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 accompanied by German military jets as it crossed into German airspace. An official welcoming ceremony followed, featuring a 21-gun salute and a guard of honour. This visit marks the inaugural state visit to Germany by a UAE president. Sheikh Mohamed is in Germany for discussions with the country’s top political leaders.
Accompanying the UAE president was a high-level delegation focused on foreign policy, commerce, industry, defense, national security, and advanced technology. Among the delegation are Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Industry and Advanced Technology Minister Sultan Al Jaber. Also present are Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi and Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh. Several presidential advisors and senior officials from the UAE also traveled with Sheikh Mohamed to Berlin.
The official program continues on Thursday when German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will host Sheikh Mohamed at Villa Borsig. After a ceremonial reception, the two presidents will hold discussions with their respective delegations. Later in the day, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will meet Sheikh Mohamed at the Federal Chancellery. The official agenda includes talks on economic cooperation, the strategic partnership, and regional peace and stability. Additionally, regional and global issues will be addressed during the visit.
Focus on Strategic Alliances and Economic Collaboration
Diplomatic relations between the UAE and Germany were established in 1972, with a strategic partnership agreement signed in 2004. This framework promotes political dialogue, trade, investment, and cooperation across various economic sectors. According to figures released before the visit, bilateral trade was approximately 13.6 billion euros in 2025, reflecting an estimated 15% increase from the previous year. Around 2,000 German companies operate within the UAE, underscoring decades of commercial ties.
Energy and technological cooperation are also integral to their partnership. Abu Dhabi-based 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 roughly 475,000 homes. Furthermore, ADNOC and German energy giant RWE reached an agreement in February to explore LNG supply opportunities for Germany and other European markets.
Continued Engagement with Top-Level Discussions in Berlin
The German presidential agenda includes direct talks between Steinmeier and Sheikh Mohamed, followed by discussions involving their respective delegations. On Thursday evening, Steinmeier will host a state banquet honoring the UAE president. At around 4 p.m. local time, Merz is scheduled to meet Sheikh Mohamed at the Chancellery. The German government emphasizes that the key topics of these meetings will be strengthening bilateral economic relations and broadening the strategic partnership. Discussions will also encompass regional stability and international issues.
This state visit follows Merz’s visit to the Gulf region in February, during which he met Sheikh Mohamed in Abu Dhabi. Their upcoming meetings reaffirm the ongoing strategic ties between Germany and the UAE. Sheikh Mohamed previously visited Germany in 2019 as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and met Steinmeier during that trip. This current visit is his first official state visit to Germany as the President of the United Arab Emirates.