The United Arab Emirates, sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest trade partner after China, plans to further expand commerce with the region as it seeks to bolster food security and tap into rapid growth of some African economies, a minister said.
The Middle Eastern country has already invested in sectors in Africa ranging from farming to renewable energy and ports, and has expanded service industries — such as airlines — into the continent.
“The opportunity in Africa looks better than investing in mature markets or markets that are decaying,” said Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri, UAE minister of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where his responsibilities include advancing the country’s economic activities. “It’s very hard for other markets to compete with African opportunities in my view.”
The UAE is among countries that have joined Africa’s major investors — European nations, China and the US — in jockeying for more access to the world’s youngest populations, reserves of critical minerals and economic growth rates that often significantly outpace those in the developed world.
Between 2020 and 2024, the UAE invested almost $119 billion in Africa, according to Al Hajeri. Two-way trade with the sub-Saharan region exceeded $75 billion last year, more than triple the amount a decade ago, according to International Monetary Fund data.
The UAE is discussing signing so-called Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement pacts on trade, with a number of African countries to add to those with nations including Mauritius, Morocco and the Central African Republic, he said in an interview on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg on November 22.
Overall, the UAE is seeking to double global bilateral trade to $4 trillion by 2031 and has plans to increase investment in data centers and other sectors, he said. Still, securing food supplies is a key concern.
“The strategy of food security is one main focus when it comes to Africa, one main aspect, as we import 80% of our food,” Al Hajeri said. “We want to look at resources, we want to look at logistics and connecting our aviation, our ports to Africa.”
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