its security and stability. The condemnation comes amid a broader period of heightened tension between Iran and Jordan. Jordan’s close security relationship with the United States has made it a target of Iranian missile and drone attacks during the recent regional conflict. The United States operates from multiple military installations in Jordan, including Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, which has played a role in US regional operations. The September 9 statement was not the first such condemnation from Abu Dhabi in 2026. The UAE also condemned Iranian attacks on Jordan on July 9 and again on July 29, repeatedly describing them as unacceptable violations of Jordanian sovereignty.

Mohammed bin Rashid tells government teams to accelerate delivery in new 2026–27 season

UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has opened the government’s new 2026–27 work season with a call for faster implementation, stronger coordination and greater use of emerging technologies. At the annual New Government Season Meeting 2026–2027 on September 9, Mohammed bin Rashid met senior officials and government teams to review priorities, major projects and policy directions for the coming period. The meeting was attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, as well as Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai. Mohammed bin Rashid praised government teams for improving operational efficiency, accelerating national priorities and developing public services, but told them to increase the pace of delivery. “With the start of every government season, I begin my work by meeting my team. We set out on a new season, carrying renewed energy, strong resolve and ambitions that match our country,” he said.

UAE moves agentic AI programme into second phase with FedAI government platform

The UAE is moving into the second phase of its ambitious Agentic AI Project, part of a wider plan to automate a large share of federal government operations using autonomous artificial-intelligence systems. The Ministerial Council for Artificial Intelligence and Development, chaired by Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reviewed the programme at a meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi on September 9. The second phase includes the creation of FedAI, a national technical ecosystem designed to allow federal government entities to develop, adopt and operate agentic AI systems through a secure and flexible environment. The programme will also establish a customer experience laboratory to test agentic AI in public services and launch internal government competitions encouraging employees to develop AI-based solutions. The first phase focused on assessing government services, operations and tasks, identifying priority areas and building institutional capabilities. Ministries and federal agencies have since submitted services and processes that are expected to move into implementation during the next stage.

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Labour violations fall 15% but illegal recruitment and unpaid wages remain major offences

Labour violations detected at private-sector companies in the UAE fell 15% in the first half of 2026, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, though illegal employment and failures to pay salaries remain among the most common offences. The ministry said its inspection teams conducted about 212,000 visits during the first six months of the year using what it described as a “smart monitoring system” combining artificial intelligence, data analysis and risk indicators to identify establishments most likely to breach labour rules. The number of serious cases referred to the Public Prosecution fell 49%, from 962 during the first half of 2025 to 490 in the same period of 2026. The ministry said the decline indicated fewer severe violations requiring judicial intervention. However, inspections continued to identify several recurring breaches. These included employing or recruiting workers without the required permits, failing to pay salaries through the Wage Protection System, and submitting inaccurate information or documents to the ministry. Employing someone without the appropriate permit can result in fines of between Dh100,000 and Dh1 million under UAE labour legislation. Authorities can also refuse to issue or renew work permits, or cancel existing permits, when companies provide incorrect documentation or fail to comply with the Wage Protection System.