AIM Congress 2026: Africa looks to Gulf investors to power its next growth phase

Dubai's World Trade Centre has become a hub for African economic diplomacy at AIM Congress 2026. High-profile attendees included Uganda's Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and Naseem Banu Lahri, the Managing Director of Lucara Botswana. The Congress brought together heads of state, sovereign fund managers, mining executives, and entrepreneurs to discuss Africa's potential as an investment destination.

The Africa Pavilion, hosted by the Africa GCC Council, is more than just an exhibit. It serves as a strategic ecosystem with deal rooms, ministerial roundtables, and introductions between African project sponsors and Gulf investors. Dr. Mzee Fula Ngenge, Chairperson of the Africa Pavilion and Co-Founder of the Africa GCC Council, described this year's edition as a shift from visibility to outcomes. The focus is on turning dialogue into bankable projects.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), now in implementation mode, was highlighted by Secretary General Wamkele Mene. It unites 50 countries representing 1.4 billion people and a $3.4 trillion combined GDP. The UAE has invested over $110 billion in African projects between 2019 and 2023, with a significant portion going to green energy and renewables. Despite having no direct access to the sea, landlocked nations from two different regions discussed regional integration and cross-border corridors.

Minerals played a critical role in the discussions, with Wamkele Mene emphasizing Africa's potential in critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, lithium, and bauxite. He argued that Africa should move beyond raw commodity exports to building refining and manufacturing capacity within the continent. The F&F Young Women Entrepreneurship Development Organisation (FYWEDO) also participated, focusing on capacity-building for African SMEs, particularly in entrepreneurial soft skills.