BERLIN / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Berlin on Wednesday for an official state visit to Germany. His aircraft was escorted by German military planes upon entering German airspace. An official reception followed, featuring a 21-gun salute and a guard of honour. This visit marks the first time a UAE president has paid a state visit to Germany. Sheikh Mohamed is in the country to hold discussions with senior German political leaders.
Accompanying the UAE president was a high-level delegation focused on foreign policy, commerce, industry, defence, national security, and innovative technology. The delegation includes Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Industry and Advanced Technology Minister Sultan Al Jaber. Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi and Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh are also present. Several presidential advisors and other top UAE officials are accompanying Sheikh Mohamed to Berlin.
The official program continues on Thursday with a meeting between Sheikh Mohamed and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Villa Borsig. Following a ceremonial welcome, the two presidents will engage in talks alongside their delegations. Later that afternoon, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will host Sheikh Mohamed at the Federal Chancellery. According to Germany’s government, the discussions will focus on economic partnerships, strategic collaboration, and regional peace and stability. Broader regional and international issues are also part of the agenda.
Focus on Strategic Alliances and Economic Relations
Diplomatic ties between the UAE and Germany were established in 1972, and a strategic partnership agreement was signed in 2004. This framework promotes political dialogue, trade, investment, and cooperation across diverse sectors. Before the visit, UAE officials reported bilateral trade was approximately 13.6 billion euros in 2025, reflecting an estimated 15% growth from the previous year. Around 2,000 German companies operate within the UAE, underscoring decades of robust economic connections.
Energy and technological cooperation are key elements of the bilateral relationship. Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy firm Masdar holds a 49% stake in Germany’s 476-megawatt Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm, which became fully operational in July 2025 and supplies electricity to approximately 475,000 homes. In February, ADNOC and German energy giant RWE also agreed to explore liquefied natural gas supply options for Germany and the broader European market.
High-Level Dialogues Continue in Berlin
The German presidential agenda includes direct talks between Steinmeier and Sheikh Mohamed, followed by further discussions involving their respective delegations. On Thursday evening, Steinmeier will host a state banquet in honour of the UAE president. At around 4 p.m. local time, Merz is scheduled to meet Sheikh Mohamed at the Chancellery. The German government emphasized that strengthening bilateral economic relations and advancing the strategic partnership are central themes of the meetings.
This state visit follows Merz’s February trip to the Gulf region, during which he met Sheikh Mohamed in Abu Dhabi. Their upcoming meeting signifies continued efforts to deepen the UAE-Germany strategic alliance. Sheikh Mohamed previously visited Germany in 2019 as Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and met Steinmeier during that visit. His current visit is his first as president of the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations.