UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit Forges $6 Billion Partnership Framework for Sustainable Tourism Development

The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism hosted the UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, bringing together over 350 leaders, ministers, government officials, investors, and entrepreneurs from the UAE and 53 African nations. The summit, held as part of the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS World 2025) and in collaboration with The Bench, focused on building bridges for sustainable growth between the regions through strategic tourism partnerships.

His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, emphasized in his opening speech that tourism serves as a bridge connecting peoples and cultures worldwide while driving investment and economic growth. The summit featured extensive panel sessions and presentations exploring the future of African tourism and methods to enhance collaboration between the UAE and African nations in tourism development, hospitality, infrastructure, project financing, and innovation.

A significant outcome emerged from the high-level ministerial roundtable meeting involving more than 20 African nations, resulting in a joint ministerial statement establishing a new investment mapping framework. This framework outlines projects requiring approximately $6 billion in total investment and projected to generate 70,000 direct and indirect jobs collectively across participating African countries. The investment mapping represents a substantial commitment to developing tourism infrastructure and capabilities throughout the continent.

The joint statement identifies five priority areas for enhanced UAE-Africa collaboration: tourism development, investment and infrastructure, aviation and connectivity, sustainability initiatives, and SME-financing and innovation. This comprehensive approach addresses multiple facets of tourism development while emphasizing sustainable practices that benefit local communities and preserve natural resources. Her Excellency Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, UN Tourism Secretary-General elect for 2026–2029, contributed to the strategic vision through her presentation titled 'The Future of African Tourism,' outlining a comprehensive development roadmap for advancing Africa's tourism sector.

The summit's outcomes signal a transformative shift in tourism investment patterns across Africa, with the UAE positioning itself as a key partner in developing sustainable tourism infrastructure. The $6 billion investment framework represents one of the largest coordinated tourism development initiatives in recent African history, potentially reshaping tourism economies across multiple nations. The emphasis on sustainability ensures that development projects will incorporate environmental considerations and community benefits, addressing growing global demand for responsible tourism experiences.

This partnership framework extends beyond traditional tourism development to include aviation connectivity, digital transformation, and SME support, creating an ecosystem approach to tourism growth. The job creation potential of 70,000 positions addresses critical employment needs across participating nations while building local capacity in tourism and hospitality sectors. The collaboration establishes a model for North-South tourism partnerships that could influence future investment patterns across developing tourism markets worldwide.