President Sheikh Mohamed arrives in Germany to begin state visit

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed landed in Berlin on Wednesday to commence a state visit to Germany, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations. Upon entering German airspace, his aircraft was met by military escort. He was met with a 21-gun salute and a guard of honor upon arrival in Berlin. The UAE leader is currently in talks with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Friedrich Merz to explore ways to deepen cooperation, with a focus on economic and development sectors.

Historical diplomatic ties between the two nations were established in 1972 and have seen steady growth since then. The strategic partnership was signed in 2004, further solidifying their relationship. As of 2025, the UAE is Germany's most significant partner in the Gulf, with bilateral trade surpassing $15.5 billion. Over 2,000 German companies have established offices in the UAE, including notable firms like BMW, Siemens, ThyssenKrupp, and Deutsche Bahn, which played a crucial role in launching Etihad Rail's first freight services.

The UAE and Germany have collaborated closely to enhance energy security and promote the shift from conventional fossil fuels to clean and renewable energy sources. A notable example of their collaboration is the 476-megawatt Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm, in which Abu Dhabi's Masdar holds a 49% stake valued at €488 million. The wind farm, operational since July 2025, supplies electricity to around 475,000 homes and prevents approximately 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.

During the German Chancellor's recent visit to the UAE in February, a strategic collaboration was agreed upon between Abu Dhabi's Adnoc and Germany's energy company RWE. The partnership aims to explore opportunities for supplying liquefied natural gas to Germany and European markets. Chancellor Merz also visited Adnoc's headquarters as part of his official trip to the UAE, highlighting the expanding UAE-Germany strategic energy partnership.

In June, special envoy Badr Jafar of the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs for business and philanthropy toured Germany, meeting with executives from major companies and institutions. These engagements, attended by UAE Ambassador to Germany Ahmed Alattar, underscore the growing importance of private sector partnerships in strengthening economic ties between the two nations.

Sheikh Mohamed previously visited Germany in 2019, serving as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, where he met President Steinmeier and referred to the UAE and Germany as pillars of peace and stability in their respective regions.