KAMPALA – Uganda is set to host the fourth edition of the Uganda-United Arab Emirates Business Forum from October 27 to 29 at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, officials announced on Monday.
The event aims to further strengthen the robust economic ties between the two nations, which have seen bilateral trade reach $2.85 billion as of September 2025, making the UAE Uganda’s leading global export destination.
Ahead of the forum, Uganda’s Ambassador to the UAE, Amb. Zaake Kibedi, addressed the press at the Uganda Media Centre, outlining the strategic significance of the partnership.
“Our goal is clear — to create an enabling environment that attracts more investors and builds sustainable prosperity,” Amb. Kibedi stated. He emphasized that the Uganda-UAE partnership is a “strategic alliance delivering real value in jobs, innovation, and trade.”
The forum will feature a packed agenda designed to showcase Uganda’s investment potential. Activities include business-to-business (B2B) and government-to-government (G2G) sessions, high-level panel discussions, and field visits. Key sectors in focus are agriculture, energy, tourism, real estate, innovation, and manufacturing.
The economic relationship has been supercharged by a dramatic surge in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Ambassador Kibedi revealed that UAE investments in Uganda have grown exponentially from $300 million in 2018 to $3.5 billion in 2024.
This deepening economic integration has been supported by enhanced connectivity, with six daily flights now operating between Entebbe and Dubai, facilitating the movement of people, goods, and ideas.
High-level diplomatic engagements have further cemented the relationship. President Yoweri Museveni’s visit to the UAE in January 2025 was reciprocated by UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s trip to Uganda in May. These visits culminated in the signing of six key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering investment protection, energy, digital transformation, and capacity building.
The upcoming forum is expected to build on this momentum, offering a platform to unlock new investment opportunities and solidify a decade of robust partnership between the two nations.
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