ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in Abu Dhabi on September 29. The discussions centered on trade, investment, renewable energy, and infrastructure collaboration. The leaders also examined ongoing negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Zambia. Hichilema’s visit came weeks after he began his second term as president. The meeting marked a continuation of high-level exchanges between their governments in 2026.
Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Hichilema on his new term. They discussed the long-standing relationship between their nations. Both leaders explored opportunities to strengthen economic development and diversification efforts. They also considered ways to boost links between government agencies and private sector companies. Diplomatic relations between the UAE and Zambia have lasted over fifty years. Recently, officials have focused on investment, mining, energy, infrastructure, and broader commercial ties during their talks.
Hichilema’s visit also featured the Zambia-UAE Business Forum held in Abu Dhabi. Zambia’s State House announced that participants signed memoranda of understanding worth a total of $2.14 billion. These agreements involved multiple sectors, though no detailed project-by-project list was released. Hichilema discussed increasing bilateral trade through a comprehensive economic partnership framework. Negotiations for the UAE-Zambia CEPA were still ongoing during the presidential meeting, with no date set for signing.
CEPA negotiations are part of broader economic cooperation
Both governments described the proposed CEPA as a framework to expand economic collaboration across public and private sectors. As of September 30, negotiations had not been finalized, and no final tariff schedules or detailed provisions had been published. These trade discussions are part of wider talks covering renewable energy, infrastructure, mining, and investment. Sheikh Mohamed and Hichilema addressed these sectors during their Abu Dhabi meeting. Earlier this year, officials from both sides had discussed similar priorities.
In March, UAE Minister of State Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan met Hichilema in Lusaka. They talked about trade, investment, mining, and renewable energy. Sheikh Shakhboot later returned to Zambia for Hichilema’s September inauguration and sent greetings from the UAE president. These meetings built on ongoing government engagement before the Abu Dhabi visit. Zambia has also sought investment partnerships with Gulf countries and is working on new commercial deals and infrastructure projects.
Mining investments deepen UAE-Zambia economic relations
Mining remains a key part of UAE-linked investments in Zambia. Abu Dhabi-based International Resources Holding acquired a 51% stake in Mopani Copper Mines in 2024. ZCCM Investments Holdings kept the remaining 49%. In July 2025, International Resources Holding stated it had invested over $1.1 billion in Mopani since taking control. Mopani’s operations include mining and processing assets in Zambia’s Copperbelt, such as Nkana and Mufulira facilities.
The September meeting highlighted the importance of the UAE-Zambia economic relationship. Sheikh Mohamed and Hichilema discussed trade, infrastructure, renewable energy, and development cooperation alongside CEPA negotiations. Zambia’s announcement of $2.14 billion in memoranda added a commercial dimension to the visit. As of September 30, the CEPA remained unsigned. Neither government announced a completion date. Official discussions continue to focus on investment and business cooperation between the two countries.