Prime Highlights:
- The UAE announces a $6 billion investment plan to boost Africa’s tourism and hospitality sector.
- The investment is expected to create 70,000 new jobs and open opportunities for UAE businesses.
Key Facts:
- The plan includes projects in aviation, logistics, infrastructure, and digital services.
- Ministers from over 20 African nations joined a summit to discuss collaboration on tourism development and sustainable growth.
Background:
The United Arab Emirates will invest $6 billion to develop Africa’s travel and hospitality sector, creating 70,000 new jobs across the continent. The announcement was made at the UAE Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025 in Dubai, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Organised by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism in partnership with The Bench as part of the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) World 2025, the summit brought together senior government officials, investors, and industry leaders. The discussions covered opportunities in tourism, transport, aviation, and digital sectors.
A major part of the summit was a roundtable led by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, with ministers from over 20 African countries. The meeting ended with a joint statement on working together to boost tourism, improve infrastructure, increase air travel links, and support sustainable growth.
H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said that the UAE and Africa are at an important point for building a strong and sustainable tourism industry. The investment will create jobs in Africa and business opportunities in aviation, transport, infrastructure, and digital sectors.
The Future Hospitality Summit Africa 2026 (FHS Africa) will continue this work. The summit will bring together investors and leaders to turn the $6 billion plan into real projects and partnerships, helping Africa’s tourism industry grow.
Roy Bannister, Head of Strategic Partnerships for Africa at The Bench, said the summit’s goal is to turn these plans into practical projects that have a long-term positive impact on Africa’s growing tourism sector.
