Uganda and the United Arab Emirates are set to deepen their economic ties as the 5th Edition of the UAE–Uganda Business Forum takes place from October 26 to 29, 2026, with organisers seeking to turn growing bilateral trade into concrete investments, export deals and jobs.
Uganda’s Ambassador to the UAE, Zaake Kibedi, said the forum will bring together senior government officials, business leaders, investors, financial institutions, chambers of commerce and other stakeholders from the two countries.
The four-day forum will be hosted across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah, giving Ugandan businesses an opportunity to showcase their products and investment opportunities while connecting with UAE-based investors, buyers and strategic partners.
“The success of this Forum will ultimately be measured not only by the number of meetings held, but by the contracts signed, investments secured, exports generated, partnerships established and jobs created,” Ambassador Kibedi said.
The forum comes amid a sharp expansion in Uganda-UAE economic relations. According to Kibedi, bilateral trade reached 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, becoming Uganda’s leading export market from October 2025, according to the ambassador.
Investment flows have grown alongside trade. Foreign direct investment from the UAE into Uganda increased from about US$300 million in 2018 to US$3.5 billion in 2025, highlighting the growing importance of the Gulf state as a source of capital for Uganda.
The two countries have also developed strong people-to-people links, with more than 150,000 Ugandans living in the UAE in 2025, compared with about 50,000 in 2018.
Kibedi said the forum will focus on agriculture and agro-processing, trade and exports, investment, mining and minerals, tourism, infrastructure, energy, logistics and air cargo, manufacturing, financial services and technology.
The mission also intends to use the forum to strengthen economic diplomacy by providing market intelligence, facilitating business matchmaking and supporting Ugandan companies seeking access to the UAE and wider Gulf markets.
“We intend to use the Forum to move beyond dialogue and generate concrete business transactions, investment commitments, partnerships and market-access opportunities,” Kibedi said.
The ambassador urged Ugandan businesses, exporters, investors, financial institutions and government agencies to participate actively, arguing that the UAE offers significant opportunities for Ugandan producers seeking international markets.
The forum is expected to provide a platform for Ugandan companies to identify buyers, secure investment partnerships and expand their presence in the Gulf, while allowing UAE investors to explore opportunities in Uganda’s productive sectors.
Kibedi said the growing relationship between the two countries provides a foundation for deeper commercial cooperation.
“The UAE–Uganda relationship is built on strong and growing ties,” he said, adding that the fifth edition of the forum should elevate the relationship from cooperation to greater trade, investment and shared prosperity.
