The United Arab Emirates has solidified its trade relationship with Africa, with annual trade surpassing $107bn and investments on the continent approaching $150bn. This development signals a significant shift in the UAE's long-term economic strategy, positioning Africa at its core. According to Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, this growth is a result of deliberate efforts to build direct partnerships with African countries.
The UAE's approach to establishing direct ties with African nations has yielded substantial results. Recent data from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade reveals that non-oil trade between the UAE and Africa reached approximately $158bn in 2025, marking a 41.6% increase from 2024. Africa's share of the UAE's total non-oil trade has also risen to 15.5%. In 2024, UAE-Africa non-oil trade stood at around $112bn, indicating that Gargash's $107bn figure reflects the scale achieved before the latest surge.
The growth in UAE-Africa trade has significant implications for the continent's external financing landscape. Gulf capital is now a durable feature of Africa's financing mix, rather than a short-term tactical play. The UAE's investment, development, and humanitarian engagement with Africa have been described as a distinct success story, reflecting an early recognition of a changing global environment.
The UAE has expanded its economic footprint across various sectors in Africa, including infrastructure, logistics, ports, energy, renewable energy, technology, and financial services. Official statements and recent trade missions have highlighted the breadth of activity across the continent. Visits to Senegal and Gabon in September 2026 underscored the growth in non-oil trade with Africa, which reached $158bn in 2025.
Bilateral trade between the UAE and African nations has also shown significant growth. Non-oil trade with Senegal reached around $1.3bn in 2025, with a 24.5% annual increase, while trade in the first half of 2026 grew 31% year on year. Meanwhile, UAE-Gabon non-oil trade reached $320.6m in 2025, more than double the 2021 level, and posted $141.7m in the first half of 2026.
The sectoral tilt of UAE investments in Africa is also noteworthy. In Gabon, key UAE non-oil exports include consumer goods, petroleum distillates, and industrial equipment, which support port and logistics development. In Senegal, machinery, mineral fuels, and plastics dominate exports, supporting broader infrastructure development.
As the UAE continues to broaden its economic reach beyond traditional Asian and European trading corridors, Africa is poised to play an increasingly important role. The growth in UAE-Africa trade and investments reflects a strategic shift in the UAE's economic diversification plans, with Gulf capital expected to remain a significant feature of Africa's external financing landscape.
Key points
- UAE Africa trade has surpassed $107bn annually, with Emirati investments nearing $150bn.
- Non-oil trade between the UAE and Africa reached $158bn in 2025, marking a 41.6% increase from 2024.
- The UAE's investment, development, and humanitarian engagement with Africa have been described as a distinct success story.
