BERLIN / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Berlin on Wednesday for a state visit to Germany. His aircraft was escorted by German military planes once it crossed into German airspace, followed by an official reception that featured a 21-gun salute and a guard of honour. This visit marks the first time a UAE president has made a state visit to Germany. Sheikh Mohamed’s agenda in Germany includes meetings with senior political leaders.
Accompanied by a senior delegation focused on foreign affairs, trade, industry, defence, national security, and advanced technology, Sheikh Mohamed traveled to Berlin. The delegation includes Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Industry and Advanced Technology Minister Sultan Al Jaber, Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi, and Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh, along with several presidential advisers and senior UAE officials.
On Thursday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will host Sheikh Mohamed at Villa Borsig as the official program continues. The leaders will hold bilateral discussions with their delegations after a ceremonial welcome. Later that afternoon, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will meet Sheikh Mohamed at the Federal Chancellery. The German government states that their discussions will encompass economic relations, the strategic partnership, and regional stability, with regional and international issues also on the agenda.
Focus on Strategic Collaboration and Economic Relations
Diplomatic ties 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 collaboration across diverse economic sectors. Before the visit, UAE officials reported bilateral trade reaching approximately 13.6 billion euros in 2025, a roughly 15% rise compared to the previous year. Around 2,000 German companies are active in the UAE, reflecting over fifty years of economic cooperation.
Energy and technology are key sectors in this partnership. Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy firm Masdar owns a 49% stake in Germany’s 476-megawatt Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm, which became fully operational in July 2025 and can power about 475,000 homes. Additionally, ADNOC and German energy giant RWE agreed in February to explore LNG supply opportunities for Germany and other European markets.
Berlin Engagement Continues with Top-Level Discussions
The German program includes direct talks between Steinmeier and Sheikh Mohamed, along with discussions involving their delegations. Steinmeier will also host a state banquet for the UAE president on Thursday evening. At around 4 p.m., Merz is scheduled to meet Sheikh Mohamed at the Chancellery. The German government emphasized that strengthening bilateral economic ties and the broader strategic partnership are primary topics for these meetings.
This state visit follows Merz’s trip to the Gulf in February, when he met Sheikh Mohamed in Abu Dhabi. Their upcoming meeting reinforces the ongoing UAE-Germany strategic alliance. Sheikh Mohamed previously visited Germany in 2019 as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and met Steinmeier during that trip. His current visit is his inaugural state visit to Germany since becoming President of the United Arab Emirates.