The UAE and African nations have announced a $6bn investment mapping to drive new partnerships across tourism, aviation, transport, logistics, infrastructure, and digital transformation, underscoring the UAE’s growing role as a global hub for sustainable economic cooperation.
The announcement came during the UAE–Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025, held at Expo City Dubai under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The summit — themed “Building Bridges for Sustainable Growth” and “Tourism at the Heart of Africa’s Growth Agenda” — brought together more than 350 leaders, ministers, investors, and entrepreneurs from the UAE and 53 African countries to strengthen collaboration in sustainable tourism and cross-border investment.
Sheikh Mohammed: ‘Tourism is a vital contributor to our economy’
During his meeting with African delegates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to strengthening economic and tourism ties with Africa, describing the continent as a key partner in shaping the future of global tourism.
He said Africa’s natural resources, economic potential, and sustainable development ambitions align closely with the UAE’s own vision for inclusive, innovation-driven tourism growth.
Sheikh Mohammed said: “Tourism is a vital contributor to our national economy and a sector that offers tremendous opportunities for continued growth and new partnerships.
“The UAE–Africa partnership holds immense promise and has always been characterised by a shared belief in discovering new avenues for cooperation to shape a better tomorrow”.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasised that cooperation in tourism investment represents a model for economic integration, built on shared interests and long-term development goals.
He also highlighted that tourism provides a powerful platform for fostering cultural exchange, mutual prosperity, and global connectivity.
$6bn investment map and 70,000 new jobs
On the sidelines of the summit, the UAE convened a high-level ministerial roundtable with representatives from more than 20 African nations, resulting in a Joint Ministerial Statement outlining a new roadmap for UAE–Africa cooperation.
The statement announced an investment mapping that identifies projects in aviation, logistics, infrastructure, and digital transformation worth approximately $6bn, expected to generate 70,000 direct and indirect jobs across participating countries.
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, said: “Today, the UAE and Africa stand at a pivotal moment in developing a resilient and sustainable tourism sector. This milestone is marked by the launch of a new investment mapping featuring diverse tourism projects in aviation, logistics services, infrastructure, and the digital sector, with an estimated total value of approximately $6bn and the potential to generate 70,000 job opportunities.”
He added that the initiative represents a qualitative shift in UAE–Africa tourism cooperation, paving the way for greater private sector participation, and reinforcing tourism’s role as a pillar of comprehensive economic development.
Five pillars for UAE–Africa cooperation
The Joint Ministerial Statement identified five strategic areas for future collaboration:
- Tourism development: Building quality tourism infrastructure, boosting air connectivity, enhancing human capital, and advancing digital transformation
- Investment and infrastructure: Promoting predictable regulatory frameworks, facilitating investment, and aligning efforts with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
- Aviation and connectivity: Expanding regional air links and improving logistics to unlock new and underserved destinations
- Sustainability: Encouraging green projects, renewable energy, and climate-resilient tourism infrastructure
- SME financing and innovation: Supporting youth- and women-led enterprises, startups, and access to finance through multilateral partnerships
The ministers also called on development finance institutions and investors to engage with this project pipeline through public–private partnerships (PPPs), blended finance, and debt-for-nature swaps — recognising private investment as a catalyst for job creation and inclusive growth.
Africa growth
African ministers participating in the summit praised the UAE’s success in leveraging tourism to diversify its economy, attract global investment, and establish a world-class infrastructure base.
They recognised the UAE as a strategic and reliable partner in advancing the sustainable development of African economies.
The discussions also reaffirmed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a foundation for regional competitiveness, with the UAE’s engagement seen as key to mobilising capital and connectivity that reinforce Africa’s economic integration.
Ministers agreed to maintain a light coordination mechanism to track the progress of the investment mapping and report back at the next ministerial meeting.
Sustainable tourism
The summit underlined a shared vision for inclusive, resilient tourism-led growth that benefits communities, empowers women and youth, supports SMEs, and protects cultural and natural heritage.
Both the UAE and Africa reaffirmed their commitment to innovation-driven, sustainable tourism that enhances economic resilience while safeguarding the environment — reinforcing tourism as a strategic pillar of long-term prosperity across both regions.
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