Non-Oil Trade between UAE & South Africa Hits $3.93 Billion in Early 2025

Prime Highlights

The UAE and South Africa recorded $3.93 billion in non-oil trade in early 2025, reflecting growing business and investment cooperation between the two nations.
Both countries are exploring expanded collaboration in sectors like logistics, renewable energy, agriculture, and manufacturingto further deepen economic relations.

Key Facts

Non-oil trade between the UAE and South Africa reached $8.5 billion in 2024, up 14% from 2023and 120% since 2019.
The UAE has signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs)with five sub-Saharan countries.

Background

The UAE and South Africa recorded $3.93 billion in non-oil trade in early 2025, growing economic partnership. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, and Mpho Parks Tau, South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, shared these figures during a high-level meeting.

Dr. Al Zeyoudi highlighted the fast growth in trade between the UAE and South Africa. He said non-oil trade reached $8.5 billion in 2024, up 14% from 2023 and 120% from 2019. South Africa is now the UAE’s second-largest trading partner in Africa, making up 7.6% of its total non-oil trade with the continent, and ranks 22nd in the world.

Both ministers discussed ways to expand cooperation in trade, investment, and private-sector partnerships, with a focus on key sectors such as logistics, renewable energy, real estate, agriculture, food production, and manufacturing.

“South Africa is a vital partner for the UAE in Africa,” Dr. Al Zeyoudi said. “Our discussions today reflect the strong ties we share in trade and investment. By working together, we can build on this momentum and support each other’s development goals.”

The meeting followed an earlier UAE–South Africa business roundtable, attended by senior officials and private-sector representatives from both sides, reaffirming their commitment to deepening economic relations.

The UAE is expanding its trade in Africa. It has signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) with five sub-Saharan countries, Angola, Mauritius, Kenya, Congo-Brazzaville, and the Central African Republic, to boost sustainable growth and investment across the continent.”