Chancellor’s trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are key players in the Near and Middle East. Federal Chancellor Merz has travelled to the Gulf region to strengthen strategic partnerships. Developments in Iran were also a topic of discussion.
The last stop on his trip to the Gulf region took Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Abu Dhabi.
Photo: Federal Government/Guido Bergmann
It was his first official trip to the Gulf region: Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The Federal Chancellor’s trip underlines the fact that stability in the Near and Middle East is in Germany’s interest. The Federal government wants to strengthen and deepen relations with the three Gulf states.
Three recurring themes of the trip
The Federal Chancellor first met with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Saudi Arabia for personal talks. The following day, he travelled to Qatar, where he met with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. His trip ended in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the Chancellor met the President of the UAE--United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed.
Building strategic partnerships, strengthening bilateral relations and making joint efforts for peace and stability in the Gulf region were the recurring themes of the trip, as the Chancellor explained. He also sees the trip in a wider context: “We need such partnerships more than ever at a time when major powers are increasingly dominating politics.”
Reliability in bilateral relations
During his visit to the United Arab Emirates, on the third stop on his trip, Federal Chancellor Merz spoke of the impressions that make him feel optimistic - also with regard to investments in Germany and German investments in the Gulf region. In a world of great uncertainty, what is needed above all else is reliability in bilateral relations. “I can offer that from Germany,” said the Chancellor.
Germany is also prepared to cooperate more closely on foreign trade policy, with the possibility of reaching a free trade agreement with the UAE--United Arab Emirates. The Federal Chancellor spoke at length with President bin Zayed about the talks held in Abu Dhabi between Russia, Ukraine and the USA. Iran, Sudan and Yemen, where the United Arab Emirates also play an important role, were also discussed.
Deepening partnership between Qatar and Germany
In Doha, the second stop on his trip, Federal Chancellor Merz emphasised the positive cooperation with Qatar. The country is a reliable partner and plays an important role politically. The Emir of Qatar has proven himself time and again as a mediator.
Germany has been purchasing liquid gas from Qatar for several years. According to Merz, this has contributed to a reliable energy supply. German companies would do good business in Qatar. At the same time, the country is involved in a whole range of German companies. Sheikh Al-Thani will pay a state visit to Germany in July – a further sign that the two countries want to deepen their partnership.
Expanding economic relations
During his stop in Riyadh, Federal Chancellor Merz emphasised the economic importance of bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia. “Saudi Arabia's economic, cultural and social modernisation makes the country an attractive market for German industry. We have a substantial investment in the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. We want to utilise this – for growth in Germany,” said the Chancellor.
The partnerships with the Gulf states also opened up the opportunity to diversify oil and gas supply chains. Defence exports will also be discussed.
Riyadh, 4 February 2026: Federal Chancellor Merz has travelled to the Gulf region to strengthen strategic partnerships with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. In Saudi Arabia, he was received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The Chancellor was accompanied by a business delegation. Before making the trip, the Chancellor explained that the countries being visited are among the key economic players in the region and are important trading partners for Germany.
For Federal Chancellor Merz, Saudi Arabia – the only G20 state in the Gulf – is an attractive market for German industry. “The volume of trade already amounts to around eleven billion euros, with a strong upward trend,” said Chancellor Merz.
Doha, 5 February 2026: The second stop on the trip took the Federal Chancellor to the capital of Qatar.
The agenda in Doha included discussions with Qatari and German business representatives. At the joint meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, the Chancellor made it clear that the partnership with Qatar was to be strengthened.
Federal Chancellor Merz was then received by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, for talks.
Finally, the Chancellor visited one of the most important museums of Islamic art on the Arabian Peninsula. The Doha Museum of Islamic Art houses significant parts of the extensive art collection of the Qatari Emirs.
Germany and Qatar want to strengthen their partnership. Federal Chancellor Merz made this clear after talks with the Emir of Qatar in Doha. The dialogue centred on economic issues, cultural exchange and stability in the Gulf region.
Abu Dhabi, 6 February 2026: The aim of closer cooperation on foreign trade policy was also reflected in the Chancellor’s agenda. In the UAE--United Arab Emirates he visited a subsidiary of the German company BAUER AG.
“Germany has a very high reputation here, also because we are a good investment location,” said Chancellor Merz during the visit. There has been a sharp rise in investment figures and a significant increase in orders in many companies.
The Chancellor also visited the state-owned oil company Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
His trip to the Gulf was possibly one of the most important in recent months, said the Chancellor at the end of his visit. There is huge potential in terms of investment in Germany and of German investment in the region.
Stay in dialogue
The Chancellor had announced that he also wanted to address difficult issues during the three stops on his trip. In Saudi Arabia, for example, a lot has been achieved through Crown Prince bin Salman’s “Vision 2030”, but there is certainly still a lot to be done – also with regard to human rights.
Working together for peace and stability in the region
The Gulf states are committed to regional stability and are mediating partners in many other conflicts. According to the Federal Chancellor, the trip was therefore also focused on peace and stability in the region. Developments in Iran played an important role. In the talks, there was great concern expressed about a further escalation in the conflict.
The Chancellor emphasised three points: The Iranian regime's violence against its own population must stop immediately. Iran must stop its military nuclear programme and put an end to its destabilising activities in the region. Merz emphasised the close contact Germany enjoys with its partners and how they want to promote de-escalation.