Although details remain scant, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is planning to invest in the transport sector of Angolan’s northern province of Cabinda.
The Emirati’s Minister of State, Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, made the announcement during a short visit to the enclave that is separated by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from mainland Angola.
Accompanied by the Angolan Minister of Transport, Ricardo D’Abreu, he held a meeting with the Governor of Cabinda, Mara Quiosa, where local transport issues and the reinforcement of bilateral co-operation were discussed.
The Al Nahyan visited the construction site of the Deep Water Port Terminal at the Port of Cabinda, where he was told that the work had already reached around 39% and 50% of physical and financial completion, respectively.
The first phase of this undertaking is scheduled for mid-2025.
He also visited a sawmill exporting wood from Cabinda.
The UAE has emerged as a significant investor in Angola's logistics sector.
In 2021, the UAE invested $5.6 billion in 71 projects in Africa, of which its logistical involvement in Cabinda forms a large part.
One notable partnership is between the Angolan government and Abu Dhabi Ports, aiming to boost trade and investment between the two nations and promote economic growth in the region, especially through logistics.
The UAE’s investments are expected to contribute to the development of Angola's logistics infrastructure and the enhancement of trade connectivity.
The Port of Cabinda is Angola’s northernmost port and is widely regarded as more accessible than the DRC’s Port of Matadi, its only sea access, which is deeply recessed into the interior from the coast.
