UAE Rises as a Leading Investor in Africa

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is rapidly expanding its economic and strategic footprint across Africa, filling a growing vacuum left by waning U.S. and Chinese influence. With investments exceeding $110 billion since 2019, the UAE is emerging as the continent’s dominant foreign player, pouring capital into critical infrastructure sectors such as real estate, ports, mining, and renewable energy.

The shift is part of the UAE’s broader agenda to diversify its oil-dependent economy and establish itself as a global leader in finance and technology. “The UAE is turning into a dominant foreign player in much of Africa,” said Anna Jacobs, a nonresident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

Key emirati firms closely tied to the ruling elite are spearheading the charge. AMEA Power, based in Dubai, is involved in clean energy projects in over 10 African nations, including Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa. Abu Dhabi National Energy Company has active projects in Morocco, Senegal, and South Africa. DP World, the government-backed logistics giant, has invested billions into ports and free trade zones from Algeria to Zambia. Notably, it is developing the Berbera port in Somaliland, where the UAE also operates a military base.

In the mining sector, Emirati conglomerate International Holding Company invested over $1 billion last year to acquire a 51% stake in Zambia’s Mopani Copper Mines, a strategic move amid growing global demand for critical minerals.

The UAE is also making its mark in real estate and tourism. In Egypt, it committed $35 billion to build a new coastal city and tourism hub, signaling long-term strategic engagement with North African economies.

While China still maintains a significant presence in Africa, its investments have declined following domestic economic pressures and rising African debt concerns. In comparison, the UAE announced $97 billion in new African investments in 2022 and 2023 alone—three times more than China and nearly ten times the U.S. total, which was around $10 billion in 2023.

With a combination of wealth, political alignment, and long-term strategy, the UAE is reshaping Africa’s development landscape—and solidifying its own role as a global power broker.

For more Africa real estate news, visit REM TIMES