UAE and Africa Unveil $6bn Tourism Investment Plan at Dubai Summit

The United Arab Emirates and African nations have unveiled a $6 billion investment mapping aimed at forging new partnerships across tourism, aviation, transport, logistics, infrastructure, and digital transformation. The announcement underscores the UAE’s growing influence as a global hub for sustainable economic collaboration and innovation-led development.

The plan was announced at the UAE–Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025, held at Expo City 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. Themed “Building Bridges for Sustainable Growth” and “Tourism at the Heart of Africa’s Growth Agenda,” the summit brought together over 350 leaders, ministers, investors, and entrepreneurs from the UAE and 53 African nations to strengthen cooperation in sustainable tourism and cross-border investment.

During his discussions with African delegates, Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed the UAE’s long-standing commitment to deepening economic and tourism ties with Africa, describing the continent as a key partner in shaping the future of global tourism. He said that Africa’s rich natural resources, economic dynamism, and sustainable development goals align closely with the UAE’s own vision for inclusive, innovation-driven growth. “Tourism is a vital contributor to our national economy and a sector that offers tremendous opportunities for continued growth and new partnerships,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “The UAE–Africa partnership holds immense promise and has always been characterised by a shared belief in discovering new avenues for cooperation to shape a better tomorrow.” He emphasised that tourism investment represents a model for economic integration built on shared interests and long-term development ambitions, and that tourism itself serves as a powerful vehicle for cultural exchange, mutual prosperity, and global connectivity.

On the sidelines of the summit, a high-level ministerial roundtable was convened with representatives from more than 20 African countries, culminating in the adoption of a Joint Ministerial Statement outlining a new roadmap for UAE–Africa collaboration. The statement announced an investment mapping identifying projects in aviation, logistics, infrastructure, and digital transformation worth approximately $6 billion, expected to create around 70,000 direct and indirect jobs across participating nations. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, described the initiative as a milestone in advancing a resilient and sustainable tourism sector. He said that the investment mapping marks a major qualitative shift in UAE–Africa cooperation, paving the way for greater private sector participation and reinforcing tourism’s role as a driver of comprehensive economic growth.

The Joint Ministerial Statement also outlined a vision for future cooperation based on five strategic areas: tourism development, investment and infrastructure, aviation and connectivity, sustainability, and SME financing and innovation. The ministers called on development finance institutions and private investors to engage in the project pipeline through public–private partnerships, blended finance models, and debt-for-nature swaps, recognising private investment as a catalyst for job creation, inclusion, and sustainable development.

African ministers at the summit praised the UAE’s success in leveraging tourism to diversify its economy, attract global investment, and build world-class infrastructure. They also recognised the UAE as a reliable and strategic partner in advancing Africa’s sustainable economic transformation. The discussions reaffirmed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a foundation for enhancing regional competitiveness and integrating Africa’s economies, with the UAE’s engagement viewed as critical to mobilising capital, connectivity, and innovation across the continent. Ministers agreed to maintain a coordination mechanism to track progress on the investment mapping and report at the next ministerial meeting.

The summit concluded with a shared commitment to advancing inclusive and sustainable tourism-led growth that benefits communities, empowers women and youth, supports SMEs, and safeguards cultural and natural heritage. Both the UAE and African nations reaffirmed their dedication to innovation-driven, environmentally responsible tourism that strengthens economic resilience and fosters long-term prosperity across both regions.