Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have pledged to strengthen their economic partnership, reaffirming a shared commitment to expanding trade and investment ties as the two countries seek to unlock new opportunities for growth and development.
The commitment emerged during talks between Finance Minister Khamis Mussa Omar and the UAE Ambassador to Tanzania, Khalifa Abdulrahman Al Marzouqi, held at the Ministry of Finance offices in Dar es Salaam.
The meeting underscored the growing importance of Tanzania-UAE relations, which have gained momentum in recent years through increased investment, trade and cooperation in strategic sectors.
Speaking during the discussions, Mr Omar commended the UAE for its continued support of Tanzania’s development efforts through investments and partnerships across key sectors of the economy.
He said the government remains committed to creating an enabling environment for investors and deepening cooperation in areas that can accelerate economic transformation, including infrastructure, energy, technology, trade and industrial development.
“The partnership between Tanzania and the UAE continues to play an important role in supporting the country’s development agenda. Strengthening cooperation in strategic sectors will help attract more investment, create jobs and stimulate economic growth,” he said.
The UAE has emerged as one of Tanzania’s key economic partners, with investors from the Gulf nation increasingly participating in major projects across transport, logistics, tourism, real estate, energy and port infrastructure.
For his part, Ambassador Al Marzouqi expressed satisfaction with the strong relations between the two countries, noting that Tanzania remains an attractive destination for foreign investment due to its stable political environment, strategic location and abundant investment opportunities.
He pledged to continue encouraging UAE investors to explore opportunities in Tanzania’s priority sectors, saying stronger business links would deliver mutual benefits for both nations.
“We are committed to promoting investment opportunities available in Tanzania and strengthening economic cooperation between our two countries,” he said.
The discussions come at a time when Tanzania is intensifying efforts to attract foreign direct investment as part of broader strategies aimed at accelerating industrialisation, expanding exports and creating employment opportunities.
Analysts say closer ties with the UAE could help Tanzania attract additional capital, technology and expertise needed to support large-scale development projects and enhance the country’s competitiveness in regional and global markets.
The meeting was also attended by Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary and Commissioner for External Finance at the Ministry of Finance, Rished Bade, economist Jabir Selemani, finance management officer Lawrence Gwape, and Shamim Khalfan from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation.
