UAE leaders congratulate Germany's president on Unity Day
In short
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a message of congratulations to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on the occasion of Germany's Unity Day. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, sent similar messages to Steinmeier and to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The state news agency WAM reported the messages, and the accounts were carried by Aletihad and Gulf News.
Why it matters
The messages are a routine diplomatic gesture marking Germany's national day, carried by the state news agency and repeated by UAE outlets. They indicate continued official contact between the UAE and Germany at head-of-state and chancellor level, though the documents give no detail beyond the congratulations themselves.
Key facts
- UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a message of congratulations to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Germany's Unity Day. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, sent a similar message to Steinmeier. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, sent a similar message to Steinmeier. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mansour also sent messages to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- WAM published its report from Abu Dhabi at 23:02 local time on 3 October 2026. [ 1 ]
- Gulf News's article text also listed items referring to a UAE state visit to Germany, including a welcome by the German President at Villa Borsig in Berlin, without giving details. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent congratulations to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Unity Day. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent similar messages to Steinmeier and to Chancellor Friedrich Merz. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The content of the congratulatory messages was not described. All three documents say only that messages of congratulations were sent, with no wording or further detail.
- Gulf News's article text refers to a UAE state visit to Germany and a meeting with former Chancellor Angela Merkel. These appear only as line items in one document, with no dates, details or confirmation in the other documents, so their relationship to this event and their timing are unclear.