BERLIN / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Berlin on Wednesday on a formal state visit to Germany. As the presidential aircraft entered national airspace, it was escorted by German military planes, and upon arrival, Sheikh Mohamed was greeted with a 21-gun salute along with a guard of honour. This marks the first-ever state visit to Germany by a UAE president, which includes meetings with top German political leaders as part of a structured official agenda in Berlin.
Accompanying Sheikh Mohamed were senior UAE officials responsible for foreign affairs, trade, industry, defense, national security, and advanced technology, including Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Industry and Advanced Technology Minister Sultan Al Jaber. The delegation also featured Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi and Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh, with presidential advisers and other high-ranking officials supporting the UAE leader as both nations prepared for high-level political and economic discussions.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is scheduled to meet Sheikh Mohamed at Villa Borsig on Thursday, where their talks will include conversations between the two presidents and discussions involving their respective delegations. Later, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will host Sheikh Mohamed at the Federal Chancellery. The official agenda highlights bilateral economic cooperation, the strategic partnership, regional peace, and stability, along with regional and international developments that will also be addressed during the visit.
Trade and economic cooperation underpin senior-level discussions
Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1972 and signing a strategic partnership agreement in 2004, the UAE and Germany have maintained a dynamic relationship involving political dialogue, investments, trade, and sectoral cooperation. According to figures released before the visit, bilateral trade reached approximately 13.6 billion euros in 2025, reflecting an increase of about 15% compared to the previous year. The economic connection is further demonstrated by the presence of roughly 2,000 German companies operating within the UAE, illustrating the depth of commercial engagement between the two nations.
Energy and technological collaboration are also key components of their ongoing partnership. For example, Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy firm Masdar holds a 49% stake in the Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm in Germany, a project with a capacity of 476 megawatts that became fully operational in July 2025 and can supply electricity to around 475,000 homes. Additionally, ADNOC and German energy giant RWE agreed in February to explore liquefied natural gas supply opportunities for Germany and other European markets, further strengthening bilateral energy ties.
Berlin visit follows recent diplomatic exchanges
The program in Berlin includes formal discussions between Steinmeier and Sheikh Mohamed before both delegations continue their talks. Steinmeier will also host a state banquet for the UAE leader on Thursday evening, while Merz is scheduled to meet Sheikh Mohamed at the Chancellery during the afternoon. The German government emphasizes the importance of enhancing economic relations and the broader strategic partnership, with key topics being trade, investment, and regional security issues. These meetings continue the ongoing dialogue, building on recent high-level interactions.
This state visit follows Merz’s trip to the Gulf region in February, during which he met Sheikh Mohamed in Abu Dhabi. Their current engagement signals the sustained direct communication between the UAE and German leadership. Sheikh Mohamed previously visited Germany in 2019 as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, meeting Steinmeier and other officials during that visit. His current trip is his first official state visit to Germany since assuming the presidency of the United Arab Emirates.