ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held discussions with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in Abu Dhabi on September 29. The talks centered on expanding trade, boosting investment, renewable energy projects, and infrastructure development. Additionally, the leaders examined ongoing negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Zambia. Hichilema’s visit came weeks after he commenced his second presidential term, continuing a series of high-level diplomatic exchanges between the two nations during 2026.
Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Hichilema on his new term and highlighted the longstanding relationship shared by their countries. The leaders discussed opportunities to deepen collaboration in economic growth and diversification efforts. They also explored ways to strengthen connections between government agencies and private sector entities. Diplomatic ties between the UAE and Zambia have lasted over fifty years, with recent discussions increasingly emphasizing investment, mining, energy, infrastructure, and broader commercial relations.
Hichilema’s visit also featured participation in the Zambia-UAE Business Forum held in Abu Dhabi. According to Zambia’s State House, attendees signed memoranda of understanding valued at a total of $2.14 billion. These agreements spanned multiple sectors, although officials did not provide a detailed project-by-project list. The president also discussed enhancing bilateral trade through a comprehensive economic partnership framework. The UAE-Zambia CEPA remains under negotiation, with no official signing date announced during the meeting.
CEPA negotiations continue as part of broader economic engagement
Both governments characterized the proposed CEPA as a mechanism to expand economic collaboration across public and private sectors. As of September 30, negotiations had not concluded, and neither side published final tariff schedules or detailed agreement provisions. These trade discussions are part of wider dialogues addressing renewable energy, infrastructure, mining, and investment, all of which Sheikh Mohamed and Hichilema discussed in their Abu Dhabi meeting. Earlier this year, officials from both nations also exchanged views on similar priorities.
In March, the UAE Minister of State Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan met Hichilema in Lusaka, covering topics such as trade, investment, mining, and renewable energy. Sheikh Shakhboot later returned to Zambia for Hichilema’s September inauguration, delivering greetings from the UAE president. These meetings contributed to ongoing government engagement prior to the Abu Dhabi visit. Zambia continues to promote investment partnerships with Gulf countries while pursuing new commercial agreements and infrastructure initiatives.
UAE-Zambia Relations Deepen with Copper Sector Investments
Mining remains a key component of UAE-related investments in Zambia. Abu Dhabi-based International Resources Holding acquired a 51% stake in Mopani Copper Mines in 2024, with ZCCM Investments Holdings holding the remaining 49%. In July 2025, International Resources Holding announced it had invested over $1.1 billion in Mopani since acquiring control. Mopani operates mining and processing facilities in Zambia’s Copperbelt, including sites at Nkana and Mufulira.
The bilateral economic agenda was a focal point during the September discussions, with Sheikh Mohamed and Hichilema addressing trade, infrastructure, renewable energy, and development cooperation alongside ongoing CEPA talks. Zambia’s announcement of $2.14 billion in memoranda underscored the commercial aspect of the visit, though the CEPA itself remained unsigned as of September 30. No official deadline was set for completion, while negotiations continued to focus on investment and business cooperation between the two nations.