Nigeria has been positioned as a priority destination for large-scale United Arab Emirates investments, with prospects spanning agriculture, technology, infrastructure, mining and trade and running into several billions of dollars, as Gulf investors acknowledged that Africa’s largest economy remains significantly underweighted in their portfolios.
This message dominated the maiden Investopia Africa forum held in Lagos on Monday, where senior government officials, investors and private-sector leaders from Nigeria and the UAE examined a pipeline of opportunities that could attract capital ranging from tens of millions to several billions of dollars, depending on sector readiness, regulatory clarity and the availability of credible local partners.
Trade relations between both countries continue to strengthen. As of 2025, non-oil trade between Nigeria and the UAE reached about $4.3bn, highlighting the scale of existing engagement and the potential for expansion.
Speaking during a fireside chat with Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, the UAE Minister of Investment, Mohamed Alsuwaidi, outlined sectors attracting the strongest interest. Agriculture featured prominently, particularly investment in agricultural land and export-oriented production supported by global agribusiness companies. Such projects, he said, could attract investments running into hundreds of millions of dollars.
Infrastructure was described as another critical area, covering public transport, utilities, power, water systems and wastewater recycling. Investment volumes, he noted, would depend heavily on legislation and project structure, potentially ranging from tens of millions upward. Trade facilitation and connectivity—including logistics, warehousing and enabling infrastructure—were projected to attract capital running into several billions of dollars.
Technology was identified as a major growth frontier, with interest in smart metering, fibre-optic deployment, small and mid-scale data centres and cloud solutions. Alsuwaidi noted that data centres alone typically require capital outlays of at least $100m, placing the sector firmly in the multi-billion-dollar investment bracket. Mining was also highlighted as a sector with significant potential, particularly given its infrastructure requirements and Nigeria’s resource base.
Despite the scale of opportunity, Alsuwaidi cautioned that the pace at which commitments translate into actual investments would depend largely on access to information, familiarity with the Nigerian market and the ability to identify reliable partners on both the public and private sides.
He dismissed suggestions that trust was a major obstacle to deeper UAE–Nigeria investment ties, arguing instead that market understanding and partner identification were the real challenges. According to him, investors often struggle with how to approach the market and who to work with, rather than concerns about credibility.
Private-sector engagement was repeatedly emphasised as the most effective route to closing deals. Alsuwaidi described business-to-business interactions as more productive than purely government-led initiatives, noting that platforms like Investopia, which bring hundreds of stakeholders together, help catalyse relationships that eventually translate into significant capital flows.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Investopia, Dr Jean Fares, described the UAE as a global investment and trade hub capable of helping Nigerian producers, exporters and technology firms access markets across Asia, Europe and beyond. He cited the country’s strengths in air and sea connectivity, port infrastructure, digital systems, high-speed internet, landing cables, access to capital and data centres.
Fares also pointed to the credibility of the UAE’s financial services ecosystem, highlighting the regulatory frameworks, rule of law, investor protection and enforcement mechanisms established in centres such as the Dubai International Financial Centre and Abu Dhabi Global Market. He said the UAE has evolved beyond a regional hub into a global connector linking Africa with Asia and Europe.
While the UAE continues to attract global capital, Fares said there is increasing focus on deploying capital abroad, particularly in underrepresented markets such as Nigeria. He noted that both short- and long-term capital placements are being considered, provided suitable opportunities are identified.
Addressing journalists after the session, Oduwole said the Lagos forum was designed as a focused, half-day engagement bringing together key businesses, followed by business-to-business meetings and ongoing follow-ups. She noted that Nigeria would continue engagement through future Investopia sessions scheduled for Abu Dhabi and Milan, with Nigeria playing a leading role in Africa-focused discussions.
She said discussions had already identified solid minerals, critical rare earths, lithium and tin as areas where Nigeria is well positioned to absorb foreign capital. According to her, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and its agencies are committed to facilitating investments throughout the year.
Oduwole highlighted the role of sub-national governments, noting that Investopia Africa was hosted in Lagos but involved multiple states. She cited Lagos State’s participation on the infrastructure panel and referenced the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road as a flagship project, noting that a UAE bank was among the early financiers. She added that the corridor is expected to unlock significant real-estate and commercial value, drawing comparisons with coastal developments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
She stressed that the ministry works across all levels of government, supporting businesses nationwide through agencies such as SMEDAN and NEXIM, and facilitating exports, including nano-exports, through the UAE as a regional hub. She assured investors of government support in structuring and executing deals, committing to personally facilitate transactions on behalf of the federal government and the private sector.
On investment tracking, officials said Nigeria relies on measurable indicators, including public investment announcements, Central Bank of Nigeria capital inflow data, National Bureau of Statistics figures, job creation numbers and multiplier effects across the economy. Infrastructure projects were cited as clear examples of measurable impact, with the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road already generating livelihoods, informal economic activity and quantifiable economic spillovers.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, speaking on a panel themed Infrastructure and Logistics for Africa’s Next Phase of Trade, said the state has prioritised creating a secure, efficient and business-ready environment capable of absorbing large-scale investments. He highlighted recent rail projects, expanded waterways and a new commitment for about 30,000 kilometres of fibre-optic deployment across the state.
Sanwo-Olu also disclosed progress on the Lagos International Financial Centre, developed in collaboration with EnterpriseNGR. He said the project, expected to be unveiled after further development work, is designed to compete globally while reflecting African and Nigerian realities, drawing lessons from leading financial centres such as those in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and London.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Abubakar Dantsoho, acknowledged that Nigeria’s port infrastructure has not kept pace with its population and economic size. He said the Federal Government has approved major modernisation projects for Tin Can Island and Apapa ports, adding that these reforms are expected to reposition Nigerian seaports as the leading hubs in Africa.
The Investopia Africa forum concluded with a shared view that sustained engagement, credible partnerships, regulatory clarity and project readiness will determine how quickly stated investment ambitions materialise into tangible capital deployment between Nigeria and the UAE.