Adventure ToursIn a diplomatic breakthrough that signals strengthened bilateral ties, the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has accepted an invitation by Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to visit Nigeria later this year.
The invitation was extended during bilateral talks held on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2025, where President Tinubu was in attendance as a special guest of the UAE government.
President Tinubu arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday to participate in the high-level forum, which brings together global leaders to exchange ideas on advancing sustainable development, tackling climate change, and addressing pressing global challenges such as water and energy crises. The Nigerian leader delivered Nigeria’s position on climate policy and related global issues earlier on Wednesday.
During the bilateral meeting, both leaders expressed a renewed commitment to deepen economic cooperation, particularly in areas of investment, energy, and technology. President Mohamed bin Zayed thanked Tinubu for accepting his invitation and affirmed the UAE’s interest in expanding its strategic relationship with Nigeria.
President Tinubu, in turn, highlighted that Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms are already yielding positive outcomes, citing major investments announced by international oil companies and multinationals as a testament to growing investor confidence in Nigeria.
“Our reforms have stabilised the economy and restored investor confidence. We welcome the UAE’s partnership to help drive further growth,” Tinubu stated.
The two leaders explored investment opportunities in key sectors and emphasized the importance of fostering closer ties between the private sectors of both nations.
President Tinubu also expressed gratitude for the warm reception extended to him and his delegation during their stay in Abu Dhabi. He was accompanied by key members of his cabinet, including:
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Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs
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Wale Edun, Minister of Finance
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Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser
The UAE delegation included:
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Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
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Hamdan bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs
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Zayed bin Hamdan
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Reem bint Ebrahim, Minister of State for International Cooperation
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Sultan bin Ahmed, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology
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Salem Saeed, UAE Ambassador to Nigeria
The upcoming visit by President Mohamed bin Zayed to Nigeria is expected to mark a new chapter in UAE-Nigeria relations, especially following the recent lifting of the visa ban and resumption of Emirates flights between both countries.
