UAE Joins US, China, and EU in Race for Africa’s Strategic Investments

The United Arab Emirates has reinforced its position as a key investment partner in Africa, ranking fourth globally behind the United States, China, and the European Union, according to Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism.

Addressing the UAE–Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025 at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah, Bin Touq disclosed that UAE investments in Africa surpassed $110 billion between 2019 and 2023, signalling a transformative period in cross-continental economic cooperation.

Of the total UAE investment in Africa, more than US$70 billion has been allocated to green and renewable energy initiatives, highlighting the country’s leadership among Arab and GCC investors. This focus seeks to address critical gaps created by the withdrawal of traditional Western investors.

While precise comparative figures for the United States, China, and the European Union from 2019‑2025 are not consistently available, available data indicate that Africa’s FDI inflows reached approximately $97 billion in 2024.

The European Union holds the largest cumulative investment stock, followed by the United States, with China’s involvement estimated at around $42 billion in the same year.

Amid these dynamics, the UAE has moved to fill some of the investment gaps, establishing itself as the continent’s fourth-largest investor. Africa faces an annual infrastructure shortfall of roughly $150 billion, and the UAE has strategically focused on bridging this deficit.

By 2025, its foreign direct investment stock in Africa had surpassed US$60 billion, further consolidating its position as a leading partner on the continent.

During the UAE–Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025, the country pledged around US$6 billion in new tourism-focused projects aimed at fostering cross-continental economic collaboration and creating thousands of jobs.

The summit, themed “Building Bridges for Sustainable Growth,” brought together over 350 participants from 53 African nations, including ministers, senior government officials, investors, and entrepreneurs.

UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said, “The summit featured investment cooperation opportunities between the UAE and more than 20 African countries,” adding that the platform reaffirmed the UAE’s long-term commitment to building mutually beneficial economic ties with Africa.

Dubai’s DP World, one of the world’s largest port operators, currently manages six African ports and has established itself as a cornerstone of the continent’s logistics infrastructure.

The company operates in nine African countries, including Algeria, Angola, Djibouti, Egypt, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa. Similarly, Abu Dhabi Ports has expanded operations to strategic locations such as Guinea, Egypt, and Angola.

These investments are complemented by renewable energy initiatives, with DP World partnering with Masdar, the UAE’s clean energy enterprise, to implement solar and battery energy storage systems across its African port operations.

Beyond ports and renewable energy, UAE investors have made significant inroads into Africa’s mining sector.

In a landmark transaction, International Resource Holdings, associated with Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, acquired a 51 percent stake in Zambia’s Mopani Copper Mines for $1.1 billion, with the aim of revitalising production, preserving employment, and increasing copper output.

The UAE’s investment strategy also encompasses carbon credit markets and sustainable forestry. Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook al-Maktoum has concluded agreements since 2022 to sell carbon credits from forests in Tanzania, Liberia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Bin Touq emphasised that tourism and investment partnerships with African nations constitute a strategic pillar for expanding opportunities for Emirati enterprises, opening new markets, and fostering knowledge exchange.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector supported over 22 million jobs and contributed approximately $180 billion to Africa’s GDP. Industry projections indicate that tourism could contribute $168 billion to Africa’s economy and generate over 18 million jobs within the next decade.

These enterprises maintain strong connections with their home markets, generating networks of trade and investment that flow in both directions.

Emirati ports serve as vital gateways, linking African producers to markets in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

The UAE’s strategic engagements reflect broader objectives of economic diversification, renewable energy leadership, and regional influence.

Bin Touq emphasised that these investments aim to foster productive partnerships, advance sustainable development, and deliver tangible benefits for both regions.

With Africa’s abundant natural resources and untapped tourism potential, the UAE–Africa partnership exemplifies a model of mutually beneficial international collaboration.