Linked by literature and legacy: Cultural ties between UAE and Germany go back to Zayed the Great and beyond
One of the earliest photographs of a leader from the Emirates is on display at a museum in Berlin. Taken in February 1904 by German traveller and photographer Hermann Burchardt , it shows Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, known as Zayed the Great, seated at a majlis outside Qasr Al Hosn and surrounded by members of his court. The image is regarded as the first known photograph of a ruler of Abu…
The cultural connections between the United Arab Emirates and Germany stretch back more than a century, to the era of Zayed the Great, the first ruler of Abu Dhabi. In February 1904, German photographer Hermann Burchardt captured the first known photograph of a UAE leader, depicting Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan seated at a majlis in Qasr Al Hosn, surrounded by his court. The photograph, now held by Berlin's Ethnological Museum, was taken from a glass-plate negative preserved in the UAE's Arabian Gulf Digital Archive.
This historic bond has evolved over time, with diplomatic relations between the two nations established more than 54 years ago in 1972. Since then, cooperation has flourished in various sectors, including trade, industry, publishing, language education, archaeological research, and cultural events. The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, one of the longest-running collaborations, was initially known as the Islamic Book Fair in 1981 and later benefited from Frankfurt Book Fair's expertise, established in the 15th century.
Germany has been an annual participant and Guest of Honour at the fair since 2008, while Abu Dhabi has showcased Emirati and Arab literature through initiatives like the 20th Sheikh Zayed Book Award, which awarded German writer Stefan Weidner for his translations of Arab authors.
Cultural ties extend beyond literature to music, with the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra performing at Abu Dhabi Classics, and opera productions like Wagner's The Valkyrie presented at Emirates Palace. Similarly, Abu Dhabi institutions have brought German works to their audiences, such as the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation's 2017 Berlin Art Week featuring over 50 Emirati artists.
Architecturally, the Cultural Foundation's Bauhaus-designed building, co-founded by German architect Walter Gropius, symbolizes the shared heritage.
Germany's cultural footprint in the UAE also includes the Goethe-Institut, which opened a joint Abu Dhabi liaison office in 2006, followed by language courses and cultural programs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The Gulf German Film Festival and Schlingel children's film festival further strengthen these connections. Archaeological collaboration between Emirati and German teams, such as the work at Faya Palaeolandscape and the University of Tübingen's efforts in Sharjah, has contributed to understanding early human occupation in the region.
Through these shared experiences, the bond between the UAE and Germany continues to grow, rooted in shared history and mutual respect.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
