The UAE and Kenya recently signed seven bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding in key sectors. This came during a UAE top diplomat’s working visit to Nairobi.
President of the Republic of Kenya, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, recently received Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The two leaders discussed various aspects of bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation across all fields, especially economic, trade, investment, tourism and energy sectors, in a manner that supports developmental goals in both friendly nations.
Strengthening UAE-Kenya developmental cooperation
Sheikh Abdullah said that the UAE and Kenya share privileged historical relations that have grown and developed over the decades. He expressed his pride in visiting Kenya and meeting with President Dr. William Samoei Ruto.
“The visit reflects a commitment to establishing prosperous and evolving relations with Kenya and strengthening bridges of developmental cooperation with friendly African countries for the benefit of their peoples,” he said, thanking the Kenyan President for the warm welcome and generous hospitality. Sheikh Abdullah also commended Kenya’s developmental achievements across various fields.
Seven agreements signed
During the visit, Sheikh Abdullah and President Dr. William Samoei Ruto witnessed the signing of seven memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and cooperation agreements between the two countries, including:
MoU on transport cooperation: Signed by Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan and Davis Chirchir, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Roads and Transport.
Bilateral Framework Agreement on Economic Development: Signed by H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan and CPA John Mbadi, Cabinet Secretary, the National Treasury and Economic Planning.
Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters: Signed by Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan and Humphrey Wattanga, Commissioner General of the Kenya Revenue Authority.
UAE-Kenya Joint Business Council: MoU between the UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry to establish the UAE-Kenya Joint Business Council. It was signed by Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs, and Dr. Erick Ruto, Kenyan Chamber President.
MoU on energy cooperation: Signed by Dr. Salem Ibrahim Al Naqbi, UAE Ambassador to Kenya, and Alex Kamau Wachira, Principal Secretary for Energy and Petroleum.
MoU between Etihad Rail and Kenya Railways: Signed by Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, and Philip J. Mainga, Managing Director- Kenya Railways.
MoU on military cooperation: Signed by Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, and Roselinda Soipan Tuya, Cabinet Secretary, Kenyan Ministry of Defence.
Read: What does the “breakthrough” U.S.-U.K. trade deal include?
UAE-Kenya trade ties grow
Sheikh Abdullah’s latest visit to Kenya marks a further expansion in cooperation ties between the two nations. Earlier this year, the two countries signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a far-reaching and mutually beneficial agreement designed to deepen trade and investment ties, strengthen supply chains and enhance market access across the Middle East and Africa.
The agreement builds on growing cooperation between the UAE and Kenya, which saw bilateral non-oil trade reach $3.1 billion in the first nine months of 2024, an increase of 29.1 percent compared to the same period in 2023.
Kenya’s economy, one of the most promising in Africa, experienced real GDP growth of 5.6 percent in 2023, with estimates that it will average 5.2 percent between 2024 to 2026. Among others, its services sector, which accounts for 53.6 percent of Kenya’s GDP, and the agriculture sector, comprising around a quarter of the national GDP, offer vast potential for UAE businesses looking to expand into the region.
The CEPA also aims to accelerate investment flows in high-potential areas such as ICT, banking, tourism, infrastructure and renewable energy. Foreign trade remains the cornerstone of the UAE’s economic agenda and a central pillar of the nation’s efforts to double the size of its economy to over $800 billion by the end of the decade.
