From Trade to Geopolitics: The Transformation of the UAE’s Role in Sub-Saharan Africa

In the late 2010s to early 2020s, the presence of so-called “middle powers†in Africa, including Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), significantly expanded. Countries such as Turkey, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and others, which act as regional “centers of power,†have leveraged competition among major global states (China, India, the U.S., France, etc.) to advance their interests. These middle powers increasingly influence the political and economic development of African nations by participating in peacekeeping missions and peace negotiations, supporting allied regimes, intervening in conflicts (including through arms supplies to conflicting parties), and boosting investments in key sectors of African economies while expanding development assistance. The UAE has emerged as one of the largest geopolitical players in Africa, actively pursuing multidimensional cooperation with countries across the continent. Geographic proximity, religious ties with many African states and peoples, substantial investments, and development assistance have positioned the Emirates as one of the most desirable partners for African nations, including SSA states. This status is further reinforced by the UAE’s accession to BRICS in 2024. While acknowledging the positive effects of UAE-Africa economic cooperation, the authors also highlight the negative consequences of the Emirates’ interference in the internal affairs of African countries.