UAE’s Expanding Tourism Investments Reshape Africa’s Hospitality Landscape
Over the past four years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has rapidly established itself as a powerhouse investor across Africa, channeling more than USD 118 billion into a diverse array of sectors. While mining, energy, technology, and logistics have traditionally attracted the lion’s share of Emirati capital, a notable shift is underway: tourism is emerging as a strategic pillar of the UAE’s engagement with the continent. This evolution is being driven by both private enterprise and state-backed investment vehicles, signaling a new era for Africa’s hospitality and travel infrastructure.
As African governments intensify efforts to broaden and diversify their hospitality offerings, Emirati investors are stepping in with projects that blend commercial ambition with capacity-building objectives. From the Comoros to Morocco, and along the coastlines of Tanzania to the heritage sites of Egypt, the UAE is playing a pivotal role in reshaping tourism infrastructure in both established and emerging markets. This approach reflects a broader diplomatic and economic strategy, positioning tourism as a lever for economic diversification, job creation, and cross-regional connectivity.
Private sector players from the UAE are at the forefront of this transformation. In late October, Mayan Properties, a subsidiary of Resources Investment, inked a development agreement with Accor for five new hotel projects, including a 159-room Mövenpick in Moroni (Comoros) and a 170-room Novotel in Nouakchott (Mauritania). The company’s footprint already spans Chad, Guinea, Morocco, the Republic of Congo, and Somalia, highlighting a continental strategy that extends beyond hospitality into logistics, real estate, and public infrastructure.
Dubai-based Jumeirah Group made its African debut in 2024, partnering with Thanda to operate the exclusive Jumeirah Thanda Island in Tanzania’s Shungimbili Marine Reserve and a safari property in South Africa. These high-end coastal and wildlife destinations reflect a growing trend towards luxury private-island and safari experiences, with Emirati groups now joining established global players from Europe, the US, and Asia in Africa’s premium tourism segment.
On a larger scale, Wessal Capital—partly backed by Abu Dhabi’s Aabar Investments—has advanced major projects such as the Wessal Bouregreg development in Rabat-Salé, positioning Morocco as a gateway for both European and African tourism flows. These investments are not only enhancing infrastructure but also signaling to other international partners the continent’s growing appeal as a tourism destination.
State-backed funds are complementing private initiatives with significant capital deployments. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) recently launched the USD 120 million Sofitel Legend Pyramids Giza project, a 302-room luxury hotel managed by Accor, designed to reinforce Egypt’s tourism infrastructure near its iconic archaeological sites. ADFD’s majority stake in the project underscores the scale of its commitment to Egypt’s tourism-led development agenda. Similarly, Mubadala invested USD 360 million in the Swiss operator Aman Group, acquiring stakes in assets such as the Amanjena hotel in Marrakech and two Nobu-branded hotels under development in Egypt. These moves align with a broader Gulf strategy of acquiring or developing premium assets in markets where tourism is central to national growth models.
For emerging destinations like the Comoros and Mauritania, Emirati projects provide not only critical infrastructure but also a signaling effect that can attract further investment. In established hubs such as South Africa, Tanzania, and Morocco, these investments contribute to market consolidation and the diversification of hospitality offerings, raising the bar for service standards and guest experiences.
The partnership between the UAE and Africa is also becoming more institutionalized. The UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit, held in Dubai, brought together delegations from over 20 African countries and highlighted the UAE’s ambition to act as a long-term partner in the continent’s tourism development. During the summit, the UAE committed USD 6 billion to Africa’s travel and hospitality sector, targeting the creation of 70,000 jobs and emphasizing the importance of frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in boosting connectivity and investment flows.
Air connectivity is already mirroring this deepening relationship, with around 550 weekly flights linking the UAE to African destinations, facilitating both tourism and business travel. The summit also spotlighted opportunities in green tourism, resort development, and fintech solutions for travel services, aligning with global goals for sustainable industry and infrastructure.
As African economies continue to diversify, the growing influence of Emirati actors in tourism is set to shape new forms of partnership and opportunity. The challenge ahead will be to balance commercial ambition with long-term development needs, ensuring that the benefits of this emerging landscape are shared widely across the continent.
