Page 243 - MOET ENGLISH PR REPORT - OCTOBER 2025 (Part 1)

11/3/25, 8:39 AM Sheikh Mohammed highlights UAE's commitment to strengthen economic and tourism ties with Africa
His Highness stated: “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.”

Broad continental participation

During the meeting, His Highness was briefed on the key topics discussed at the summit, which was attended by over 350
leaders, senior government officials, ministers, decision-makers, and entrepreneurs from the UAE and 53 African nations.
The discussions centered on strategies to fortify economic and tourism ties between the UAE and Africa, while exploring
new avenues for collaboration and growth. This renewed commitment to expanding ties is expected to attract fresh
investments into various sectors, particularly tourism, thus supporting the developmental aspirations of African nations.

The meeting also featured His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, minister of Economy and Tourism. African tourism
and investment ministers present at the summit expressed their gratitude for the innovative economic and development
model exemplified by the UAE and its reputation as a leading global tourist destination. The delegates acknowledged the
comprehensive economic progress achieved by the UAE and the success of its tourism sector, which provides valuable
insights into attracting global investments and establishing world-class infrastructure. They expressed hope that the UAE
and African nations could identify new, untapped opportunities for collaboration and investment within the tourism sector,
thereby supporting comprehensive development strategies on both sides.

Addressing mutual interests in tourism

Focusing on essential areas of mutual interest, the UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit addressed crucial themes such
as investment in tourism-related projects, financing, infrastructure, hospitality, innovative tourism services, and sustainable
development.

On Monday, the UAE hosted a high-level ministerial roundtable meeting with representatives from over 20 African nations
in Dubai, resulting in a joint ministerial statement that outlines a new investment mapping aimed at strengthening
collaboration and partnership in tourism, aviation, transport and logistics, infrastructure, and digital transformation. This
initiative positions tourism as a key driver of sustainable economic development in both the UAE and the African continent.

The roundtable, held under the theme “Tourism at the Heart of Africa’s Growth Agenda,” was attended by Abdulla bin Touq
Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, alongside tourism ministers and officials from over 20 African countries. The
ministers reiterated their commitment to bolstering collaboration to facilitate investments, enhance air connectivity, and
improve infrastructure in Africa, while innovating sustainable solutions and policies that strengthen the resilience of the
tourism economy against global challenges.

(Photo Credit: UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism)

Launch of new investment mapping

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri remarked: “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 the fields of aviation, logistics services, infrastructure, and the digital sector, with an estimated total value of
approximately $6 billion and the potential to generate 70,000 job opportunities in various countries of the African
continent. This step aims to create a qualitative shift in the level of tourism partnerships between the UAE and Africa. It
will also pave the way for regional and global business communities to participate in UAE-Africa tourism investment
projects, thus enhancing the position of tourism as a fundamental pillar of sustainable and comprehensive economic
development.”

He underscored the significance of tourism cooperation in the next phase to forge new partnerships between the public and
private sectors, aimed at exploring and developing innovative financing and investment tools across diverse tourism
activities. He further indicated that the UAE has emerged as a strategic hub for establishing effective and impactful
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