By Ahmed Ahmed
Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are moving to deepen their economic relationship as bilateral trade between both countries reached about US$5 billion in 2025.
The latest engagement reflects a broader effort by both countries to strengthen trade and investment, improve connectivity and expand cooperation in emerging technologies.
The development followed a meeting in Abuja between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Alshamsi.
According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the discussions covered bilateral trade, investment, economic cooperation, connectivity, emerging technologies and people-to-people relations.
The growth in trade has been significant.
According to the UAE side, bilateral trade rose from approximately US$3 billion to US$4.3 billion in 2024 before reaching about US$5 billion in 2025.
The figures point to a steadily expanding commercial relationship between two economies with strong potential for deeper cooperation.
Alshamsi reaffirmed the readiness of the UAE Embassy to work closely with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to advance shared interests. He expressed optimism that stronger political relations would create further opportunities for trade and investment.
A major issue discussed was the UAE-Nigeria Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
The UAE Ambassador said his country had ratified the agreement and expressed hope that Nigeria would complete its own processes to enable implementation.
For Nigeria, CEPA could provide another platform for expanding market access, attracting investment and strengthening commercial links with one of the Middle East’s major trading and investment centres.
Enikanolaiye reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to concluding the necessary processes for implementation.
He also called for the early convening of the Nigeria-UAE Joint Commission, which he said would provide an opportunity to address outstanding issues and identify new areas of cooperation.
The Nigerian government sees stronger economic relations with the UAE as consistent with its economic diplomacy priorities.
The Minister of State welcomed the growth in non-oil trade and investment and highlighted the importance of diversifying Nigeria’s export markets while promoting manufacturing, services, technology and financial technology.
That focus is particularly relevant as Nigeria seeks to reduce excessive dependence on crude oil earnings and expand sectors capable of generating jobs, foreign exchange and domestic value.
Investment from the UAE could play a role in that transition.
Both sides identified infrastructure, technology, energy and financial services as areas with significant potential for increased investment. The discussions also recognised the growing opportunities presented by artificial intelligence, digital technology and other emerging technologies.
Nigeria expressed particular interest in knowledge transfer, skills development and capacity building for young Nigerians.
The emphasis on skills is important because investment in technology creates its greatest domestic value when local businesses and workers can participate in the emerging value chains.
Rather than focusing solely on capital inflows, cooperation in artificial intelligence and digital technology could give Nigerian entrepreneurs and professionals access to expertise, networks and new markets.
A stronger relationship could also benefit Nigeria’s aviation and tourism sectors.
The UAE side highlighted the proposed commencement of Emirates Airline operations in Abuja and ongoing consultations with Nigerian authorities to strengthen aviation connectivity.
Improved air links would make movement between both countries easier for investors, businesses, tourists and other travellers. It could also support trade by reducing the practical barriers associated with doing business across borders.
People-to-people relations formed another part of the discussions.
Both countries welcomed progress in resolving previous visa-related challenges, which had affected movement between Nigeria and the UAE. Easier travel could support business engagement, tourism, investment and other forms of interaction.
The latest discussions therefore go beyond trade statistics.
The rise from about US$3 billion in bilateral trade to US$5 billion in 2025 demonstrates that the relationship already has a substantial commercial base. The challenge is to turn that growth into a deeper and more diversified economic partnership.
For Nigeria, the opportunity lies in attracting investment that expands domestic production, strengthens infrastructure, develops human capital and opens new export markets.
For the UAE, Nigeria offers access to one of Africa’s largest consumer markets and a growing digital and services economy.
The proposed CEPA, stronger aviation links, technology cooperation and renewed institutional engagement could provide the framework for the next phase of the relationship.
Both sides have expressed confidence that sustained political engagement and closer economic cooperation will produce greater benefits for their citizens.
The direction is clear. Nigeria and the UAE are seeking to move beyond a relationship measured largely by trade volumes towards one built around investment, technology, connectivity and shared economic opportunity.
