President of Germany, Joachim Gauck, has awarded Germany's Grand Order of Merit with Star (Das Grosse Verdienstkreuz mit Stern) to H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

Germany's Ambassador to the UAE, Dr. Eckhard Wilhelm Lubkemeier, on behalf of President Gauck, presented the honour to H.H. Sheikh Sultan in a ceremony at Al Badea' Palace in Sharjah.

In a speech at the ceremony, H.H. Sheikh bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, thanked the president and people of Germany for the honour, and stressed that the long-standing historic relations between the UAE and Germany will always be strong and constructive.

He also reiterated his support for several human domains like culture, trade and tourism.

The German ambassador said the honour is in recognition of H.H. Sheikh Sultan's cultural, social and humanitarian efforts that contributed to the ever-increasing relations between the two countries, in the cultural, trade and tourism spheres in particular.

Ambassador Lubkemeier described the Ruler of Sharjah as a dear friend of Germany and noted that all German Muslims and non-Muslims coexist in harmony in their country.

Former Lord Mayor of Wolfsburg City, Professor Rolf Schnellecke, congratulated H.H. Sheikh Sultan on receiving the prestigious German honour. He noted that Sheikh Sultan had established the Islamic Cultural Centre in the German city.

H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah; H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council; Juma Mubarak Al Jenaibi, Ambassador of the UAE to Germany; Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health; sheikhs and senior officials attended the ceremony.