STATISTICS OF AFRICAN BUSINESS IN UAE
The United Arab Emirates has become an increasingly important hub for African entrepreneurs and enterprises, offering strategic access to global markets, world-class infrastructure, and a business-friendly environment.
📌 Number of African Businesses
The UAE is home to more than 21,000 African companies operating across key sectors, reflecting strong diaspora entrepreneurship and investment activity.
In Dubai alone, African member companies registered with the Dubai Chamber reached over 26,400 by 2022, with continued growth in subsequent years, indicating expanding African business participation.
Specific national representation shows strong participation, with over 3,600 South African businesses operating in the UAE by 2025, particularly in construction, hospitality, finance, and services.
💼 Economic and Trade Value
The UAE is a major strategic partner for African trade and investment, with non-oil trade with African markets rising more than 700% over the past two decades.
In 2024, the UAE’s bilateral trade with African partners reached approximately USD 107 billion, marking a notable 28% increase from the previous year.
Between 2020 and 2024, total UAE investment into Africa exceeded USD 118 billion, underscoring strong capital flows and economic integration.
The UAE is recognized as the fourth-largest global investor in Africa, with cumulative investments across sectors such as energy, logistics, and infrastructure.
📈 Trend and Market Context
These figures reflect:
A rapidly growing African business footprint in the UAE
Expanding trade and investment linkages between the UAE and African economies
A diverse presence of African enterprises in sectors from services and hospitality to logistics and finance
Together, these statistics demonstrate that African-led business activity in the UAE is not only large in scale but also deeply connected to transformative trade and investment flows between Africa and the Gulf.