Nigeria-UAE Non-Oil Trade Set to Reach $5 Billion by 2025

Nigeria's non-oil trade with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expected to increase from $4.3 billion in 2024 to $5 billion in 2025, with a target of reaching $8 billion by 2027. During a visit, UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al Shamsi, announced plans for the UAE to open its first Abu Dhabi Bank branch in Lagos and for Etihad Airways to commence flight operations to Abuja.

Al Shamsi commended the growing partnership between the two nations and noted that 15,000 Nigerians traveled to the UAE in the past year, following eased visa restrictions. He reaffirmed the UAE's support for Nigeria's fight against terrorism, highlighting the issuance of statements condemning terrorist attacks in Nigeria.

Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, expressed satisfaction with the resolution of visa-related concerns and emphasized the commitment to creating an enabling environment for foreign direct investment, including from UAE-based sovereign wealth funds.