Addis Ababa, June 26, 2026 (FMC) — The 2026 Hili UAE–Africa Dialogue concluded in Addis Ababa today with participants underscoring the importance of deepening strategic partnerships, innovation, and practical cooperation to advance shared prosperity and sustainable development between the United Arab Emirates and African countries.
The two-day forum brought together senior government officials, diplomats, policymakers, researchers, business leaders, and strategic partners to explore new avenues for strengthening cooperation across a wide range of sectors.
Discussions focused on trade and investment, agriculture, renewable energy, critical minerals, infrastructure, connectivity, disruptive technologies, and youth empowerment, with participants highlighting the need to translate shared opportunities into tangible development outcomes.
The Hili UAE–Africa Dialogue serves as a strategic geopolitical and economic platform aimed at strengthening partnerships between the United Arab Emirates and the African continent by fostering policy dialogue, knowledge exchange, and business engagement.
On the sidelines of the forum, Ethiopia’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) and the UAE’s Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen institutional collaboration.
Speaking at the opening session of the dialogue, IFA Executive Director Jafar Bedru described the agreement as the beginning of a long-term partnership rather than a symbolic commitment.
He said the MoU establishes a framework for cooperation in research, policy dialogue, capacity building, joint publications, and the exchange of experts and researchers, reinforcing the two institutions’ shared commitment to advancing knowledge and strengthening Ethiopia–UAE cooperation.
Jafar further emphasized that sustained dialogue, collaborative research, and knowledge sharing are essential to building enduring institutional partnerships and promoting long-term Africa–UAE cooperation.
Also speaking at the forum, Chargé d’Affaires of the UAE Embassy in Ethiopia, Rashed Abdulla Al Shehhi, said the objective of the partnership is “not only to support growth, but to build opportunity.”
He highlighted the growing Ethiopia–UAE partnership across trade, agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, renewable energy, and digital transformation, stressing the importance of translating shared opportunities into concrete results through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable development.
The dialogue is designed to connect policymakers, diplomats, researchers, thought leaders, and business executives to identify shared priorities and strengthen cooperation between Africa and the UAE.