Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism hosted the UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025. Held recently in Dubai under the theme 'Building Bridges for Sustainable Growth,' the summit witnessed extensive participation from over 350 leaders, ministers, senior government officials, decision-makers, 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, was attended by His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council. In his opening speech, Bin Touq emphasized that the UAE has positioned tourism as a bridge connecting peoples and cultures, driving investment and entrepreneurship, and strengthening the national economy.
The summit convened panel sessions and presentations exploring the future of tourism in Africa and ways to enhance collaboration between the UAE and African nations. Sessions focused on economic integration through partnerships in tourism, hospitality, infrastructure, project financing, and innovation. Her Excellency Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, UN Tourism Secretary-General elect for 2026–2029, delivered a presentation titled 'The Future of African Tourism,' outlining a comprehensive vision for advancing the continent's tourism sector.
A high-level ministerial roundtable with participation from over 20 African nations resulted in a joint ministerial statement setting out a new investment mapping to bolster collaboration in tourism, aviation, transport, logistics, infrastructure, and digital transformation. The projects submitted under the investment mapping are estimated to require approximately USD 6 billion and are projected to generate 70,000 direct and indirect jobs. The statement also outlines five priority areas: tourism, investment and infrastructure, aviation and connectivity, sustainability, and SME-financing and innovation.
