The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reaffirms its long-term economic partnership with Nigeria, highlighting sustained investments and expanding trade. In an interview reported by Nigerian outlets, UAE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Saeed Bin Mubarak Al Hajeri describes Nigeria as an increasingly important partner within the UAE’s wider engagement across Africa. He says the relationship is guided by long-term strategic priorities rather than short-term global conditions.
The UAE official points to growth in non-oil trade between the two countries over the past five years, attributing the increase to the UAE’s business environment and investment approach. He also links trade stability to investments in infrastructure and supply-chain resilience.
The sources say the UAE intends to broaden cooperation beyond trade by focusing on sectors including infrastructure, logistics, energy, technology, and innovation. The partnership is also linked to the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) programme that covers several African economies. In addition, the UAE references a $1 billion “AI for Development in Africa” initiative, aimed at strengthening digital ecosystems and supporting sustainable growth across the continent.