Chancellor Friedrich Merz ended a three-day Gulf visit in Abu Dhabi as he pushed for new business ties and investment for Germany, while also raising the prospect of deeper EU trade cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.
Speaking in Abu Dhabi, Merz cast Germany as a reliable and attractive destination for capital, saying the country is “held in very high regard” and a good place to invest. The trip, which included stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, aimed to widen Germany’s economic and strategic partnerships amid global uncertainty.
Merz signaled openness to stronger economic and security links with Gulf states. After meeting Qatar’s emir in Doha, he said Germany would work “more intensively in arms cooperation than in recent years” with trusted partners in the region, and indicated a readiness to expand purchases of Qatari liquefied natural gas.
The outreach marks a shift from earlier German approaches that were more restrained toward autocratic Gulf governments. Merz said human rights were raised in talks but described those discussions as taking place privately, adding that Germany is not “uncritical” yet does not want to treat the Gulf states with blanket suspicion.
Human rights groups and critics note several points of concern in the region, including harsh treatment of political opponents and women, and past incidents that have strained ties with the West. The 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul remains a prominent example; Western intelligence agencies have assessed the murder was ordered at high levels, a charge Riyadh denies. Human Rights Watch reported that Saudi Arabia carried out a record 356 executions in 2025.
Separately, authorities in Munich are investigating an envelope sent to a Jewish community center that contained a live bullet and an antisemitic threat. Yehoshua Chmiel, vice president of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria, called the incident “an escalation.” Munich police said the probe is ongoing and that, based on current findings, there is no immediate danger. Bavaria’s state commissioner for antisemitism condemned the act and urged security services to find those responsible.
On the economic front, Germany’s exports grew by 1% in 2025, reaching about €1.5 trillion — the first annual increase in two years. Data from Destatis and the German Chamber of Commerce (DIHK) showed stronger trade within the EU, with exports to other member states rising roughly 4%. European demand for core industrial products such as machine tools and engineering systems helped buoy overall figures. Volker Treier, head of global trade at the DIHK, said robust European demand largely sustained Germany’s trade performance and highlighted the need for policies that support competitiveness.
Travel and transport were also affected by winter weather: Berlin Brandenburg Airport briefly closed in the morning due to icy conditions and de-icing requirements before reopening in the afternoon. Officials warned passengers to expect delays and cancellations as operations continued. Eastern Germany remained gripped by a cold snap of snow, sleet and freezing temperatures, while other regions experienced milder conditions.
Merz’s Gulf tour underlines Germany’s pursuit of new economic partners and energy suppliers as it balances strategic interests with advocacy for human rights — a balancing act that will shape debates at home and in the EU as potential trade agreements and security partnerships move forward.