UAE-Cameroon Trade Growth Seen Through Investment Day Highlights Across Agriculture And Infrastructure

UAE-Cameroon economic ties are deepening as non-oil trade expands and high-level talks advance new projects. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi led a UAE delegation to Yaoundé, met senior officials, and discussed investment across key sectors, reflecting the UAE’s wider African strategy and Cameroon’s position as a gateway to Central Africa.

Recent figures show strong momentum in UAE-Cameroon trade and wider African exchanges. Bilateral non-oil foreign trade between the UAE and Cameroon reached more than US$1.24 billion in 2024, up 2 percent from 2023 and 116 percent higher than in 2022. In the first nine months of 2025, non-oil trade rose to US$1.14 billion, a 25.4 percent year-on-year increase.

Non-oil trade with Africa as a whole has also expanded. In 2024, trade between the UAE and African countries reached US$112 billion, a 34 percent rise compared with 2023. Since 2019, the UAE has pledged more than US$110 billion of investment across the continent, underlining a focus on sustainable, commercially driven partnerships with fast-growing African markets.

During the visit to Yaoundé, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi conveyed the UAE leadership’s greetings to Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute and wished Cameroon peace, prosperity and progress. The mission formed part of the UAE’s foreign trade agenda and its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement programme, focused on deepening ties with high-growth African economies.

The UAE-Cameroon Trade and Investment Day formed the core of the programme. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi met several ministers to explore joint projects in agriculture, infrastructure, renewable energy, finance and telecommunications. Officials highlighted opportunities to expand trade flows and attract new capital, with an emphasis on practical partnerships that support Cameroon’s development plans.

Meetings brought together Alamine Ousmane Mey, Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development; Gaston Eloundou Essomba, Minister of Water and Energy; Jean Ernest Masséna Ngallé Bibehe, Minister of Transport; Luc-Magloire Mbarga Atangana, Minister of Trade; Professor Fuh Calistus Gentry, Minister of Mines, Industry, and Technological Development; and Minette Libom Lu Likeng, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications.

The discussions stressed the role of the private sector in UAE-Cameroon trade, especially in long-term infrastructure schemes. The UAE has been directing investment to critical assets while viewing Cameroon as a strategic access point to Central Africa’s markets. Officials from both countries underlined their interest in balanced, mutually beneficial projects that support growth and diversification.

Reflecting on the engagements, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said, "This visit demonstrates the vast potential for growth in our economic relationship with Cameroon. By harnessing our combined strengths and resources, we can unlock extraordinary opportunities for both nations. The UAE is committed to being a reliable partner for sustainable development in Cameroon, and we believe that our collaboration will yield significant mutual benefits across multiple sectors." The visit therefore reinforced a wider UAE objective to expand structured economic partnerships across Africa while building on rising trade volumes with Cameroon.

With inputs from WAM