Al Zeyoudi meets South African Business Council in the UAE as H1 2025 reaches $3.93bn and South Africa becomes the UAE’s No. 2 African partner.
Trade Momentum and Rankings
The UAE’s non-oil foreign trade with South Africa reached $8.5bn in 2024, a 14% increase versus 2023 and a 120% rise since 2019. That momentum continued into this year, with $3.93bn in non-oil bilateral trade recorded in H1 2025. South Africa is now the UAE’s second-largest non-oil trade partner in Africa, underscoring the strategic importance of the relationship for both markets.
Ministerial Engagement and Priorities
During a meeting with the South African Business Council in the UAE, Minister of Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi discussed ways to expand trade, investment and private-sector collaboration, highlighting the UAE’s broader push to strengthen economic partnerships across the continent.
“The UAE is committed to enhancing its economic partnership with South Africa. Today’s discussions were focused on encouraging new avenues for private sector collaboration that will benefit both our nations,” he said. “We are particularly excited about projects related to food security, logistics, infrastructure, tourism, and renewable energy in South Africa and across the continent. By working together, we continue to unlock new opportunities that not only drive economic growth but also contribute to the sustainable development of all our nations.”
The meeting also covered projects aligned with sustainable development goals, with an emphasis on job creation and long-term value.
Footprint and Sector Opportunities
More than 3,690 South African businesses operate in the UAE across sectors including construction, hospitality and financial services, while UAE companies are increasingly active in South Africa. Examples cited include DP World in logistics and AMEA Power in renewable energy. South Africa is Africa’s largest exporter and the continent’s highest nominal-GDP economy, pointing to the scale and depth of potential for deepening private-sector cooperation.
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