Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates, UAE, have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with a focus on trade, investment, technology and people-to-people exchanges.
The meeting took place on Wednesday, 19 August 2026 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, between the Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Salem Saeed Alshamsi.
Ambassador Alshamsi highlighted the significant growth in bilateral trade, which rose from approximately US$3 billion to US$4.3 billion in 2024 and about US$5 billion in 2025.
He expressed optimism that stronger political relations would continue to drive increased trade and investment between both countries.
He also congratulated Ambassador Enikanolaiye on his appointment and reaffirmed the UAE Embassy’s readiness to work closely with the Ministry to advance shared interests.
Discussions, according to a statement by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, focused on the UAE-Nigeria Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, CEPA.
The UAE Ambassador noted that the agreement had been ratified by the UAE and expressed hope for its early completion on the Nigerian side to further expand trade and investment.
Both sides also discussed the proposed commencement of Emirates Airline operations in Abuja and ongoing consultations with Nigerian authorities to strengthen aviation connectivity.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye welcomed the growth in non-oil trade and investment, noting that stronger economic relations align with Nigeria’s economic diplomacy priorities of diversifying export markets and promoting manufacturing, services, technology and fintech.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to concluding processes for CEPA implementation and called for the early convening of the Nigeria-UAE Joint Commission to address outstanding issues and identify new areas of cooperation.
Both countries also recognised growing potential for cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital technology and other emerging technologies.
Nigeria expressed interest in knowledge transfer, skills development and capacity building for young Nigerians, and welcomed increased UAE investment in priority sectors including infrastructure, technology, energy and financial services.
The meeting underscored the importance of people-to-people relations.
Both sides welcomed progress in resolving previous visa-related challenges, which they said would facilitate increased movement for business, investment, tourism and other purposes.
The Minister of State reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working closely with the UAE to consolidate bilateral relations.
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.