UAE Expands Africa Trade, Leveraging Aviation for Growth and Food Security

November 26, 2025 at 03:29 PM•2 min read•Staff Writer

The UAE is significantly expanding trade and investment in sub-Saharan Africa, strategically leveraging its aviation and port connections to boost...

Key Points

1UAE significantly expanding trade and investment in sub-Saharan Africa, targeting food security and economic growth.
2Aviation and port connections are strategic pillars for UAE's logistical and trade expansion into Africa.
3UAE invested nearly $119 billion in Africa (2020-2024), with two-way trade exceeding $75 billion last year.
4Food security is a primary driver, with aviation crucial for connecting resources and supply chains.

The United Arab Emirates is strategically intensifying its trade and investment initiatives across sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to bolster food security and capitalize on the region's rapid economic growth. As Africa's second-largest trade partner after China, the UAE has already diversified its investments into various sectors, including farming, renewable energy, and critical port infrastructure. A key component of this expansive strategy involves the significant role of its service industries, particularly the expansion of its airlines and broader aviation links into the continent, facilitating crucial logistical connections for trade and investment.

Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri, UAE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted Africa's superior investment opportunities compared to more mature or declining markets. Between 2020 and 2024, the UAE invested nearly $119 billion in Africa, with two-way trade with sub-Saharan Africa exceeding $75 billion last year—a threefold increase over the past decade. This aggressive engagement positions the UAE among major global investors vying for access to Africa's young populations, mineral reserves, and robust economic growth rates.

The UAE is actively pursuing Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement pacts with several African nations, building on existing agreements with countries like Mauritius, Morocco, and the Central African Republic. This forms part of a broader national objective to double global bilateral trade to $4 trillion by 2031, alongside plans for increased investment in data centers and other strategic sectors. A primary driver for this African focus is the UAE's critical concern for food security, as the nation imports 80% of its food supply.

To address this, the strategy emphasizes securing resources and enhancing logistical capabilities. Minister Al Hajeri underscored the importance of connecting the UAE's aviation and port networks directly to Africa, ensuring efficient supply chains for food imports and facilitating broader economic integration. This strategic use of aviation infrastructure is central to the UAE's long-term vision for sustainable growth and resilient supply chains with the African continent.