Page 489 - MOET ENGLISH PR REPORT - OCTOBER 2025 (Part 1)

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.''

He emphasised 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. He 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.

During the roundtable, ministers reviewed global and regional economic developments 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 safeguards cultural and natural heritage. They also
recognized the catalytic role of private investment, sound policies, and effective public–private
partnerships in delivering quality infrastructure, services, and skills.

The Joint Ministerial Statement set out five priority areas to bolster joint efforts between the UAE
and Africa during the upcoming stage.

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

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