UAE President Sheikh Mohamed makes state visit to Germany
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed made a state visit to Germany. His previous official visit to the country took place in June 2019, when he was Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. As The National reports, bilateral relations between the UAE and Germany are now particularly strong.
Trade and energy
The UAE has become Germany's most important trading partner among the Persian Gulf countries. Last year, bilateral trade exceeded 57 billion dirhams, or $15.52 billion, while German imports from the UAE increased by more than 50%.
About 2,000 German companies have opened offices in the UAE, including BMW, Siemens, ThyssenKrupp and Deutsche Bahn. The German railway company played an important role in launching Etihad Rail's first freight services.
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The countries' energy partnership is in its tenth year. It initially focused on renewable energy, and in 2021 it was expanded to include active climate action measures. In 2022, the Agreement on Accelerating Energy Security and Industry provided for UAE supplies of liquefied natural gas to Germany and the acceleration of joint projects in energy security, decarbonization and climate action.
History of the partnership
Diplomatic relations between the UAE and what was then West Germany were established in May 1972, six months after the Emirates were formed. The strategic partnership was launched in April 2004 through an agreement signed in Berlin by then German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, who represented the UAE government as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
The agreement provided for cooperation in regional security and stability, simplified visa and entry procedures, and the development of ties in the oil industry, communications, and research and development. In 2019, German diplomat Philipp Ackermann stated that the UAE was the only Arab country with which Germany had elevated relations to the level of a strategic partnership.
