An investment map of $6 billion and 70,000 jobs…outputs of a meeting "UAE and more than 20 African countries" In Dubai
Dubai, 27 October / WAM / A ministerial roundtable meeting organized by the UAE in Dubai, which included more than 20 African countries, resulted in the issuance of a joint ministerial statement that includes developing a new investment map to enhance cooperation in the sectors of tourism, aviation, logistics, infrastructure and digital transformation, positioning tourism as a major driving force for sustainable economic development in the UAE and the African continent.
His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, who chaired the meeting, announced that this new investment map includes various priority tourism projects with a total value estimated at about $6 billion, and provides 70,000 job opportunities in various countries of the African continent.
His Excellency said: This step aims to bring about a qualitative shift in the level of tourism partnerships between the UAE and Africa. It will also open the way for business communities regionally and globally to participate in UAE-African tourism investment.
His Excellency stressed the importance of tourism cooperation during the next phase to build new partnerships between the government and private sectors with the aim of exploring and developing innovative financing and investment tools in various tourism activities, pointing out that the UAE, thanks to its strong expertise and promising tourism capabilities, has become a strategic center for establishing such influential and effective international tourism partnerships, and presenting a successful model capable of transferring the UAE tourism experience to Africa.
This came on the sidelines of the 2025 UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit, which was held today in Dubai under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him.”
The round table was held under the slogan “Tourism is at the core of Africa’s growth agenda,” with the participation of ministers and heads of delegations from more than 20 African countries, including: Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Senegal. South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The participating ministers affirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation to direct investments, enhance air connectivity and infrastructure, and innovate sustainable solutions to support the resilience of the tourism economy.
The ministerial statement identified five main priority axes to enhance joint efforts: The first axis focuses on “tourism” by developing high-quality infrastructure and driving digital transformation, and the second axis focuses on “investment and infrastructure” by providing clear regulatory frameworks to facilitate investment, and ensuring compatibility with continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), where the ministers called for further development of mechanisms that allow the redirection of funds towards community development, climate, and environmental initiatives.
The third axis, “Aviation and Air Connectivity,” aims to expand air links, improve logistics services, and facilitate mobility, as they are essential factors for enabling regional integration, in addition to unleashing the potential of tourism, especially in destinations that suffer from a lack of services.
The fourth axis, “Sustainability,” emphasizes confronting the increasing impact of climate change on ecosystems, coastal habitats, and forests that represent important tourist destinations in Africa, as the ministers stressed the importance of working to promote green and climate change-resistant projects, supporting investments in nature-based solutions, encouraging the use of renewable energy, and integrating sustainability policies into tourism and related sectors.
The fifth axis includes “financing small and medium enterprises and innovation,” where the ministers stressed the importance of supporting tourism projects led by youth and women, in addition to emerging digital companies and business incubators, and enhancing their contribution to comprehensive growth, innovation, and job creation.
The ministers stressed the importance of transforming tourism from a cultural activity into a strategic pillar within economic policies, and highlighted the UAE’s model of tourism development and attracting investments.
The participating ministers praised the United Arab Emirates as a “reliable partner” in advancing the sustainable development of African economies, and pointed to its successful experience in benefiting from tourism to diversify the economy, and agreed on the importance of exchanging knowledge and best practices with it.
The Ministers also reiterated the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and welcomed cooperation with strategic partners such as the UAE to attract investments that support the implementation of the agreement.
The statement called on development partners and investors to explore innovative financing tools, including public-private partnerships, blended finance, and debt-for-nature swaps.
The ministers concluded their statement by expressing their appreciation to the UAE government and the Ministry of Economy and Tourism for hosting the summit and providing warm hospitality, and agreed to maintain a coordination mechanism to follow up on the progress achieved.
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