Angola and the United Arab Emirates have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding economic cooperation through tourism, with both countries seeking to attract greater private investment and accelerate the development of tourism infrastructure in the southern African nation.
The commitment was reinforced during a high-level meeting in Dubai on 1 July between Angola’s Minister of Tourism, Márcio Daniel, and the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Economy and Tourism, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri. According to a press release, the talks focused on mobilising private investment, developing tourism infrastructure and strengthening tourism as a driver of sustainable economic growth.
The meeting forms part of broader efforts by Angola and the UAE to deepen their strategic partnership while expanding economic ties. Tourism was identified as a priority sector, with both governments aiming to increase investment that could support Angola’s ambitions to become a more prominent destination for regional and international travellers.
According to the press release, the ministers reaffirmed a shared commitment to accelerating private investment and developing strategic tourism infrastructure. Particular emphasis was placed on positioning Angola as “an emerging tourism destination of regional and international significance.”
The discussions also examined practical opportunities for cooperation, including the identification of innovative financing mechanisms intended to facilitate Arab foreign direct investment in Angola. The objective is to advance high-impact tourism projects that can contribute to the country’s long-term economic development.
The meeting also highlighted cooperation under the UN Tourism Investment and Tourism Pass (UNT-Pass) initiative, of which Angola and the United Arab Emirates are founding countries. The initiative aims to promote innovative solutions that facilitate tourism investment while strengthening the global competitiveness of the sector.
As part of the partnership, both countries agreed on the importance of maintaining close institutional dialogue to help turn investment plans into concrete projects. According to the press release, this includes organising business missions, identifying priority investment opportunities and establishing a joint follow-up mechanism to oversee the implementation of agreed initiatives.
The renewed cooperation comes as Angola continues efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil by expanding sectors such as tourism. The country has increasingly sought to leverage its natural landscapes, Atlantic coastline, wildlife, national parks and cultural heritage to attract international visitors, while introducing measures intended to improve accessibility and encourage investment in tourism infrastructure.
Strengthening ties with the United Arab Emirates could provide additional momentum for those ambitions by opening new channels for private capital and increasing engagement with investors from the Gulf region. The UAE has become an increasingly important international investor across Africa, with tourism, transport and infrastructure among the sectors receiving growing attention.
While the latest meeting did not announce specific investment projects or financial commitments, it established a framework for continued collaboration between the two governments. By focusing on investment facilitation, infrastructure development and institutional cooperation, Angola and the United Arab Emirates are seeking to create conditions that support the expansion of Angola’s tourism sector and contribute to broader economic growth.
