Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the summit will gather more than 350 participants, including ministers, government officials, investors, tourism leaders and entrepreneurs from the UAE and 53 African countries.
Focus on tourism investment and development
The summit will emphasise mutual investment opportunities in priority tourism sectors, including:
- Infrastructure development
- Hospitality and accommodation projects
- Tourism financing solutions
- Sustainable and innovative tourism initiatives
- Digital transformation and travel technology
The forum will highlight the UAE’s role as an investment partner in Africa’s tourism growth, supporting regional development aligned with sustainability and economic diversification.
Six panel discussions
The programme includes six panel discussions covering key industry topics such as:
- Public–private investment partnerships
- Infrastructure expansion and destination development
- Access to global financing in hospitality
- Enhancing air and transport connectivity across Africa
- Tourism as a driver of economic and social development
- The role of digital solutions and fintech in travel growth
Sessions will also examine logistics improvements to facilitate intra-African travel and localisation of innovation to strengthen destination competitiveness.
Ministerial roundtable
A high-level ministerial roundtable will take place alongside the summit, chaired by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism. More than 20 African ministers are expected to participate, sharing policy priorities and cooperation frameworks to advance tourism investment and sustainable growth.
Africa is now among the fastest-growing tourism regions globally, with its hospitality sector expanding by over 13% annually and attracting more than 74 million international visitors. The summit aims to unlock new joint ventures between the UAE and African markets, particularly in aviation, hospitality, ecotourism, transport, and tourism infrastructure.
Tags Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025
