Page 506 - MOET ENGLISH PR REPORT - OCTOBER 2025 (Part 1)

10/28/25, 9:24 AM UAE and more than 20 African nations agree to launch new investment mapping to strengthen partnerships in tourism, aviation, lo…
the importance of facilitating access to finance for the private sector, including through
multilateral institutions, in order to make tourism a transformative driver of sustainable

development.

UAE as a strategic partner:

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 engagement can mobilize capital and connectivity in ways that
reinforce the implementation of AfCFTA and regional value chains.

The ministers recognized the UAE as a reliable partner in advancing the sustainable
development of African economies, particularly in the tourism sector. They noted the UAE’s

successful experience in leveraging tourism to attract international investment, diversify its
economy, and contribute to long-term sustainable growth.

They also agreed on the importance of sharing knowledge, best practices, and capacity-

building to replicate similar outcomes across African destinations. The participants valued
cooperation with development finance institutions and international organizations, including the
African Development Bank, World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund, UN Tourism,

World Trade Organization, International Civil Aviation Organization, and United Nations
Economic Commission for Africa to provide finance, guarantees, technical assistance, and

policy support.

Implementation and investment mapping:

The ministers welcomed the development of a concise investment mapping that identifies
priority projects and enabling reforms in tourism and related sectors such as aviation, logistics,
infrastructure and digital across participating countries. The projects submitted by participating

countries under the investment mapping are estimated to require a total investment of
approximately USD 6 billion and are projected to generate 70,000 direct and indirect jobs

collectively.

Furthermore, the ministers invited development partners and institutional investors to engage

with this pipeline and explore appropriate instruments including public-private partnerships

(PPPs), blended finance, debt-for-nature swaps and guarantees, and agreed to maintain a light
coordination mechanism to track progress and report to the next ministerial gathering.

https://mid-east.info/uae-and-more-than-20-african-nations-agree-to-launch-new-investment-mapping-to-strengthen-partnerships-in-tourism-aviation-lo… 4/5