Nigeria, UAE Review Bilateral Ties As Trade Volume Hits $5bn

Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates have met to review bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation, connectivity, emerging technologies as well as people-to-people relations as trade volume between both countries hit $5 billion in 2025.

The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, Thursday by stated that this development followed a meeting on Wednesday by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, with Salem Saeed Alshamsi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Nigeria in Abuja.

The UAE Ambassador reaffirmed the Embassy’s readiness to work closely with the Ministry in advancing shared interests. He highlighted the significant growth in bilateral trade, which increased from approximately US$3 billion to US$4.3 billion in 2024 and about US$5 billion in 2025, and expressed optimism that stronger political relations would continue to support increased trade and investment.

Discussions also focused on the UAE-Nigeria Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), even as the Ambassador noted that the UAE had ratified the agreement and expressed hope that its completion on Nigeria’s side would further expand bilateral trade and investment. He also highlighted the proposed commencement of Emirates Airline operations in Abuja and ongoing consultations with relevant Nigerian authorities to strengthen aviation connectivity between the two countries.

In his reaction, the minister of state expressed appreciation for the UAE’s continued commitment to Nigeria and welcomed the growth in non-oil trade and investment. He noted that stronger economic relations were consistent with Nigeria’s economic diplomacy priorities, particularly the diversification of export markets and the promotion of manufacturing, services, technology and fintech.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to concluding the necessary processes for CEPA implementation and called for the early convening of the Nigeria-UAE Joint Commission to address outstanding issues and identify new areas of cooperation.

Both sides also recognised the growing potential for cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital technology and other emerging technologies. The Nigerian side expressed interest in knowledge transfer, skills development and capacity building, particularly for young Nigerians, while welcoming increased UAE investment in Nigeria’s priority sectors, including infrastructure, technology, energy and financial services.

The meeting further underscored the importance of people-to-people relations and welcomed progress in resolving previous visa-related challenges, which would facilitate increased movement between the two countries for business, investment, tourism, and other purposes.

The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working closely with the UAE to consolidate bilateral relations, while both sides expressed confidence that sustained political engagement, stronger economic cooperation and closer institutional collaboration would translate the cordial Nigeria-UAE relationship into greater benefits for the peoples of both countries.