Page 446 - MOET ENGLISH PR REPORT - OCTOBER 2025 (Part 1)

10/28/25, 8:46 AM UAE hosts UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit to forge a shared vision for sustainable tourism ventures across Africa
Between 2019 and 2023, Emirati companies invested over USD 110 billion in Africa, positioning
the UAE as the world’s largest investor in new projects across the continent.

Abu Dhabi - Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice
President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism

hosted the UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025. The summit, held (today) in Dubai under the
theme ‘Building Bridges for Sustainable Growth,’ witnessed extensive participation from over 350
leaders, ministers, senior government officials, decision-makers, investors, and entrepreneurs from the
UAE and 53 African countries.

High-level participation from the UAE, region and beyond

The summit, held as part of the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS World 2025) and in collaboration with
The Bench, was attended by His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism
and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council; His Excellency Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, Minister
of Tourism of Angola; His Excellency Amadou Ba, Minister of Culture, Crafts, and Tourism of Senegal;

His Excellency Rodney Sikumba, Minister of Tourism and Arts of Zambia; Her Excellency Patricia de
Lille, Minister of Tourism of South Africa; Her Excellency Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture,
Tourism, and Creative Economy of Nigeria; His Excellency Siandou Fofana, Minister of Tourism and
Leisure of Côte d’Ivoire; His Excellency José Luís Sá Nogueira, Minister of Tourism and Transport of

Cabo Verde; Her Excellency Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, UN Tourism Secretary-General elect for the
term 2026–2029; Her Excellency Yomna Elbahar, Vice Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt; His
Excellency John Ololtuaa, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife of Kenya; Jonathan
Worsley, Chairman and CEO of The Bench; along with a number of senior investors and global chief

executives in the tourism and hospitality sectors at regional and international levels.

UAE tourism: A bridge connecting peoples and cultures

In his opening speech at the summit, H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said: “Guided by the wise vision of
our leadership - a vision that not only anticipates the future but also actively shapes it and achieves its
milestones - the UAE has positioned tourism as a bridge connecting peoples and cultures around the

world. It has become a key driver for attracting investment and entrepreneurs, strengthening the growth
and competitiveness of the national economy, and a source of pride through its pioneering
achievements across all its verticals, led by national talents who have earned global trust to hold high-
level positions.”

Pioneering national policies and initiatives for tourism sector development

H.E. Bin Touq added: “The UAE is an exceptional model for tourism development, marked by qualitative
leaps in its policies and tourism infrastructure, aligned with global best practices. These include the
adoption of pioneering national initiatives and strategies, pumping investments into various tourism
fields, building distinguished tourism projects across the country, in addition to opening new airports,

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