By Stephen Simon
Bilateral trade between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rose by 66.7 per cent to about $5 billion in 2025, from approximately $3 billion in 2024, highlighting the expanding economic relationship between both countries.
The latest figure was disclosed during a meeting between the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Alshamsi, and Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, in Abuja. The meeting focused on strengthening trade, investment and broader economic cooperation between the two countries.
The growth comes as Nigeria and the UAE work towards formalising a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) designed to deepen trade and investment and provide businesses in both countries with improved access to each other’s markets.
Alshamsi said the UAE had already ratified the agreement and expressed optimism that Nigeria’s completion of its domestic ratification process would help unlock additional investment opportunities.
The proposed agreement is expected to broaden cooperation beyond conventional trade in goods, with manufacturing, services, energy and financial services identified as areas with significant potential for increased investment.
Nigeria is particularly interested in using the relationship to attract capital, technology and expertise as the Federal Government seeks to diversify the economy and reduce its dependence on crude oil revenues.
The Nigerian minister welcomed the increase in bilateral trade, describing the development as consistent with the country’s economic diplomacy objectives. He also called for the early convening of the Nigeria-UAE Joint Commission to address outstanding issues affecting bilateral economic relations.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria wanted the relationship to go beyond the exchange of goods to include investment, technology transfer and human-capital development.
He specifically identified artificial intelligence, digital technology and financial technology as areas where stronger cooperation with the UAE could provide opportunities for Nigeria, particularly for young Nigerians seeking to participate in the digital economy.
The two countries are also discussing improved aviation links. The UAE ambassador disclosed that consultations were continuing with Nigerian authorities over the proposed introduction of direct Emirates Airline flights to Abuja, a development that could strengthen business, tourism and people-to-people connections.
Improved air connectivity could also support the growing movement of investors and businesses between the two countries, while making it easier for Nigerian companies to access the UAE’s commercial and financial markets.
The trade growth is significant for Nigeria at a time when the government is seeking new sources of foreign investment and export earnings. The UAE, meanwhile, remains an important commercial and investment hub linking African markets with the Middle East and Asia.
The challenge for Nigeria will be to ensure that the expanding relationship produces more than higher import and export figures. Increased investment, local production, technology transfer and skills development would give the partnership greater long-term value to the Nigerian economy.
With bilateral trade now around $5 billion and negotiations on the CEPA continuing, both governments have an opportunity to turn the growing commercial relationship into a broader economic partnership.
The next test is whether Nigeria can convert the impressive growth in trade into sustained investment, technology transfer, jobs and stronger domestic production.
