The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will inject USD 6 billion into Africa’s travel and hospitality industry, which will create 70,000 new jobs as Africa experiences the fastest tourism growth in the world, stated the “UAE Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025,” held in Dubai under the chairmanship 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 collaboration with The Bench as part of Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) World 2025, the event brought together senior government officials, investors, and industry leaders to chart investment priorities and explore opportunities across tourism, infrastructure, aviation, and digital innovation.
On the sidelines of the event, a ministerial roundtable led by Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, witnessed the presence of ministers from over 20 African nations. The meeting concluded with a joint ministerial statement outlining plans to boost collaboration in various tourism sectors.
“Today, the UAE and Africa stand at a pivotal moment in developing a resilient and sustainable tourism sector. This milestone is marked by the launch of a new investment mapping featuring diverse tourism projects in aviation, logistics, infrastructure, and the digital sector, with an estimated total value of approximately USD 6 billion and the potential to generate 70,000 job opportunities across Africa,” said Al Marri.
The official added, “Africa is home to a wealth of rich and diverse tourism assets – from coastal resorts and pristine beaches to cultural, heritage, and historical landmarks. These unique features present vast opportunities for the UAE business community and serve as a vital gateway for investment and expansion across various tourism activities. We are committed to fully leveraging this platform to transform ideas into tangible and sustainable tourism projects and partnerships that will help shape the future of economic development across the African continent.”
The ministerial statement also talked about shared goals such as improving tourism infrastructure, expanding air connectivity, and advancing green, inclusive growth through partnerships and SME support.