ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates / AfricaWire.IO / – Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, received Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to develop cooperation across various sectors. Talks focused in particular on economic, trade and development fields. They also reviewed developments in the region and international issues of mutual concern.
Sheikh Abdullah said the UAE and the United Republic of Tanzania share distinguished and growing relations. He highlighted both countries’ commitment to strengthening ties and expanding cooperation in a manner that serves their mutual interests. Closer cooperation would also support the development priorities of both nations, he said. Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, attended the meeting. The meeting came as both countries look to build on existing cooperation in trade, investment and logistics.
The meeting adds to an active diplomatic calendar for Sheikh Abdullah, who held talks with India’s foreign minister in Mumbai last month. The UAE has been expanding its partnerships across Africa, where its investment, logistics and trade links have grown. Tanzania, on the Indian Ocean coast of East Africa, is a key gateway for trade with several landlocked neighbors.
Port partnership anchors economic ties
Economic ties between the two countries include a major ports partnership. In 2023, Dubai-based DP World signed a 30-year agreement with the Tanzania Ports Authority to operate and modernize four berths at Dar es Salaam port. The port handles more than 90% of Tanzania’s international maritime trade. Tanzania’s parliament approved the deal that year amid public debate over its terms.
DP World began redeveloping the port this year, awarding a construction contract to Egypt-based EDECS Group. The company also plans to launch a weekly shipping service this month linking China with ports in Tanzania and Mozambique. The investments are designed to expand cargo handling at one of East Africa’s busiest ports and strengthen its links with Asian markets.
UAE trade with Africa expands
The UAE’s non-oil foreign trade reached a record 1.937 trillion dirhams in the first half of 2026, up 13.1% from a year earlier. Non-oil exports hit an unprecedented 452.8 billion dirhams over the same period. Comprehensive economic partnership agreements have been a key driver of that growth. Investor interest in East Africa is also rising, including among large African banks targeting Kenya.
Sheikh Abdullah and Kombo exchanged views on regional and international issues of shared concern during the talks. Kombo’s portfolio also covers Tanzania’s role in the East African Community, a regional bloc whose economies are growing by at least 5% a year. Dar es Salaam port serves several landlocked neighbors, including Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That makes Tanzania an important partner for Gulf investors in logistics and trade across East and Central Africa.