Emirati-German Energy Partnership Advances 10th Steering Group Meeting In Abu Dhabi

The Emirati-German Energy Partnership convened its 10th High-Level Steering Group Meeting during the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. Delegates reviewed current cooperation, assessed progress on joint energy projects, and outlined work streams for 2025 and 2026 to support sustainable development, energy transition goals, and low-carbon strategies in both countries.

Created as a joint initiative between the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, the Emirati-German Energy Partnership aims to speed up national energy transitions. The partnership supports high-level political dialogue and shared projects that target a sustainable, low-carbon energy future.

Eng. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, chaired the steering group session. The meeting gathered Stephanie von Ahlefeldt, Director-General at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Alexander Schönfelder, Ambassador of Germany to the UAE, and senior officials from both governments.

"Over nearly a decade, this partnership has evolved into a mature and trusted platform — one that goes beyond dialogue to deliver tangible outcomes. Our cooperation has consistently combined strategic alignment with practical implementation, and the work undertaken in 2025 reflects this shared commitment and momentum," Al Olama said.

Participants used the Abu Dhabi discussions to set cooperation priorities and define key areas of work for 2026. These priorities include scaling practical implementation of energy projects, strengthening knowledge exchange, and aligning long-term planning. The agenda supports sustainable development aims while reflecting shared objectives across technology deployment, system planning, and climate-focused policy discussions.

He added, "Today’s Steering Group plays a central role in shaping the direction of our partnership. It is the forum where we reflect on progress, consider the changing energy landscape, and provide clear guidance for the period ahead."

Al Olama noted, "We are meeting at a time when energy systems globally are becoming more complex, with rising demand, rapid technological change, and growing expectations around resilience, affordability, and sustainability. These dynamics reinforce the importance of strong partnerships and focused cooperation. I therefore encourage an open, constructive, and forward-looking discussion today. Our objective is to ensure that the Emirati-German Energy Partnership remains impactful, relevant, and aligned with shared priorities and capabilities."

During the session, Al Olama underlined the UAE’s strong commitment to the Emirati-German Energy Partnership and to close collaboration with Germany. The discussions highlighted how joint initiatives can address system resilience, affordability, and sustainability, which are central issues for global energy planners and hold particular importance for energy strategies across the Middle East region.

Stephanie von Ahlefeldt said, "The Emirati-German Energy Partnership is built on trust and efficiently delivers results. Today's meeting demonstrated the remarkable success of our bilateral energy cooperation and promises a bright future."

The 10th steering group meeting at the World Future Energy Summit confirmed that the Emirati-German Energy Partnership is a long-term platform for structured dialogue and practical projects. By agreeing on priorities for 2026, the two sides aim to keep cooperation focused on measurable outcomes that support each country’s energy transition and shared low-carbon ambitions.

With inputs from WAM