Robert Habeck of the environmentalist Greens is scheduled to meet with several ministers in the capital Abu Dhabi. He is accompanied by a high-ranking business delegation.

After visiting Qatar over the weekend, one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG), the focus in the UAE is expected to turn to “green” hydrogen, which is produced with renewable energy rather than conventional fossil fuel.

The UAE draws a lot of its energy from solar power.

The hope in Berlin is that this kind of hydrogen could decarbonize the steel and chemical industries – and replace fossil fuels such as Russian gas in the long term.

According to Habeck, Germany has already clinched a long-term partnership with Qatar that could make German energy “Putin-free,” as Western nations seek to wean themselves off Russian imports in the wake of the Ukraine invasion.

Russia has until now provided 55% of Germany’s fossil fuel imports.

The agreement allows for gas deliveries to Europe in the short term, then longer-term shipments to LNG terminals that Germany plans to build in order to set up its own reception capacity.