“Our commitment to Africa is based on decades of trade, maritime and people-to-people links along the Red Sea and Indian Ocean corridors. Today, this historic connectivity is reflected in a growing diplomatic presence (19 embassies in sub-Saharan Africa), with further expansion underway. At the same time, the diplomatic representation of African countries in the UAE continues to grow, affirming our country’s role as a hub for African trade, finance and dialogue.
This institutional presence is combined with a solid economic scale, said the statement of His Excellency Sheikh Shahbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan.
During the period 2019-2023, the UAE invested over US$110 billion across Africa.
This is the highest level of any single country during this period. Over US$70 billion of this capital is directed towards the energy sector, including green and renewable energy. This reflects our long-term assessment that access to energy is fundamental to industrialization and economic diversification.
The Africa Green Investment Initiative has mobilized US$4.5 billion to accelerate clean energy development, with over 60 projects in the pipeline in solar, wind, geothermal, battery energy storage and green hydrogen technologies.
The US$10 billion Masdar Africa Program and the Etihad 7 Initiative aim to expand access to electricity for up to 100 million people by 2035. These projects are designed to increase generation capacity and reduce structural energy deficits.
Industrial growth also depends on trade integration and logistics efficiency.
The UAE has signed nine Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with African countries— Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Gabon, Angola, Kenya, Republic of Congo, Mauritius and the Central African Republic. These agreements extend beyond tariff reductions to services, e-commerce and investment protection. They are structured to complement the African Continental Free Trade Area by strengthening value chains and facilitating cross-border competitiveness.
From a logistics perspective, DP World continues to expand its presence in African ports, including a US$1 billion upgrade of the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. AD Ports has begun construction of a new terminal in Luanda, which will significantly increase container capacity in Angola. These are long-term assets that enable trade and are aligned with regional integration ambitions.
In addition to investment, development and humanitarian engagement remain central.
Over the past decade, nearly 40% of the UAE’s total foreign aid — approximately US$20.9 billion — has been directed to African countries, in the form of development assistance, humanitarian and charitable support.
Looking ahead, water and climate resilience are emerging as key priorities. The UAE will co-host the 2026 UN Water Conference with Senegal, which will take place from 2 to 4 December 2026. This will be the first time that two countries from the Global South have co-led this global process, underscoring a shared commitment to accelerating progress on water security and sanitation— a major challenge for the development of the entire continent.
Our approach reflects the prism through which we view this partnership and structural cooperation, built for decades to come, is specified in the statement of His Excellency Sheikh Shahbut bin Nahyan Al Nahyan.