BERLIN / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan touched down in Berlin on Wednesday for an official state visit to Germany. Following his entry into German airspace, his aircraft was escorted by military planes. An official welcoming ceremony was held, featuring a 21-gun salute and a guard of honour. This visit marks the first time a UAE president has undertaken a state visit to Germany. Sheikh Mohamed is in Germany for high-level discussions with senior government officials.
Sheikh Mohamed arrived alongside a senior delegation focusing on foreign affairs, commerce, industry, defence, national security, and advanced technology sectors. The group includes Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Industry and Advanced Technology Minister Sultan Al Jaber, along with Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi and Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh. Several presidential advisers and other senior UAE officials also accompanied him to Berlin.
On Thursday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is scheduled to host Sheikh Mohamed at Villa Borsig as part of the ongoing official program. After the ceremonial reception, the two leaders will engage in bilateral talks with their respective delegations. Later in the afternoon, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will meet Sheikh Mohamed at the Federal Chancellery. The discussions are expected to address economic partnerships, regional peace, and stability, as well as regional and global developments, which are integral to the agenda of this historic visit.
Focus on Strategic Alliances and Economic Collaboration
Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1972, the UAE and Germany formalized a strategic partnership in 2004. This framework facilitates political dialogue, trade, investment, and cooperation across multiple economic sectors. Recent figures released before the visit estimate bilateral trade at approximately 13.6 billion euros in 2025, reflecting a roughly 15% rise from the previous year. With about 2,000 German companies operating in the UAE, the economic connections have been cultivated over more than five decades.
Energy and technology are also key pillars of the bilateral relationship. Abu Dhabi-based Masdar, a renewable energy company, owns a 49% stake in Germany’s 476-megawatt Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm, which became fully operational in July 2025 and supplies electricity to around 475,000 homes. Additionally, ADNOC and RWE, a German energy firm, agreed in February to explore opportunities for liquefied natural gas supplies to Germany and other European markets.
Berlin Engagement Continues with High-Level Discussions
The German presidential schedule involves direct talks between Steinmeier and Sheikh Mohamed, complemented by discussions involving their respective delegations. Steinmeier will also host a state banquet honoring the UAE president on Thursday evening. Later, Merz is expected to meet Sheikh Mohamed at the Chancellery around 4 p.m. local time. Germany’s government highlights that strengthening bilateral economic ties and advancing the strategic partnership are primary objectives of the meetings.
This state visit follows Merz’s February trip to the Gulf, during which he met Sheikh Mohamed in Abu Dhabi. The upcoming meeting marks a continuation of the UAE-Germany strategic alliance. Sheikh Mohamed previously visited Germany in 2019 when he served as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and met Steinmeier during that trip. His current visit is notably the first as president of the United Arab Emirates.