Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade for the UAE, led an Emirati delegation of senior officials and business leaders to Senegal. During the visit, he met with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, and several ministers and senior officials, in the presence of Saeed Hamdan Al-Naqbi, the UAE's Ambassador to Senegal. Al-Zeyoudi conveyed the greetings of the UAE's leadership to the Senegalese President and Prime Minister, and wished the friendly nation and its people further prosperity, progress, and well-being. During a series of meetings, Al-Zeyoudi discussed with the Senegalese side ways to enhance cooperation and elevate it to new horizons. The discussions focused on exploring ways to boost trade and investment flows between the two countries in key sectors, including renewable energy, infrastructure, and food security. Al-Zeyoudi affirmed the UAE's commitment to strengthening developmental partnerships and supporting private sector cooperation with African countries, including Senegal and other fast-growing economies on the continent. During the visit, 13 memoranda of understanding were signed, covering various sectors such as energy, logistics, mining, industrial development, digital technologies, construction, and healthcare. The non-oil trade exchange between the UAE and Senegal reached $933 million during the first nine months of 2025, marking a 21.1% year-on-year growth. Through continuous partnerships and cooperative efforts, the UAE aims to support sustainable development initiatives that can accelerate mutually beneficial economic growth. With many opportunities still under exploration, this ongoing growth highlights the potential for enhancing economic and investment cooperation between the two countries. The UAE continues to fulfill its commitment to strengthening its relations with Africa, a continent rich in economic growth potential. In 2024, the UAE's non-oil trade with African countries amounted to $112 billion, a 34% increase compared to 2023. The UAE is the largest source of foreign direct investment on the continent, having invested over $110 billion across Africa between 2019 and 2024.
