Page 244 - 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
international tourism partnerships and serves as a successful model for sharing its tourism expertise and capabilities with
Africa, backed by its robust experience and world-class infrastructure.

Transforming tourism into a strategic pillar

The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation to transform tourism from a cultural activity into a strategic pillar within the
economic policies of the involved countries. It showcased the UAE’s tourism development model and its success in
attracting high-quality global investments to the sector, thereby bolstering economic diversification and contributing to
national GDP growth. The discussions also highlighted the pivotal role of international development agencies, global
financial institutions, and the private sector in expanding Africa’s tourism industry.
During the roundtable, ministers reviewed global and regional economic trends and their implications for the tourism
sector. They emphasized that tourism, aviation, trade, technology, and enabling infrastructure are key drivers of sustainable
and inclusive growth, job creation, and deeper regional integration. The ministers shared a vision of sustainable, inclusive,
and resilient tourism-led growth that benefits communities, empowers women and youth, supports micro, small, and
medium-sized enterprises, protects the environment, and preserves cultural and natural heritage. They acknowledged the
catalytic role of private investment, sound policies, and effective public–private partnerships in delivering quality
infrastructure, services, and skills.

Read more: UAE spotlights $110 billion investments in Africa at UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025

Priority areas for collaboration

The Joint Ministerial Statement outlined five priority areas to enhance joint efforts between the UAE and Africa in the
forthcoming period.
The first area, Tourism, concentrates on developing quality tourism infrastructure and efficient connectivity, strengthening
human capital, supporting local content and the circular economy, enhancing adaptation to climate change, and advancing
digital transformation.

Additionally, the second area, Investment and Infrastructure, emphasizes the significance of predictable regulatory
frameworks, investment facilitation, and alignment with continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade
Area (AfCFTA). The ministers advocated for increased mechanisms that allow funds to be redirected toward community
development, climate, and environmental initiatives.

Moreover, the third pillar, Aviation and Connectivity, seeks to expand air links, improve logistics services, and facilitate
mobility, recognizing connectivity as a crucial enabler of regional integration and investment to unlock tourism potential,
especially in underserved destinations.

Furthermore, the fourth pillar, Sustainability, underscores the need to address the growing impact of climate change on
environmental systems and the vulnerability of coastal and forest habitats that underpin international tourist destinations in
Africa. The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to promoting green and climate-resilient projects, supporting
investments in nature-based solutions, encouraging the use of renewable energy, and integrating sustainability
considerations into tourism and related sectors.

Lastly, the fifth pillar, SME-financing and Innovation, accentuates the role of youth- and women-led enterprises, alongside
digital startups and business incubators, in fostering inclusive growth, innovation, and job creation, committing to support
their access to finance and markets. They acknowledged the importance of facilitating access to finance for the private
sector, including through multilateral institutions, to make tourism a transformative driver of sustainable development.

Collaboration with strategic partners

The ministers reaffirmed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a cornerstone of regional integration and
competitiveness. They welcomed collaboration with strategic partners, including the UAE, whose involvement can
mobilize capital and connectivity in ways that reinforce the implementation of AfCFTA and regional value chains.

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