Uganda–UAE Trade Surges to $2.85 bn as UAE Investments Hit $3.5 bn

Kampala, Uganda

Trade between Uganda and the United Arab Emirates has grown from approximately $600 million in 2018 to $2.85 billion, with UAE investments in Uganda reaching $3.5 billion.
This matters because it signals a deepening of Uganda’s global business linkages and opens new export markets, beyond the region. For Uganda, being able to attract major foreign direct investment (FDI) and diversify trading partners is key to scaling up its economy.
It also reflects how emerging markets like Uganda are integrating into broader global value chains and may benefit from investment flows, technology transfer and infrastructure.

What to Watch

What sectors the UAE investments are targeting (e.g., energy, agro-processing, logistics).

Whether this leads to export diversification (new products, new destinations).

How Uganda manages the investments: governance, transparency and impact on local businesses.

Whether other countries follow suit and Uganda broadens its global business partnerships further.