UAE And South Africa Discuss Strategies To Strengthen Trade And Investment Collaboration

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE's Minister of Foreign Trade, recently engaged with the South African Business Council in the UAE. The meeting aimed to explore strategies for boosting trade, investment, and private sector partnerships between the two countries. This dialogue highlights the UAE's dedication to enhancing economic ties with African nations, acknowledging Africa's growing role in global trade.

The discussions revealed significant growth in trade between the UAE and South Africa. In 2024, their non-oil foreign trade reached US$8.5 billion, marking a 14% rise from 2023 and a remarkable 120% increase since 2019. This upward trend persisted into the first half of 2025, with non-oil bilateral trade hitting US$3.93 billion.

South Africa stands as the UAE’s second-largest non-oil trade partner in Africa. This relationship underscores vast opportunities for both nations' private sectors to deepen ties. Dr. Al Zeyoudi expressed the UAE's commitment to strengthening its economic partnership with South Africa through new private sector collaborations.

"The UAE is committed to enhancing its economic partnership with South Africa," stated Al Zeyoudi. "Today's discussions were focused on encouraging new avenues for private sector collaboration that will benefit both our nations. We are particularly excited about projects related to food security, logistics, infrastructure, tourism, and renewable energy in South Africa and across the continent."

The meeting served as a platform to discuss initiatives leveraging existing trade frameworks for mutual benefit. Dr. Al Zeyoudi stressed investing in projects aligned with sustainable development goals to create jobs and lasting economic value in Africa.

South Africa is Africa's largest exporter and boasts the highest nominal GDP on the continent. This positions it as a market ripe for increased private sector collaboration, especially in food, transport, and renewable energy sectors.

Commitment to Future Collaboration

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to explore collaborative projects further enhancing trade relations between the UAE and South Africa. This sets the stage for a prosperous future for both countries.

Currently, over 3,690 South African businesses operate in the UAE across sectors like construction, hospitality, and financial services. Meanwhile, UAE businesses are increasingly active in South Africa; DP World is a key logistics player while AMEA Power focuses on renewable energy generation.

Dr. Al Zeyoudi highlighted that by working together on projects related to food security, logistics, infrastructure, tourism, and renewable energy across South Africa and beyond, both nations can unlock new opportunities driving economic growth and sustainable development.

With inputs from WAM