The opening of the embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the Republic of Ethiopia in July 2010 had the greatest impact on the development and strengthening of economic relations between the two countries, as the fields of trade and investment witnessed steady growth from through years.
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry opened its international representative office in Addis Ababa in May 2013, to serve as a gateway for the United Arab Emirates to the African continent.
When the embassy of the United Arab Emirates was opened in Addis Ababa in July 2010, the total trade exchange between the two countries was 551,856,148 dollars, while the total trade exchange between the two countries in 2018 was 759,781,572 dollars.
Likewise, the number of licensed UAE investment projects in Ethiopia in 2010 were only 30, rising to 113 in 2019, 50 of them are operating, while 53 projects are under different stages of preparation.
During the year 2019 alone, the embassy carried out many activities to promote investment and enhance economic relations between the two countries, including:
- UAE-Ethiopian economic forum chaired by the Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Economy His Excellency Abdullah Al Saleh and his accompanying delegation.
- An economic forum to promote economic relations between the country and Africa in general, and Ethiopia in particular.
And to reflect the role of UAE women in the world of finance and business.
- The economic section at the embassy works closely with the UAE investors in Ethiopia to provide them with the necessary support. That includes introducing them to the investment policy, laws, investment rules and regulations in Ethiopia. Also
providing them with information and advice, priority investment opportunities, and assisting them in establishing and managing projects.
- In January 2019, the embassy, in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and the regional office of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Addis Ababa, established a business advisory committee aimed at providing the necessary support to UAE investors in Ethiopia, and helping them to solve the problems facing them, with relevant government agencies at different levels, including the Ethiopian Investment Agency.
