By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations, with both countries pledging to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, technology and aviation connectivity.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday, 20 August, 2026, by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, received in audience the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Alshamsi, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, for discussions centred on strengthening the longstanding and mutually beneficial relations between the two countries.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed developments in bilateral trade and investment, economic cooperation, connectivity, emerging technologies and people-to-people relations.
The UAE envoy congratulated the minister on his appointment and reaffirmed the embassy’s readiness to work closely with the ministry in advancing shared interests.
Alshamsi highlighted the significant growth in bilateral trade between both countries, which he said rose from approximately $3bn to $4.3bn in 2024, and about $5bn in 2025, and expressed optimism that stronger political relations would continue to support increased trade and investment.
Discussions also focused on the UAE-Nigeria Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with the ambassador noting that the agreement had been ratified by the UAE. He expressed hope that its completion on the Nigerian side would further expand bilateral trade and investment between both nations.
The envoy also highlighted the proposed commencement of Emirates Airline operations in Abuja, disclosing that consultations were ongoing with relevant Nigerian authorities towards strengthening aviation connectivity between both countries.
In his response, the minister of state expressed appreciation for the UAE’s continued commitment to Nigeria and welcomed the growth recorded in non-oil trade and investment.
He noted that stronger economic relations were consistent with Nigeria’s economic diplomacy priorities, particularly the diversification of export markets and the promotion of manufacturing, services, technology and fintech.
Enikanolaiye reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to concluding the necessary processes for the implementation of CEPA and called for the early convening of the Nigeria-UAE Joint Commission to address outstanding issues and identify new areas of cooperation.
Both sides further recognised the growing potential for cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital technology and other emerging technologies.
The Nigerian side expressed interest in knowledge transfer, skills development and capacity building, particularly for young Nigerians, while welcoming increased UAE investment in Nigeria’s priority sectors, including infrastructure, technology, energy and financial services.
The meeting further underscored the importance of people-to-people relations, with both parties welcoming progress recorded in resolving previous visa-related challenges, which they said would facilitate increased movement between both countries for business, investment, tourism and other purposes.
The Minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working closely with the UAE to consolidate bilateral relations, as both sides expressed confidence that sustained political engagement, stronger economic cooperation and closer institutional collaboration would translate the cordial Nigeria-UAE relationship into greater benefits for the peoples of both countries.
