diff --git a/api/http/handler/endpoints/endpoint_create.go b/api/http/handler/endpoints/endpoint_create.go
index 03f2bee44..05875063e 100644
--- a/api/http/handler/endpoints/endpoint_create.go
+++ b/api/http/handler/endpoints/endpoint_create.go
@@ -372,10 +372,16 @@ func (handler *Handler) createEdgeAgentEndpoint(tx dataservices.DataStoreTx, pay
 	edgeKey := handler.ReverseTunnelService.GenerateEdgeKey(payload.URL, portainerHost, endpointID)
 
 	endpoint := &portainer.Endpoint{
-		ID:              portainer.EndpointID(endpointID),
-		Name:            payload.Name,
-		URL:             portainerHost,
-		Type:            portainer.EdgeAgentOnDockerEnvironment,
+		ID:   portainer.EndpointID(endpointID),
+		Name: payload.Name,
+		URL:  portainerHost,
+		Type: func() portainer.EndpointType {
+			// an empty container engine means that the endpoint is a Kubernetes endpoint
+			if payload.ContainerEngine == "" {
+				return portainer.EdgeAgentOnKubernetesEnvironment
+			}
+			return portainer.EdgeAgentOnDockerEnvironment
+		}(),
 		ContainerEngine: payload.ContainerEngine,
 		GroupID:         portainer.EndpointGroupID(payload.GroupID),
 		Gpus:            payload.Gpus,
diff --git a/api/http/handler/endpoints/endpoint_create_test.go b/api/http/handler/endpoints/endpoint_create_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..767aa4f33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/http/handler/endpoints/endpoint_create_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,172 @@
+package endpoints
+
+import (
+	"net/http"
+	"testing"
+
+	portainer "github.com/portainer/portainer/api"
+	"github.com/portainer/portainer/api/chisel"
+	"github.com/portainer/portainer/api/datastore"
+	"github.com/portainer/portainer/api/internal/testhelpers"
+	"github.com/portainer/portainer/pkg/fips"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// EE-only kubeconfig validation tests removed for CE
+
+func TestSaveEndpointAndUpdateAuthorizations(t *testing.T) {
+	_, store := datastore.MustNewTestStore(t, true, false)
+
+	endpointGroup := &portainer.EndpointGroup{
+		ID:   1,
+		Name: "test-endpoint-group",
+	}
+
+	err := store.EndpointGroup().Create(endpointGroup)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	h := &Handler{
+		DataStore: store,
+	}
+
+	testCases := []struct {
+		name           string
+		endpointType   portainer.EndpointType
+		expectRelation bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:           "create azure environment, expect no relation to be created",
+			endpointType:   portainer.AzureEnvironment,
+			expectRelation: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "create edge agent environment, expect relation to be created",
+			endpointType:   portainer.EdgeAgentOnDockerEnvironment,
+			expectRelation: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "create kubernetes environment, expect no relation to be created",
+			endpointType:   portainer.KubernetesLocalEnvironment,
+			expectRelation: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "create kubeconfig environment, expect no relation to be created",
+			endpointType:   portainer.AgentOnKubernetesEnvironment,
+			expectRelation: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "create agent docker environment, expect no relation to be created",
+			endpointType:   portainer.AgentOnDockerEnvironment,
+			expectRelation: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "create unsecured environment, expect no relation to be created",
+			endpointType:   portainer.DockerEnvironment,
+			expectRelation: false,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, testCase := range testCases {
+		t.Run(testCase.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			endpoint := &portainer.Endpoint{
+				ID:      portainer.EndpointID(store.Endpoint().GetNextIdentifier()),
+				Type:    testCase.endpointType,
+				GroupID: portainer.EndpointGroupID(endpointGroup.ID),
+			}
+
+			err := h.saveEndpointAndUpdateAuthorizations(store, endpoint)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			relation, relationErr := store.EndpointRelation().EndpointRelation(endpoint.ID)
+			if testCase.expectRelation {
+				require.NoError(t, relationErr)
+				require.NotNil(t, relation)
+			} else {
+				require.Error(t, relationErr)
+				require.True(t, store.IsErrObjectNotFound(relationErr))
+				require.Nil(t, relation)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCreateEndpointFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	fips.InitFIPS(false)
+
+	_, store := datastore.MustNewTestStore(t, true, false)
+
+	h := NewHandler(testhelpers.NewTestRequestBouncer())
+	h.DataStore = store
+
+	payload := &endpointCreatePayload{
+		Name:                 "Test Endpoint",
+		EndpointCreationType: agentEnvironment,
+		TLS:                  true,
+		TLSCertFile:          []byte("invalid data"),
+		TLSKeyFile:           []byte("invalid data"),
+	}
+
+	endpoint, httpErr := h.createEndpoint(store, payload)
+	require.NotNil(t, httpErr)
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusInternalServerError, httpErr.StatusCode)
+	require.Nil(t, endpoint)
+}
+
+func TestCreateEdgeAgentEndpoint_ContainerEngineMapping(t *testing.T) {
+	fips.InitFIPS(false)
+
+	_, store := datastore.MustNewTestStore(t, true, false)
+
+	// required group for save flow
+	endpointGroup := &portainer.EndpointGroup{ID: 1, Name: "test-group"}
+	err := store.EndpointGroup().Create(endpointGroup)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	h := &Handler{
+		DataStore:            store,
+		ReverseTunnelService: chisel.NewService(store, nil, nil),
+	}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		engine   string
+		wantType portainer.EndpointType
+	}{
+		{
+			name:     "empty engine -> EdgeAgentOnKubernetesEnvironment",
+			engine:   "",
+			wantType: portainer.EdgeAgentOnKubernetesEnvironment,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "docker engine -> EdgeAgentOnDockerEnvironment",
+			engine:   portainer.ContainerEngineDocker,
+			wantType: portainer.EdgeAgentOnDockerEnvironment,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "podman engine -> EdgeAgentOnDockerEnvironment",
+			engine:   portainer.ContainerEnginePodman,
+			wantType: portainer.EdgeAgentOnDockerEnvironment,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			payload := &endpointCreatePayload{
+				Name:                 "edge-endpoint",
+				EndpointCreationType: edgeAgentEnvironment,
+				ContainerEngine:      tc.engine,
+				GroupID:              1,
+				URL:                  "https://portainer.example:9443",
+			}
+
+			ep, httpErr := h.createEdgeAgentEndpoint(store, payload)
+			require.Nil(t, httpErr)
+			require.NotNil(t, ep)
+
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.wantType, ep.Type)
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.engine, ep.ContainerEngine)
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/app/portainer/views/endpoints/edit/endpoint.html b/app/portainer/views/endpoints/edit/endpoint.html
index 3fcdc4d9a..52bc36f2c 100644
--- a/app/portainer/views/endpoints/edit/endpoint.html
+++ b/app/portainer/views/endpoints/edit/endpoint.html
@@ -57,8 +57,10 @@
   <information-panel ng-if="state.kubernetesEndpoint && (!state.edgeEndpoint || state.edgeAssociated)" title-text="Kubernetes features configuration">
     <span class="small text-muted vertical-center">
       <pr-icon icon="'wrench'" mode="'primary'"></pr-icon>
-      You should configure the features available in this Kubernetes environment in the
-      <a ui-sref="kubernetes.cluster.setup({endpointId: endpoint.Id})">Kubernetes configuration</a> view.
+      <div>
+        You should configure the features available in this Kubernetes environment in the
+        <a ui-sref="kubernetes.cluster.setup({endpointId: endpoint.Id})">Kubernetes configuration</a> view.
+      </div>
     </span>
   </information-panel>
 </div>
diff --git a/app/react/portainer/environments/types.ts b/app/react/portainer/environments/types.ts
index 9279e0d4c..4f3fff120 100644
--- a/app/react/portainer/environments/types.ts
+++ b/app/react/portainer/environments/types.ts
@@ -205,6 +205,8 @@ export enum EnvironmentCreationTypes {
 export enum ContainerEngine {
   Docker = 'docker',
   Podman = 'podman',
+  // an empty container engine means that the endpoint is a Kubernetes endpoint
+  Kubernetes = '',
 }
 
 export enum PlatformType {
diff --git a/app/react/portainer/environments/wizard/EnvironmentsCreationView/WizardKubernetes/WizardKubernetes.test.tsx b/app/react/portainer/environments/wizard/EnvironmentsCreationView/WizardKubernetes/WizardKubernetes.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..be16f9816
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/react/portainer/environments/wizard/EnvironmentsCreationView/WizardKubernetes/WizardKubernetes.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+import { HttpResponse } from 'msw';
+import { render, waitFor } from '@testing-library/react';
+import userEvent from '@testing-library/user-event';
+
+import { withTestQueryProvider } from '@/react/test-utils/withTestQuery';
+import { server, http } from '@/setup-tests/server';
+
+import { WizardKubernetes } from './WizardKubernetes';
+
+function renderComponent() {
+  // minimal settings so EdgeAgentForm can render
+  server.use(
+    http.get('/api/settings', () =>
+      HttpResponse.json({
+        AgentSecret: 'secret',
+        EdgePortainerUrl: 'https://example.com',
+        Edge: {
+          PingInterval: 60,
+          SnapshotInterval: 60,
+          CommandInterval: 60,
+          AsyncMode: false,
+          TunnelServerAddress: 'portainer.test:8000',
+        },
+      })
+    ),
+    http.get('/api/custom_templates', () => HttpResponse.json([])),
+    http.get('/api/system/status', () =>
+      HttpResponse.json({ Version: '2.19.0', Edition: 'CE', InstanceID: '1' })
+    ),
+    http.get('/api/endpoints', () =>
+      HttpResponse.json([], {
+        headers: {
+          'x-total-available': '0',
+          'x-total-count': '0',
+        },
+      })
+    )
+  );
+
+  const Wrapped = withTestQueryProvider(() => (
+    <WizardKubernetes onCreate={() => {}} />
+  ));
+  return render(<Wrapped />);
+}
+
+describe('WizardKubernetes', () => {
+  test('renders Edge Agent Standard form when selected', async () => {
+    const { getByText, queryByTestId, findByTestId } = renderComponent();
+
+    // select Edge Agent Standard
+    await userEvent.click(getByText('Edge Agent Standard'));
+
+    // verify submit button is visible (smallest sanity check for setup)
+    await expect(
+      findByTestId('edge-agent-form-submit-button')
+    ).resolves.toBeVisible();
+    expect(
+      queryByTestId('endpointCreate-portainerServerUrlInput')
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  test('submits ContainerEngine as empty string for Kubernetes', async () => {
+    let observedEntries: Array<[string, string]> = [];
+
+    server.use(
+      http.post('/api/endpoints', async ({ request }) => {
+        const form = await request.formData();
+        observedEntries = Array.from(form.entries()).map(([key, value]) => [
+          key,
+          typeof value === 'string' ? value : 'binary',
+        ]);
+        return HttpResponse.json({});
+      })
+    );
+
+    const { getByText, getByTestId, findByTestId } = renderComponent();
+
+    await userEvent.click(getByText('Edge Agent Standard'));
+
+    await userEvent.type(getByTestId('environmentCreate-nameInput'), 'k8s-env');
+
+    const submitBtn = await findByTestId('edge-agent-form-submit-button');
+    await waitFor(() => expect(submitBtn).not.toBeDisabled());
+    await userEvent.click(submitBtn);
+
+    // assert POST happened and ContainerEngine key exists with empty string
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(observedEntries.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+      expect(
+        observedEntries.some(([k, v]) => k === 'ContainerEngine' && v === '')
+      ).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/app/react/portainer/environments/wizard/EnvironmentsCreationView/WizardKubernetes/WizardKubernetes.tsx b/app/react/portainer/environments/wizard/EnvironmentsCreationView/WizardKubernetes/WizardKubernetes.tsx
index def305bdb..e6c5c7334 100644
--- a/app/react/portainer/environments/wizard/EnvironmentsCreationView/WizardKubernetes/WizardKubernetes.tsx
+++ b/app/react/portainer/environments/wizard/EnvironmentsCreationView/WizardKubernetes/WizardKubernetes.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,10 @@ import { useState } from 'react';
 import { Zap, UploadCloud } from 'lucide-react';
 import _ from 'lodash';
 
-import { Environment } from '@/react/portainer/environments/types';
+import {
+  ContainerEngine,
+  Environment,
+} from '@/react/portainer/environments/types';
 import { commandsTabs } from '@/react/edge/components/EdgeScriptForm/scripts';
 import { FeatureId } from '@/react/portainer/feature-flags/enums';
 import { isBE } from '@/react/portainer/feature-flags/feature-flags.service';
@@ -98,6 +101,7 @@ export function WizardKubernetes({ onCreate }: Props) {
               onCreate(environment, 'kubernetesEdgeAgentStandard')
             }
             commands={[{ ...commandsTabs.k8sLinux, label: 'Linux' }]}
+            containerEngine={ContainerEngine.Kubernetes}
           />
         );
       case 'edgeAgentAsync':
@@ -108,6 +112,7 @@ export function WizardKubernetes({ onCreate }: Props) {
               onCreate(environment, 'kubernetesEdgeAgentAsync')
             }
             commands={[{ ...commandsTabs.k8sLinux, label: 'Linux' }]}
+            containerEngine={ContainerEngine.Kubernetes}
           />
         );
       case 'kubeconfig':