African Countries with Business Presence in the UAEWest AfricaEast AfricaKenya Ethiopia Tanzania Uganda Rwanda Burundi Somalia Eritrea
Central AfricaNorth AfricaEgypt Morocco Tunisia Algeria Libya Sudan
Southern AfricaSouth Africa Zimbabwe Zambia Malawi Mozambique Botswana Namibia Angola Lesotho Eswatini (Swaziland)
✅ Total: Africa has 54 countries, and entrepreneurs from most of them have some presence in the UAE, especially in sectors like:
💡 For the UAE African Business Collaboration (UABC), this diversity means the organization can potentially unite entrepreneurs from over 40 African nationalities already living or doing business in the UAE.
| Top 10 African Nationalities Doing Business in the UAEThese communities have the largest presence or strong entrepreneurial activity in the UAE. 1. Nigeria 🇳🇬Estimated 50,000–100,000 Nigerians living in the UAE. Many operate restaurants, logistics, trading companies, and entertainment businesses.
2. South Africa 🇿🇦Around 100,000 South Africans in the UAE with thousands of affiliated companies. Strong presence in hospitality, consulting, finance, and corporate sectors.
3. Ethiopia 🇪🇹Around 100,000 Ethiopians living in the UAE. Businesses include cafes, logistics, retail, and services.
4. Uganda 🇺🇬Approximately 70,000 Ugandans in the UAE. Active in trade, salons, events, and logistics.
5. Kenya 🇰🇪About 50,000 Kenyans working and doing business in the UAE. Many in hospitality, aviation, and consulting sectors.
6. Egypt 🇪🇬One of the largest Arab-African business communities in the UAE. Strong in construction, media, consulting, and trade.
7. Morocco 🇲🇦8. Ghana 🇬🇭About 15,000 Ghanaians live in the UAE. Many operate trading, restaurants, and shipping businesses.
9. Somalia 🇸🇴10. Senegal 🇸🇳
Areas in Dubai Where African Businesses Are ConcentratedAfrican entrepreneurs tend to cluster in areas where rent is affordable, trade markets exist, and diaspora networks are strong. 1. Deira (Baniyas / Naif / Sabkha)The largest African business cluster in Dubai. Businesses include:
2. Al BarshaPopular with African professionals and entrepreneurs. Common businesses: salons restaurants consulting offices tech startups.
3. International CityAffordable area with many African traders. Businesses include: grocery shops African food stores logistics services.
4. Al Nahda (Dubai & Sharjah)Large African residential community. Common businesses: beauty salons home catering small trading companies.
5. Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT)More corporate environment. Businesses include: consulting firms fintech startups investment companies.
Insight for UABCThese five Dubai areas alone contain thousands of African entrepreneurs, making them the best recruitment zones for the UAE African Business Collaboration (UABC). Targeting just these locations could realistically bring 500–1,000 businesses into the platform.
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Deira (Naif / Baniyas / Sabkha) – Largest African Business Cluster Africana Home Restaurant – Sabkha Golden Africa Foodstuff Trading – Naif Road African Shop LLC – Deira African & Caribbean Shop – Deira Love World African Shop – Naif Front Ocean African Shop – Deira Ghana Food Restaurant – Deira African Dishes Restaurant – Deira Biggy African Restaurant – Deira Calabar Aroma Restaurant – Deira
Other businesses in this cluster include: Motherland Restaurant Naija Kitchen Dubai African Taste Restaurant Taste of Ghana Kitchen Mama Africa Food Restaurant African Beauty Palace – Gold Souq Afro Beauty Salon Afro Caribbean Market Lagos Foodstuff Trading Afro Bazaar Trading
Estimated 50+ African businesses operate in Deira alone.
📍 Al Barsha – Restaurants & Professional ServicesA hub for African restaurants and consulting businesses. African Dishes Restaurant – Al Barsha Chop House Nigerian Kitchen – Barsha Taste of Africa Kitchen – Barsha Afromama Kitchen Afro Lounge Restaurant Ghana Kitchen Dubai Lagos Kitchen Restaurant Afro Fusion Restaurant Mama Africa Catering Afro Market Grocery
📍 International City – Trading & Grocery BusinessesAfrican Food Market IC Afro Caribbean Supermarket Lagos Food Store Afro Beauty Supply Store Ghana Food Trading East Africa Food Shop Ethiopian Coffee House IC African Spices Market Afro Fresh Market Afro Hair & Beauty Supply
📍 Al Nahda (Dubai & Sharjah Border)African Kitchen Nahda Ethiopian Restaurant Nahda Afro Salon Nahda Ghana Food Kitchen Nahda Afro Market Nahda Afro Beauty Salon Nahda East African Restaurant Nahda African Grocery Nahda Afro Beauty Supply Nahda Afro Kitchen Catering
| Jumeirah Lake Towers (Corporate African Businesses)African Trade & Investment Consultancy Afro Global Consulting Africa Logistics Middle East Pan African Trading FZE Africa Market Advisors Afro Tech Consulting Africa Import Export Hub Africa Business Advisory Pan Africa Investment Group Africa Commodity Trading
📍 Al Quoz (Trading & Import Warehouses)African Food Distribution Warehouse Afro Import Export LLC Afro Fresh Produce Trading African Spice Trading Ghana Yam Importers African Beverage Trading Afro Market Wholesale Nigerian Foodstuff Warehouse African Products Distribution Afro Global Trading
📍 Bur Dubai / Karama (Restaurants & Ethiopian Cuisine)Zagol Ethiopian Restaurant Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant Mechot Ethiopian Restaurant Bonna Annee Ethiopian Restaurant Addis Restaurant Ethiopian Coffee House Abyssinia Restaurant East Africa Kitchen Ethiopian Taste Restaurant Addis Cafe
📍 Other African-Linked Businesses in DubaiKIZA Restaurant & Lounge Enish Restaurant Tribes Restaurant Afro Baobab Events African Fashion House Dubai Afro Music Promotion African Art Gallery Dubai Afro Culture Events African Beauty Hub Afro Entertainment Dubai
📍 Additional African Trading BusinessesGolden Africa Trading Afro Food Supply African Commodities Trading Africa Global Trading Afro Fresh Market Trading Africa Import Hub Afro Logistics Dubai African Cargo Services Afro Export Trading Africa UAE Trading Hub
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