The German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK) was founded in May 2009 and fully integrated the German Industry & Commerce Office which had already existed for 10 years in Dubai and for 5 years in Abu Dhabi at that time. The AHK is the first bilateral federal business organization as well as the first international institution on federal level which has been founded in the Gulf.

AHK is part of a global network of German Chambers (AHKs) located at 140 locations in 92 countries around the world. AHKs are co-funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). AHKs are closely connected to the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) in Germany. Together, they support German companies with building up and extending their business relations to foreign countries. The Umbrella organization of the IHKs is the German Association of Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) which also coordinates and supports the AHKs. Furthermore, the cooperation with various German trade associations strengthens the link of AHKs to business and markets.