The UAE and Africa kicked off the UAE-Africa Dialogues, aiming to boost trade and investment through shared prosperity. UAE Africa economic dialogue sets the stage for deeper financial partnerships.
DUBAI: The UAE and Africa have embarked on a new chapter in their bilateral economic journey with the inaugural UAE-Africa Dialogues, held in Dubai this October. Organised by Capital Club Dubai in collaboration with Sanjeev Gupta and CNBC Africa, the platform featured a high-level conversation between UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, and Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).
This initiative marks a major milestone in UAE’s strategic investment in Africa. Over the past five years, trade between the two regions has surged by 87%, with over US$97 billion invested or pledged. Launched in August 2024, the UAE-Africa Gateway platform further strengthens this collaboration by simplifying market access across Sub-Saharan Africa.
H.E. Bin Touq emphasised the UAE’s “mindset of abundance” — a philosophy rooted in openness and innovation rather than natural resource wealth. “The UAE’s engagement in Africa is built on long-term shared value, not short-term interest,” he said. His comments echoed the UAE’s vision to create sustainable, inclusive economic partnerships across emerging markets.
Representing 46 member countries and a US$16.8 billion balance sheet, AFC is leading Africa’s infrastructure transformation. Zubairu shared practical examples, such as the 830-km Lobito Corridor rail project and the Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms. These initiatives are unlocking billions in co-investment, with backing from the Gulf, including a landmark US$700 million capital influx.
Both leaders underscored the vital role of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in de-risking projects and encouraging private investors. Bin Touq invited family businesses and entrepreneurs to explore African opportunities, calling DFIs “essential partners for co-investment.”
The dialogue spotlighted regulatory reforms, digital innovation, and multilateral diplomacy as key levers for growth. Bin Touq also proposed a South–South corridor linking Africa to South America, positioning the UAE as a nexus of global trade realignment.
Zubairu concluded by calling for deeper private sector engagement: “These platforms are now powering Africa’s first carbon-neutral parks, textile hubs, and new trade routes.” H.E. Bin Touq echoed this, urging stakeholders to shift from traditional risk frameworks and focus on opportunities validated by DFIs.
UAE Africa economic dialogue is not just a policy conversation — it’s a call to reshape investment narratives, create opportunity, and forge lasting partnerships across two dynamic regions.
