The UAE and Senegal are exploring mechanisms to improve trade and investment flows
Dakar, 11 December / WAM / His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, led an Emirati delegation of senior officials and business leaders to Senegal, where he met with His Excellency President Basserou Diomaye Faye, His Excellency Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister of Senegal, and a number of ministers and senior officials, in the presence of His Excellency Saeed Hamdan Al Naqbi, the UAE Ambassador to Senegal.
His Excellency conveyed the greetings of the wise leadership of the UAE to the Senegalese President and Prime Minister and its wishes for the leadership and people of the friendly Republic of Senegal for further prosperity, progress and prosperity.
During a series of meetings, His Excellency Al-Zeyoudi discussed with the Senegalese side mechanisms to enhance cooperation and advance it to new heights. The discussions focused on exploring ways to boost trade and investment flows between the two countries in key sectors, including renewable energy, infrastructure and food security.
During these meetings, Al-Zeyoudi stressed the UAE’s commitment to strengthening development partnerships and supporting private sector cooperation with African countries, at the heart of which is the Republic of Senegal and other rapidly growing economies on the continent.
His Excellency Al-Zeyoudi discussed new ways of cooperation and investment opportunities during bilateral meetings with a number of ministers and senior officials, including His Excellency Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister of Senegal; His Excellency Sheikh Diba, Minister of Finance and Budget; His Excellency Sergeine Mbaye, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene; His Excellency Alioune Sall, Minister of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Economy; His Excellency Sergeine Guy Diop, Minister of Industry and Trade; His Excellency Dithi Fall, Minister of Infrastructure; His Excellency Mabuba Diagne, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Livestock.
During the visit, 13 memorandums of understanding were signed covering a range of sectors, including energy, logistics, mining, industrial development, digital technologies, construction, and healthcare.
The volume of non-oil trade exchange between the UAE and Senegal reached $933 million during the first nine months of 2025, registering a growth of 21.1% on an annual basis. With many opportunities still to be explored, this continued growth highlights the potential for enhancing economic and investment cooperation between the two countries.
His Excellency Al Zeyoudi said: “The UAE is keen to strengthen its relations with Senegal and the African continent in general. By strengthening our partnerships, we can advance sustainable economic growth and open new horizons for our two countries.”
The discussions focused on deepening economic cooperation and identifying additional opportunities to increase cooperation within the private sector, in line with the UAE’s program for comprehensive economic partnership agreements and its goals aimed at expanding trade and investment flows with rapidly growing economies around the world, including in Africa.
The UAE continues to implement its commitment to strengthening its relations with Africa, a continent rich in economic growth potential. In 2024, the volume of non-oil trade of the UAE with African countries reached $112 billion, with a growth rate of 34% compared to 2023. The UAE is also the largest source of foreign direct investment in the continent, as it invested more than $110 billion across the continent between 2019 and 2024. Through ongoing partnerships and collaborative efforts, the UAE seeks to support sustainable development initiatives that will accelerate mutually beneficial economic growth.
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