Nigeria-UAE Non-Oil Trade Reaches $5bn as First A bu Dhabi Bank Set for Lagos, Etihad to Launch Abuja Flights

Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to deepen their economic partnership as the First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) prepares to establish operations in Lagos, while Etihad Airways is expected to commence flights to Abuja later this year.
The UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, disclosed this during a visit to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in Abuja.
Ambassador Al-Shamsi said non-oil trade between both countries increased from $4.3 billion in 2024 to $5 billion in 2025 and could rise to about $8 billion by 2027. He noted that economic ties have remained strong, driven by trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges.
The envoy also revealed that visa restrictions for Nigerians have been significantly relaxed, adding that visa applications from Nigerian citizens are no longer being rejected. According to him, more than 15,000 Nigerians travelled to the UAE in the past year following the easing of restrictions.
Speaking during the meeting, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said both countries are working towards implementing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which she described as a major step towards strengthening economic cooperation and creating opportunities for businesses, professionals, and workers in both nations.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the progress made in resolving visa-related concerns and commended the growth in non-oil trade, describing it as evidence of the commitment of both countries to enhancing bilateral relations.
She reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for foreign direct investment, including investments from UAE-based sovereign wealth funds and private sector organisations.
The UAE ambassador also reaffirmed his country’s support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, noting that the UAE has consistently condemned terrorist attacks in Nigeria through several official statements.
The visit also provided an opportunity for Al-Shamsi to present a congratulatory letter from the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s appointment as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that the UAE Deputy Prime Minister was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate her on her appointment and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with the UAE.