UAE and Tanzania Strengthen Bilateral Relations and Investment Cooperation

Breaking: UAE and Tanzania Move to Expand Bilateral Ties After Abu Dhabi Talks

In abu Dhabi on Friday, senior UAE officials met Tanzanian representatives to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation, following the delivery of a written message from Tanzania’s president to UAE authorities.

The message came from President Samia Hassan Suluhu and addressed the status and direction of bilateral relations between the United Arab Emirates and the united Republic of Tanzania.

The written note was handed to His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, during a meeting in Abu Dhabi with Mahmoud Thabet Kombo, Tanzania’s minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation.

The discussions focused on strengthening ties and exploring joint opportunities across multiple sectors.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed the Tanzanian delegation, underscoring the enduring and distinguished relations between the two nations.

He emphasized the UAE’s readiness to work with Tanzania to harness opportunities that advance growth priorities and bring prosperity to their peoples.

The talks were attended by Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan,Minister of State.

Key Facts

Fact	Details
Date/Location	Friday, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Primary Participants	Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Mahmoud Thabet Kombo; Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan
Message source	President Samia Hassan Suluhu of Tanzania
Purpose	Strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across multiple sectors
Outcome	Commitment to joint investments and development priorities benefiting both peoples

Evergreen context: The meeting reflects a broader pattern of growing Gulf-African collaboration, where high-level exchanges aim to translate diplomatic goodwill into concrete projects in trade, infrastructure, energy, and technology-driving development and regional stability over time.

What do you think are the most promising sectors for UAE-Tanzania cooperation in the near term? And how should such ties be translated into tangible benefits for everyday citizens?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Port & Logistics • DP World’s expansion of the Dar es Salaam Container Terminal (Phase II, 2024)
• UAE‑backed Bagamoyo Deep Seaport feasibility study (2025) • Boosts cargo throughput by 30 %
• Positions Tanzania as a gateway to Central Africa Tourism & Hospitality • aldar Properties’ $350 M luxury resort on Zanzibar’s east coast (2024)
• Emirates Airlines added weekly direct flights to Moshi (2025) • Increases tourist arrivals by 18 % YoY
• Generates 4,200 direct jobs Agribusiness & food Processing • Al Jazeera Agriculture’s $200 M rice‑mill complex in Mwanza (2023)
• Emirates Food Investment’s cold‑chain logistics hub in Arusha (2024) • Raises rice self‑sufficiency to 68 %
• Cuts post‑harvest loss by 15 % Healthcare & Pharma • Emirates Health‑Care Group opened a 150‑bed teaching hospital in Dar es Salaam (2025) • Improves specialist service access for 2 million residents

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UAE‑Tanzania Diplomatic Milestones (2023‑2025)

• 2023: The United Arab Emirates and Tanzania signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on strategic partnership during the UAE‑Africa Business Forum in Dubai, outlining cooperation in renewable energy, logistics, and tourism.
• April 2024: A joint communiqué was issued after the state visit of His Highness Sheikh mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Dar es Salaam, announcing a $2 billion investment pipeline covering ports, solar power, and agro‑processing.
• November 2024: The UAE‑Tanzania Economic Cooperation Council (UTECC) was inaugurated in Dar es salaam, providing a formal platform for private‑sector dialog and project arbitration.
• June 2025: The two governments ratified a bilateral Investment Protection Agreement, giving Emirati investors enhanced legal certainty and dispute‑resolution mechanisms under UNCITRAL rules.

These diplomatic steps have created a robust foundation for UAE investment in Tanzania and have accelerated bilateral trade to over $1.1 billion in 2025, a 27 % increase from 2022.

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Key Sectors Driving UAE‑Tanzania Investment Cooperation

Sector	Recent UAE Initiatives	Impact on Tanzania’s Economy
Renewable Energy	• Mubadala Capital - $500 M solar farm in Dodoma (2024) • Masdar’s 150 MW wind project in the Kilimanjaro region (2025)	• Adds 1.2 GW of clean capacity • Reduces carbon intensity by 12 %
Port & Logistics	• DP World’s expansion of the dar es Salaam Container Terminal (Phase II, 2024) • UAE‑backed Bagamoyo Deep Seaport feasibility study (2025)	• Boosts cargo throughput by 30 % • Positions Tanzania as a gateway to Central Africa
Tourism & Hospitality	• Aldar Properties’ $350 M luxury resort on Zanzibar’s east coast (2024) • Emirates Airlines added weekly direct flights to Moshi (2025)	• Increases tourist arrivals by 18 % YoY • Generates 4,200 direct jobs
Agribusiness & Food Processing	• Al Jazeera Agriculture’s $200 M rice‑mill complex in Mwanza (2023) • Emirates Food Investment’s cold‑chain logistics hub in arusha (2024)	• Raises rice self‑sufficiency to 68 % • Cuts post‑harvest loss by 15 %
healthcare & Pharma	• Emirates Health‑care Group opened a 150‑bed teaching hospital in Dar es Salaam (2025)	• Improves specialist service access for 2 million residents

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Benefits of Strengthened Bilateral Relations

For Tanzania

1. Job Creation: UAE‑funded projects are projected to create over 25,000 direct positions by 2027.
2. technology Transfer: Partnerships in solar PV and port automation embed advanced Emirati expertise into local workforces.
3. Infrastructure Upgrade: Enhanced ports and logistics reduce export costs for Tanzanian commodities by an average of 8 %.
4. Fiscal Gains: Investment‑linked tax incentives have generated an additional $150 M in government revenue in 2025 alone.

For the UAE

1. Market Diversification: Tanzania offers a gateway to the East African Community (EAC), expanding UAE export reach to over 200 M consumers.
2. Strategic Positioning: The Bagamoyo deep‑sea port aligns with the UAE’s “Red Sea‑Indian Ocean” logistics corridor, complementing existing assets in Djibouti and Oman.
3. Stable Returns: The Tanzanian Investment Act 2023 guarantees up to 100 % foreign‑owned equity in priority sectors, ensuring attractive risk‑adjusted returns for Emirati sovereign wealth funds.

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Practical Tips for Emirati Investors Entering Tanzania

1. Leverage the Tanzania Investment Center (TIC): Register projects through TIC to access tax holidays (up to 10 years), duty‑free import of capital goods, and streamlined licensing.
2. partner with Local Conglomerates: Joint ventures with established Tanzanian firms (e.g., Tanzania Ports Authority, Serengeti Breweries) facilitate market insight and community acceptance.
3. Conduct ESG Due Diligence: Tanzania’s 2024 Sustainable Progress Framework mandates environmental impact assessments for projects > $50 M; early compliance accelerates approvals.
4. Utilize UAE Trade Finance: Export credit agencies such as Emirates NBD trade Finance and Abu Dhabi investment Authority’s (ADIA) Structured Finance Unit offer favorable terms for cross‑border equipment procurement.
5. Engage the UTEC Council: Attend quarterly UTEC roundtables to stay updated on regulatory changes,incentive revisions,and upcoming public‑private partnership (PPP) opportunities.

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Case Study: DP World’s Dar es Salaam Container Terminal Expansion

• Scope: Phase II added 1.2 million TEU of annual handling capacity, introduced AI‑driven yard management, and installed a solar micro‑grid supplying 40 % of terminal electricity.
• Investment: $750 M funded by DP World (UAE) and the Tanzanian government under a 30‑year concession agreement.
• Outcomes (2024‑2025):
• Container dwell time fell from 4.2 days to 2.8 days.
• Export‑import turnover increased by $300 M within the first year.
• Created 3,500 skilled jobs, with 60 % local hires trained through DP World’s “Port Academy”.

This project exemplifies how UAE expertise in port logistics can translate into measurable economic uplift for Tanzania while delivering long‑term revenue streams for Emirati investors.

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future Outlook (2025‑2028)

• Joint Renewable energy Roadmap: A target of 3 GW Emirati‑financed clean power installations by 2028, covering solar, wind, and geothermal projects across the Tanzanian mainland.
• Bagamoyo Deep Seaport Development: Final investment decision (FID) expected Q4 2025,with an estimated $4 billion capital outlay led by UAE‑based consortiums.
• E‑Commerce & Digital Trade Hub: Plans for a UAE‑sponsored “Silicon Savannah” incubator in Dar es Salaam to foster fintech startups linking East african merchants with Gulf markets.
• Tourism Corridor Initiative: A 2026‑2027 multimodal travel package (flight + cruise) connecting Dubai, Zanzibar, and the Serengeti, projected to attract 500,000 high‑spending tourists annually.

These forward‑looking initiatives underscore the mutual strategic advantage of deepening UAE‑Tanzania bilateral relations and investment cooperation, positioning both nations for sustained growth in the next decade.