What you need to know
– Chancellor Merz in Abu Dhabi says Germany a “good place to invest”
– The three-day tour included talks of gas and arms deals
– German exports showed a slight rise of 1% in 2025
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Welcome to our coverage
Guten Tag from the DW newsroom in Bonn. Today, Chancellor Friedrich Merz wraps up a three-day tour of the Gulf region, seeking new business and investment deals. And in economic news, German exports showed a surprising rise, even as goods sold to the US suffered under tariffs.
Merz in Abu Dhabi touts Germany as reliable investment partner
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wrapped up a three-day tour of the Gulf region in Abu Dhabi by positioning Germany as a reliable investment partner and eyeing a central role in a potential EU trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates. “Germany is held in very high regard here, partly because we are a good place to invest,” Merz said.
The trip included stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar as Germany seeks to diversify economic and strategic partnerships amid global economic instability, which Merz said makes reliability and consistency in bilateral relations essential. He added that Gulf countries expect Germany to take on leadership in the European Union and signaled openness to closer foreign trade cooperation, including a possible trade agreement with the UAE.
After meeting the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Doha, Merz said Germany would work “more intensively in arms cooperation than in recent years” with what he described as reliable partners in the Gulf region. He also hinted at energy deals, saying Germany was ready to buy more liquefied natural gas from Qatar.
Germany’s closer ties with Gulf states come with human rights concerns
Seeking closer ties with autocratically governed Gulf states — especially Saudi Arabia — represents a turnaround from previous German governments. Merz said human rights were on the agenda during talks with Gulf rulers, but those discussions took place “behind closed doors.” “We are not uncritical, but we do not place the Gulf states under general suspicion,” he said.
Saudi Arabia is notorious for its treatment of women and a draconian justice system. The 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Turkey shocked the world; Western intelligence agencies like the CIA assess Khashoggi was killed at the behest of the crown prince, who has denied involvement. Human Rights Watch reported Saudi Arabia carried out a record number of 356 executions in 2025.
Bullet sent in a threatening letter to Munich Jewish community center
A Jewish community center in Munich received an envelope containing a live bullet and a threatening antisemitic letter, Yehoshua Chmiel, Vice President of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria, said. Chmiel called it “an escalation,” noting the package differed from insulting or threatening social media posts because “the person has access to ammunition.”
Munich police declined to comment on specific details as the investigation is ongoing but said they can already rule out any actual danger based on the current state of the probe. The Jewish Community Center is located in Munich’s old town. Bavaria’s State Government Commissioner for Antisemitism, Ludwig Spaenle, condemned the incident and urged state security services to track down the perpetrators.
German exports up slightly in 2025
Germany’s overall exports in 2025 were up 1% compared to the previous year, according to seasonally-adjusted figures. Exports totaled €1.5 trillion ($1.77 trillion) — the first sign of export growth in two years. The increase was driven by stronger trade within the EU, with exports to other EU countries rising around 4% last year, and by strong December numbers.
Destatis and German Chamber of Commerce (DIHK) data showed European countries bought more German core industrial goods like machine tools and engineering systems. Volker Treier, head of global trade at the DIHK, told Reuters that European demand more or less saved German trade in 2025 and emphasized the need for German and European economic policies geared toward competitiveness.
An icy Berlin airport reopens after closing earlier in the day
Berlin Brandenburg Airport reopened Friday afternoon after closing in the morning for the second day due to winter weather. The airport warned passengers to expect further delays and cancellations as lengthy de-icing operations continue. The east of Germany is experiencing a protracted cold snap with freezing temperatures, snow and sleet, while other parts of the country have milder conditions.