BERLIN / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan touched down in Berlin on Wednesday for a formal state visit to Germany. His aircraft was accompanied by German military jets upon entering German airspace. An official reception was held, 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 engaging in discussions with senior German political leaders during his stay.
Leading a high-level delegation, Sheikh Mohamed traveled with representatives covering foreign affairs, trade, industry, defence, national security, and advanced technology sectors. The delegation includes 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, alongside several presidential advisers and other senior UAE officials.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will host Sheikh Mohamed at Villa Borsig on Thursday, continuing the official schedule. The two presidents are expected to hold bilateral talks with their respective delegations following the ceremonial welcome. In the afternoon, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will meet Sheikh Mohamed at the Federal Chancellery. The German government states that the discussions will focus on economic cooperation, the strategic partnership, and regional peace and stability, while also addressing regional and global developments as part of the agenda.
Focus on Strategic Alliances and Economic Relations
Diplomatic relations between the UAE and Germany were established in 1972, with a strategic partnership agreement signed in 2004. This cooperation framework encompasses political dialogue, trade, investment, and collaboration across numerous economic sectors. Reports released ahead of the visit estimate bilateral trade at approximately 13.6 billion euros in 2025, marking a roughly 15% rise from the previous year. Around 2,000 German companies operate within the UAE, reflecting a commercial relationship built over more than fifty years.
Energy and technology cooperation are also central to UAE-Germany relations. Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy firm Masdar holds a 49% stake in Germany’s 476-megawatt Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm. Fully operational since July 2025, the project supplies electricity to roughly 475,000 homes. Additionally, ADNOC and Germany’s energy giant RWE agreed in February to jointly explore liquefied natural gas supply opportunities for Germany and other European markets.
Berlin’s Diplomatic Agenda Continues with High-Level Talks
The German presidential schedule features direct discussions between Steinmeier and Sheikh Mohamed, followed by talks involving their delegations. Steinmeier will also host a state banquet in honor of the UAE president on Thursday evening. At around 4 p.m., Sheikh Mohamed is scheduled to meet Merz at the Chancellery. The German government emphasizes that strengthening bilateral economic ties and advancing the wider strategic partnership are the primary topics of these engagements.
This state visit follows Merz’s visit to the Gulf region in February, where he met Sheikh Mohamed in Abu Dhabi. Their upcoming meeting reinforces the ongoing UAE-Germany strategic partnership. Sheikh Mohamed’s previous visit to Germany occurred in 2019 when he was serving as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, during which he met Steinmeier. His current visit represents his first official state trip to Germany since assuming the presidency of the United Arab Emirates.