ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in Abu Dhabi on September 29. Their 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 beginning his second term as president. This meeting continued a series of high-level exchanges between the two nations during 2026.
Sheikh Mohamed extended congratulations to Hichilema on his new presidential term and highlighted the longstanding relationship between their countries. Both leaders explored avenues to strengthen cooperation in economic development and diversification. They also considered strategies to enhance connections between government agencies and private sector entities. Diplomatic relations between the UAE and Zambia have lasted over fifty years. Recent talks have increasingly focused on investment, mining, energy, infrastructure, and broader commercial collaborations.
Hichilema’s visit also featured participation in the Zambia-UAE Business Forum held in Abu Dhabi. Zambia’s State House announced that delegates signed memoranda of understanding totaling $2.14 billion. The agreements spanned multiple sectors, though officials did not disclose a detailed project-by-project breakdown. Hichilema also discussed ways to boost bilateral trade through a comprehensive economic partnership framework. The negotiations for the UAE-Zambia CEPA remained ongoing during the presidential meeting, with no official signing date set.
CEPA negotiations are part of broader economic engagement
Both governments described the proposed CEPA as a framework aimed at expanding economic cooperation across public and private sectors. As of September 30, negotiations had not concluded, and neither side published final tariff schedules or detailed terms. These trade discussions are part of wider talks that include renewable energy, infrastructure, mining, and investment. Sheikh Mohamed and Hichilema addressed these sectors during their meeting in Abu Dhabi. Earlier this year, officials from both nations also exchanged views on similar priorities.
In March, UAE Minister of State Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan met Hichilema in Lusaka. Their discussions covered trade, investment, mining, and renewable energy. Sheikh Shakhboot later returned to Zambia for Hichilema’s September inauguration, conveying greetings from the UAE president. These meetings contributed to ongoing government contact prior to the Abu Dhabi visit. Zambia continues to promote investment partnerships with Gulf countries and pursue new commercial agreements and infrastructure initiatives.
Mining investments deepen UAE-Zambia economic ties
Mining represents a key element of UAE-related investments in Zambia. In 2024, Abu Dhabi-based International Resources Holding acquired a 51% stake in Mopani Copper Mines. ZCCM Investments Holdings retained the remaining 49%. According to International Resources Holding, by July 2025, it had invested over $1.1 billion in Mopani since acquiring the stake. Mopani’s operations include mining and processing facilities in Zambia’s Copperbelt, such as those at Nkana and Mufulira.
The September meeting prioritized the economic relationship between the UAE and Zambia. Sheikh Mohamed and Hichilema discussed trade, infrastructure, renewable energy, and development cooperation alongside ongoing CEPA negotiations. Zambia’s announcement of $2.14 billion in memoranda added a commercial dimension to the visit. As of September 30, the CEPA agreement remained unsigned, with no official timeline for completion. Both governments continued to hold discussions on investment and business collaboration between their countries.