South Africa has highlighted the United Arab Emirates’ growing influence as a trade and investment partner on the African continent, citing rapidly expanding commercial ties and increased collaboration within BRICS.
Speaking on the sidelines of a Dubai–South Africa Business Forum in Johannesburg, Lester Bouah, Chief Director for Investment Mobilisation at South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, said the relationship between the UAE and South Africa had entered a new phase.
According to the UAE’s state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM), non-oil trade between the UAE and South Africa reached $8.5bn in 2024, marking a 14 percent increase from the previous year and a 120 percent rise compared with 2019.
Trade in the first half of 2025 stood at $3.93bn, underscoring the continued momentum in bilateral economic relations. South Africa is now the UAE’s second-largest non-oil trading partner in Africa.
TV BRICS reported that Bouah added that economic relations between South Africa and the UAE had gained significant momentum in recent years, supported by growing engagement between government institutions, business leaders and investors. He noted that the strengthening partnership reflects a shared commitment to long-term economic cooperation and sustainable growth.
The strengthening relationship reflects broader shifts within the BRICS grouping, which expanded in 2024 to include the UAE. Since joining the group, the Gulf nation has sought to position itself as a bridge between emerging markets, leveraging its role as a global logistics and financial hub.
Analysts say the UAE’s extensive trade networks and investment capacity could help facilitate greater economic integration among BRICS members while opening new opportunities for African economies seeking capital and market access.
South Africa, meanwhile, continues to promote its role as a gateway to the continent’s markets, particularly under the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Business leaders have increasingly argued that stronger UAE-Africa partnerships could accelerate infrastructure development, boost investment flows and improve regional connectivity.
