Albert Vidal Ribe
The United Arab Emirates is deepening its economic ties with Angola – and elsewhere in Africa – by promising significant investments in critical sectors spanning energy, technology and maritime logistics. In turn, Angola offers the UAE the possibility of greater food security, potential access to critical minerals, a growing consumer market and the opportunity to deepen its influence on the continent amid waning Chinese investment.
Emirati engagement with Angola is increasing as national champions – such as Masdar, DP World, AD Ports Group, EDGE Group and G42 – invest in key sectors of the Angolan economy, including ports and defence. In exchange, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to import Angolan diamonds and hopes to turn Angola into a reliable food supplier in the coming years. Emirati interests are also growing across Africa as part of the country’s broader strategy to become a hub connecting Africa, the Middle East and Asia. At a time when Chinese investment in Africa is drying up, the expanding Emirati presence calls for a more nuanced view of regional dynamics that reflects the emergence of a multinodal world order.
Growing African potential Between 2012 and 2022, Emirati foreign direct investment in Africa totalled US$59.4 billion, the continent’s third-largest source after China and the United States. Emirati interest in Africa stems from the growth prospects of emerging economies such as Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania and their growing potential as both food suppliers and energy consumers. The UAE seeks a first-mover advantage to benefit from these countries’ fast-paced transformation and hopes to position itself as a connector between Africa and Asia, channelling both capital and goods while also strengthening its access to food supplies and critical minerals.
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