Nigeria-UAE non-oil trade hits $5bn

Nigeria's non-oil trade with the United Arab Emirates has seen significant growth, reaching $5 billion in 2025 from $4.3 billion the previous year. This expansion underscores the deepening economic and diplomatic ties between the two nations.

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non-oil trade increased from $4.3 billion in 2024 to $5 billion in 2025 and could reach about $8 billion by 2027.

Further strengthening these relations, the UAE announced plans to establish the First Abu Dhabi Bank in Lagos and launch Etihad Airways flights to Abuja within the current year. The UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, highlighted the robust and dynamic economic partnership, projecting that non-oil trade could reach approximately $8 billion by 2027.

Ambassador Al-Shamsi also noted the easing of visa restrictions for Nigerians, reporting that over 15,000 Nigerians visited the UAE in the last year following these changes. He reaffirmed the UAE's support for Nigeria's counter-terrorism efforts, citing at least eight statements condemning terrorist attacks in Nigeria.

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I am happy to say that a lot of the issues raised when I was Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, have been resolved in less than a year, especially regarding visas.

Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, expressed satisfaction with the resolution of visa-related concerns and acknowledged the growth in non-oil trade. She reiterated Nigeria's commitment to fostering an enabling environment for foreign direct investment, including from UAE sovereign wealth funds and private sector entities.

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In addition, you have been able to move the non-oil trade volume between both countries from $4.3billion in 2024 to over $5billion in 2025. This shows your commitment and unrelenting effort in deepening our bilateral relations.