UAE president to visit Nigeria this year, seeks stronger ties

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) president, has expressed his country’s desire for a stronger economic ties with Nigeria, even as he has accepted an invitation to visit Nigeria this year.

Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesman, in a statement on Thursday, said the UAE president has accepted the invitation to visit Nigeria by President Bola Tinubu
The Nigerian leader during their bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2025.

The UAE leader thanked President Tinubu for accepting his earlier invitation to be part of the Sustainability Summit at Abu Dhabi, and expressed the UAE’s determination to strengthen economic cooperation between Nigeria and his country.

The two leaders also explored ways to attract investment into Nigeria. President Tinubu had, during the discussions, stated that his administration’s economic reforms are yielding fruits and called on the UAE to partner with Nigeria to develop the economy.

He said the reforms have stabilised and grown the economy, encouraging foreign investors, including international oil companies, to announce billion-dollar investments, signalling renewed confidence in doing business with Africa’s most populous nation.

Tinubu, who has been in Abu Dhabi since Sunday, went as a guest of the UAE president to participate in the Sustainability Week, a forum for exchanging ideas to support sustainable development worldwide and encourage collective action to address global challenges such as climate change, water and energy crises.

The Nigerian leader had delivered the country’s position on climate change and other challenges earlier on Wednesday and congratulated the UAE leader for the successful event.

President Tinubu commended Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the warm reception he and his aides received since their arrival over the weekend.

The president was accompanied to the meeting by Yusuf Tuggar, minister of Foreign Affairs; Wale Edun, minister of Finance; and Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA).

“Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; and H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan accompanied the UAE President”to the meeting with President Tinubu.