BERLIN / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Berlin on Wednesday to commence a state visit to Germany. His aircraft was accompanied by German military planes upon entering German airspace. An official reception took place afterward, featuring a 21-gun salute and a guard of honour. This visit is notable as the first time a UAE president has made a state visit to Germany. Sheikh Mohamed’s agenda includes meetings with senior German political leaders.
Traveling with a high-level delegation covering sectors such as foreign affairs, trade, industry, defence, national security, and advanced technology, Sheikh Mohamed was accompanied by Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Industry and Advanced Technology Minister Sultan Al Jaber. The delegation also includes Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi and Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh, along with several presidential advisers and other senior officials from the UAE.
The official program continues on Thursday with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier hosting Sheikh Mohamed at Villa Borsig. The leaders will hold discussions with their respective delegations following a ceremonial welcome. Later in the day, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will meet Sheikh Mohamed at the Federal Chancellery. According to Germany’s government, the talks will focus on strengthening economic ties, strategic partnership, regional peace, and stability, with regional and international issues also part of the agenda.
Focus on Strategic Alliances and Economic Collaboration
Diplomatic relations between the UAE and Germany were established in 1972, with a strategic partnership formalized in 2004. This framework encompasses political dialogue, trade, investment, and cooperation across various economic sectors. According to figures released by the UAE ahead of the visit, bilateral trade was approximately 13.6 billion euros in 2025, marking a roughly 15% increase compared to the previous year. About 2,000 German companies operate within the UAE, reflecting decades of economic engagement.
Energy and technology are also key areas of collaboration. Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy firm Masdar owns a 49% stake in the 476-megawatt Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm in Germany. Fully operational since July 2025, the project has the capacity to supply electricity to roughly 475,000 homes. Additionally, ADNOC and German energy company RWE reached an agreement in February to explore liquefied natural gas supply opportunities for Germany and other European markets.
Berlin Engagement Continues with High-Level Discussions
Sheikh Mohamed’s visit to Berlin includes direct talks with President Steinmeier, followed by 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 highlights the focus on enhancing bilateral economic relations and advancing the broader strategic partnership during these discussions.
This state visit follows Merz’s February trip to the Gulf region, where he met Sheikh Mohamed in Abu Dhabi. The upcoming meeting underscores the strengthening of the UAE-Germany strategic alliance. Sheikh Mohamed previously visited Germany in 2019 as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and met Steinmeier during that trip. The current visit is his first as the president of the United Arab Emirates.