UAE-Africa Summit Charts $6 Billion Tourism Investment Path, Targeting 70,000 Jobs
The UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit has established a strategic framework for $6 billion in sustainable tourism projects across Africa, creating significant economic opportunities and strengthening UAE-Africa economic integration.
The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, recently hosted the UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025 in Dubai. The event, themed 'Building Bridges for Sustainable Growth,' attracted over 350 leaders, ministers, government officials, investors, and entrepreneurs from the UAE and 53 African nations, signaling a major commitment to transforming Africa's tourism landscape through strategic partnerships.
His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, emphasized tourism's role as a bridge connecting peoples and cultures while driving investment and economic growth. The summit, held as part of the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS World 2025) and in collaboration with The Bench, focused on developing tourism and investment collaboration between the UAE and African nations through quality partnerships in tourism infrastructure, hospitality, project financing, and innovation.
A high-level ministerial roundtable meeting involving more than 20 African nations produced a joint ministerial statement establishing a new investment mapping framework. This initiative identifies projects requiring approximately $6 billion in total investment and projected to generate 70,000 direct and indirect jobs across participating African countries. The investment mapping represents a concrete step toward strengthening economic integration through tourism development.
The summit featured panel sessions and presentations exploring Africa's tourism future, including a presentation by Her Excellency Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, UN Tourism Secretary-General elect for 2026–2029, titled 'The Future of African Tourism.' Her comprehensive development vision outlined pathways for advancing Africa's tourism sector through sustainable practices and strategic investments.
Five priority areas emerged from the joint statement to guide UAE-Africa collaboration: tourism development, investment and infrastructure enhancement, aviation connectivity expansion, sustainability initiatives, and support for SME financing and innovation. This multi-faceted approach addresses both immediate investment opportunities and long-term sector development, positioning tourism as a catalyst for broader economic growth across African nations while strengthening the UAE's role as a global tourism hub and investment partner.