UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Arrives in Berlin to Strengthen Bilateral Ties with Germany

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed arrived in Berlin on Wednesday to begin a state visit to Germany, aimed at bolstering the growing ties between the two nations. Upon entering German airspace, the President's plane was escorted by military aircraft until it reached the airport, according to the state news agency Wam. Sheikh Mohamed was welcomed with a 21-gun salute and a guard of honour upon his arrival.

During the visit, the UAE leader is scheduled to meet German President Frank-Halter Steinmeier and Chancellor Friedrich Merz to explore efforts aimed at deepening co-operation, with a particular focus on the economic and development sectors. Diplomatic relations between the countries were established in 1972 and have experienced sustained growth, supported by the signing of a strategic partnership in 2004. The UAE has cemented its position as Germany's most important partner in the Gulf, with bilateral trade exceeding $15.5 billion in 2025.

Approximately 2,000 German businesses now operate offices in the UAE, including major companies such as BMW, Siemens, ThyssenKrupp, and Deutsche Bahn, the latter of which contributed significantly to establishing Etihad Rail’s initial freight services. Furthermore, both nations have closely collaborated to enhance energy security and accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to clean and renewable energy. Germany's 476-megawatt Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm serves as a prime example of this ongoing partnership.

The wind farm project, featuring a 49 per cent stake valued at €488 million held by Abu Dhabi's Masdar, became fully operational in July 2025. It supplies electricity to about 475,000 homes while preventing approximately 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. Additionally, strategic collaborations between Abu Dhabi's Adnoc and German energy company RWE have explored liquefied natural gas supplies to Germany and broader European markets, following agreements made during the German Chancellor's visit to the UAE in February.

In June, Badr Jafar, special envoy of the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs for business and philanthropy, traveled to Germany alongside UAE ambassador to Germany Ahmed Alattar to hold numerous meetings with senior corporate executives. These engagements in Dusseldorf and Munich highlighted the expanding role of private sector partnerships in strengthening economic ties. Sheikh Mohamed previously visited Germany in 2019 as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, during which he met with Mr Steinmeier and described both nations as anchors of peace and stability in their respective regions.