Overview
- The UAE president arrives in Berlin to meet President Frank‑Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Friedrich Merz and to advance a broad investment and technology partnership expected to be announced during the visit.
- A UN Fact‑Finding Mission report published on September 1 found that individuals and entities operating from or linked to the UAE played a significant role in networks that recruited, financed and transported foreign military contractors and provided military‑related support benefiting Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces.
- Human Rights Watch has urged German leaders to publicly raise the UN findings, investigate Abu Dhabi‑based Global Security Services Group and its CEO, and consider targeted sanctions or an EU arms embargo against firms tied to the RSF.
- The UAE rejects the allegations and points to its mediation role, including nearly 8,000 prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, even as it expands a domestic defence industry and holds talks with German arms manufacturers.
- Germany and the UAE have deep economic links — non‑oil bilateral trade reached $15.51 billion in 2025 and recent deals include Adnoc‑RWE LNG cooperation, Masdar‑RWE battery storage talks and UAE investment into Covestro — raising stakes for Berlin’s policy choices on human rights and arms exports.