BERLIN / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Berlin on Wednesday to undertake a state visit to Germany. His aircraft was escorted by German military planes once it crossed into German airspace. An official welcoming ceremony followed, featuring a 21-gun salute and a guard of honour. This marks the first time a UAE president has made a state visit to Germany. Sheikh Mohamed’s agenda includes meetings with top German political leaders.
He traveled with a senior delegation that covers foreign affairs, trade, industry, defence, national security, and advanced technology. The group includes Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Industry and Advanced Technology Minister Sultan Al Jaber. Also in the delegation are Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi and Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh. Several presidential advisers and other senior UAE officials accompanied Sheikh Mohamed to Berlin.
On Thursday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will host Sheikh Mohamed at Villa Borsig for the official program. The two presidents will hold bilateral talks with their delegations after the ceremonial welcome. Later, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will meet Sheikh Mohamed at the Federal Chancellery in the afternoon. The German government states that the discussions will focus on economic ties, the strategic partnership, and regional peace and stability. The agenda also includes regional and international issues.
Focus on Strategic Alliances and Economic Cooperation
Diplomatic ties between the UAE and Germany started in 1972. They formalized a strategic partnership in 2004. This agreement covers political dialogue, trade, investment, and cooperation across various economic sectors. Prior to the visit, UAE officials reported bilateral trade reaching about 13.6 billion euros in 2025. This was roughly 15% higher than the previous year. Around 2,000 German companies operate within the UAE, highlighting decades of commercial links.
Energy and technology are also key areas of collaboration. Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy firm Masdar holds a 49% stake in Germany’s 476-megawatt Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm. The project became fully operational in July 2025 and can supply electricity to about 475,000 homes. In February, ADNOC and German energy firm RWE agreed to explore liquefied natural gas supply options for Germany and other European markets.
Berlin Program Continues with High-Level Discussions
The German schedule includes direct talks between Steinmeier and Sheikh Mohamed, followed by discussions with their respective delegations. Steinmeier will also host a state banquet for the UAE president Thursday evening. Merz is scheduled to meet Sheikh Mohamed at the Chancellery around 4 p.m. local time. Germany emphasizes that the main topics will be strengthening bilateral economic ties and expanding the strategic partnership.
This state visit follows Merz’s February trip to the Gulf, where he met Sheikh Mohamed in Abu Dhabi. The upcoming meeting marks a renewal of high-level discussions within the UAE-Germany strategic framework. Sheikh Mohamed previously visited Germany in 2019 as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and met Steinmeier then. This is his first official state visit to Germany as the President of the United Arab Emirates.