Page 482 - MOET ENGLISH PR REPORT - OCTOBER 2025 (Part 1)

10/28/25, 9:20 AM UAE and more than 20 African nations agree to launch new investment
Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) convened a high-level ministerial roundtable meeting with
more than 20 African nations in Dubai, resulting in a joint ministerial statement that sets out a new
investment mapping to bolster collaboration and partnership in tourism, aviation, transport and logistics,
infrastructure and digital transformation. The initiative positions tourism as a key driver of sustainable

economic development in the UAE and across the African continent.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025, held under
the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime
Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Held under the theme “Tourism at the Heart of Africa’s Growth Agenda,” the roundtable was attended by
H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, alongside tourism ministers and
officials from more than 20 African nations. The ministers underscored their commitment to
strengthening collaboration to facilitate investments and enhance air connectivity and infrastructure in
Africa, and to innovate sustainable solutions and policies that bolster the resilience of the tourism

economy in the face of global challenges.

H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri 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 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.

His Excellency emphasized the importance of tourism cooperation in the next phase to build new
partnerships between the public and private sectors with the aim of exploring and developing innovative

financing and investment tools in various tourism activities. H.E. further noted that the UAE has emerged
as a strategic hub for building such effective and impactful international tourism partnerships and serves
as a successful model for sharing its tourism expertise and capabilities with Africa, supported by its
robust experience and world-class infrastructure.

The meeting focused on advancing cooperation to transform tourism from a cultural activity into a

strategic pillar within the economic policies of the participating countries. It showcased the UAE’s model
of tourism development and its success in attracting high-quality global investment to the sector, thereby
enhancing economic diversification and contributing to national GDP growth. The discussions also
underscored the vital role of international development agencies, global financial institutions, and the

private sector in expanding Africa’s tourism industry.

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