$4.7BN TRADE BOOM! Uganda, UAE Hunt Bigger Deals as Business Forum Heads to Gulf
By Evans Najuna
KAMPALA – Uganda and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to deepen their economic ties as the two countries prepare for the 5th Edition of the UAE–Uganda Business Forum, scheduled for October 26–29, 2026, in the United Arab Emirates.
Addressing the media on Tuesday at the Uganda Media Centre, Ambassador Zaake Kibedi said the high-level business forum will bring together senior government officials, business leaders, investors, financial institutions, chambers of commerce and other key stakeholders from Uganda and the UAE.
The forum will be hosted across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah, where Ugandan businesses will showcase the country’s investment and export potential while seeking buyers, investors and strategic partners in the UAE and wider Gulf markets.
According to the organisers, the forum comes at a time when Uganda-UAE economic relations are growing rapidly, with the UAE emerging as one of Uganda’s most important partners in trade, investment, tourism, infrastructure, logistics, agriculture and energy.
Uganda’s trade with the UAE surged to US$4.7 billion in 2025, up from US$2.7 billion in 2024 and just US$600 million in 2018.
The UAE has also emerged as a major destination for Ugandan products, creating opportunities for exporters seeking access to the lucrative Gulf market.
Investment flows have equally increased, with UAE foreign direct investment in Uganda rising from about US$300 million in 2018 to US$3.5 billion in 2025.
The growing relationship is also reflected in the Ugandan community in the UAE, which has expanded to more than 150,000 Ugandans in 2025, compared with approximately 50,000 in 2018.
Ambassador Kibedi said the 5th edition will seek to move beyond speeches and meetings by focusing on actual business transactions, investment commitments, partnerships and market-access opportunities.
Key sectors on the agenda include agriculture and agro-processing, trade and exports, mining and minerals, tourism, infrastructure, energy, logistics and air cargo, manufacturing, financial services and technology.
The forum will also promote Uganda as a competitive investment destination and connect Ugandan producers and exporters with UAE-based buyers, investors and strategic partners.
The organisers said the success of the forum will not simply be measured by the number of meetings held, but by the contracts signed, investments secured, exports generated, partnerships established and jobs created.
Ugandan businesses, exporters, investors, financial institutions, government agencies and other stakeholders have been urged to participate actively in the four-day engagement.
Uganda’s mission in the UAE continues to identify investment and trade opportunities, conduct market intelligence, facilitate business matchmaking and support Ugandan enterprises seeking to penetrate international markets.
The forum is expected to further strengthen economic and commercial diplomacy between the two countries while opening new opportunities for Ugandan businesses to tap into the UAE and wider Gulf markets.
Organisers said the growing Uganda-UAE relationship presents an opportunity to transform existing cooperation into greater trade, investment and shared prosperity.
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