BERLIN / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Berlin on Wednesday for an official state visit to Germany. Following entry into German airspace, the presidential aircraft was accompanied by German military jets. The authorities greeted Sheikh Mohamed with 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. It also involves meetings with Germany’s leading political figures during a structured program in Berlin.
Sheikh Mohamed is accompanied by senior UAE officials overseeing foreign relations, trade, industry, defence, national security, and technological advancement. 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. The UAE leader is joined by presidential advisers and other senior officials, as the two nations gear up for high-level diplomatic and economic discussions.
Scheduled to host Sheikh Mohamed on Thursday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will meet him at Villa Borsig. Their exchange will feature talks between the two presidents along with delegations. Later, Sheikh Mohamed will be received by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Federal Chancellery. The official agenda covers bilateral economic cooperation, strategic partnership, and regional peace and stability. Additionally, regional and international developments are on the docket for this state visit.
Economic Engagement Shapes the High-Level Agenda
Diplomatic relations between the UAE and Germany began in 1972, with a strategic partnership formalized in 2004. This partnership encompasses political dialogue, investment, trade, and multi-sector collaboration. Prior to the visit, UAE officials estimated bilateral trade in 2025 at approximately 13.6 billion euros, reflecting an increase of roughly 15% from the previous year. The presence of about 2,000 German companies operating within the UAE underscores the depth of economic ties between the two nations.
Energy and technological cooperation are vital components of the existing relationship. Abu Dhabi renewable energy firm Masdar holds a 49% stake in Germany’s Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm, a 476-megawatt project that became fully operational in July 2025. It supplies power to roughly 475,000 households. In February, ADNOC and Germany’s energy giant RWE agreed to explore opportunities to supply liquefied natural gas to Germany and other European markets.
Recent Bilateral Exchanges Reinforce the Visit’s Significance
The upcoming visit builds upon recent exchanges, with Steinmeier’s program including formal discussions with Sheikh Mohamed before further deliberations involving their delegations. The German president will host a state dinner for the UAE leader on Thursday evening. Meanwhile, Merz is scheduled to meet Sheikh Mohamed at the Chancellery during the afternoon. Germany emphasizes strengthening economic ties and broadening strategic cooperation, with trade, investment, and regional stability occupying the core of Berlin’s agenda.
This state visit follows Merz’s trip to the Gulf in February, during which he met Sheikh Mohamed in Abu Dhabi. The current visit continues the ongoing direct dialogue between the UAE and German leadership. Sheikh Mohamed previously visited Germany in 2019 as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, where he met Steinmeier and other officials. His current visit is his inaugural state visit to Germany as President of the United Arab Emirates.