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DUBAI: Africa’s geopolitics took two steps outside traditional venues of order on 14 August. With its track record of speedy economic growth and scale foreign policy vision, the United Arab Emirates has cast an eye on Africa as part of a broader global mission to build influence. Its engagement in Africa is more than just economic—it involves creating political alliances, promoting development projects, and having a greater presence in critical sectors. Here is a breakdown of their increasing relevance in African geopolitics and the causalities that commit to their involvement.
Strategic UAE Interests in Africa
The UAE is after Africa for multiple reasons related to geopolitics and the economy. Africa offers a strategic opportunity for the UAE to diversify an economy heavily reliant on petrochemical exports, given its vast natural resources, youthful population, and underdeveloped markets. They are attempting to lock down natural resources such as oil, minerals, and agricultural products and are spending a lot on infrastructure-building in Africa, such as roads, ports and airports.
In addition, the Arab Emirates needs Africa for several vital aspects such as access to maritime trade. The Emirates regards the continent as significant for its role in shoring up shipping lanes in on both sides of the Indian Ocean and largely through alliances with East African nations such as Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
Capital from the UAE in Africa
This translates into an expanding economic presence for the UAE in Africa, aided by trade and investment partnerships. Over the past 10 years, the Arab Emirate’s investments on the continent have multiplied and are now broad-based in major sectors such as energy, agriculture, and infrastructure. Through the DP World, a UAE-based port operator that is one of the largest in the world, several African ports are also being run and tearing down strategic trade routes.
Meanwhile, Dubai’s Chamber of Commerce has moved in to boost trade with the continent introducing several representative offices across Africa and easing business ties. Meanwhile, Business Forums are also hosted by UAE – a platform for African leaders to partner with business executives from the Arab Emirates to explore economic opportunities on the continent.
Foto via The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy & Wegree Digital Magazine Diplomatic Engagement and Soft Power
It is not just about economic interests that the UAE was engaging with Africa. It is also busy with political diplomacy by actively building a coalition and applying its soft power in regional geopolitics. The Arab Emirates has over the years entered into various diplomatic and security agreements with African countries. The Arab Emirates deployed its diplomatic capital in countries like Sudan and Egypt to mediate conflicts, providing financial resources for political transitions and peace-building programs.
The UAE in Africa:Humanitarian Diplomacy, Development Partnership, and Cultural Exchange is a powerful demonstration of the Arab Emirate’s commitment to stand as a steadfast ally for the continent. Emirati assistance in terms of health care, education, and emergency relief across Africa through its humanitarian arm — the Emirates Red Crescent has helped to strengthen diplomatic ties and win hearts.
Security Cooperation(setq)
He stressed that security is the UAE’s priority in its relationships with Africa, particularly in areas where stability and terrorism are present. Prompting the headlines: The UAE has long nurtured a critical role in Africa as a security partner, offering military engagement and aid to help stem terrorism and piracy across regions like the Horn of Africa.
They already have played a major part in keeping the peace, as well as anti-piracy operations in the Horn of Africa, where it established a military base in Eritrea in 2018. The UAE’s commitment to African security strengthens its position geopolitically, as it also secures the investment potential of this region!
Challenges and Criticism
Whilst the UAE is increasingly influential, its presence in Africa has not been without controversy. Others fear that the Arab Emirate’s economic and military muscles could intensify political tensions and fuel conflict in countries already prone to warfare. In places such as the Horn of Africa, the UAE’s support for specific political factions or regimes has prompted allegations of interference in internal affairs.
To this end, while the Arab Emirates has excitedly marketed its development of infrastructure projects, questions linger as to whether these projects are merely white elephants and how they would impact local populations in the long term. Critics have also raised concerns over labor practices and human rights in the UAE’s African investments, particularly noting the exploitation of resources and labor.
The next phase of UAE-Africa relations
The UAE has shown great interest in Africa and the Abu Dhabi governmentlaunching a new web-based platform to encourage trade relations with African countries is expected to increase further shortly, as it is a win-win situation for both. Africa provides them with opportunities for investment and as a source of development support, while crown jewel Africa offers unrivaled market access and strategic resources. There will also be a further deepening of the UAE’s engagement in African security as it tries to restore peace and seriously defend itself Paths.
As the UAE increasingly asserts its presence in African geopolitics, it would have to tread with caution due to its dynamic political landscape. Balancing both, and ensuring it continues to work off the principle of respect of sovereignty and that its investments are sustainable will be an important step in solidifying the UAE as a trusted partner on the continent.
By deepening its involvement in Africa, the UAE inaugurates a renewed era of this geopolitical study in the continent. Leveraging strategic investments, diplomacy, and security cooperation, the UAE is formalizing its entry into African geopolitics. However, the challenges and criticisms of how it is doing so underscore the necessity that such engagement be noted, sustainable, and inclusive to ensure that Africa as much benefitsfrom this changing relationship—as the UAE.
