The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could secure $1.882 billion in tourism investments following the inaugural UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit held in Dubai from Oct. 25 to 29, 2025, Tourism Minister Didier Mazenga said during a Council of Ministers meeting on April 3, 2026.

According to the official report, a $6 billion portfolio of tourism projects across Africa was selected after the summit. Of that total, $1.882 billion, or 31%, is earmarked for the DRC. Authorities said four projects presented by the country drew interest from Emirati investors.

These include the development of a protected areas circuit in western DRC, covering the Kinshasa Zoological and Botanical Garden, the Mangrove Marine Park in Muanda, Kundelungu National Park, and the Bombo-Lumene Reserve. Other projects include the renovation of the N’sele tourist village, the development of the Muanda-Kinshasa-Kananga road corridor and the Kinshasa-Mbandaka-Kisangani river route, as well as the rehabilitation of the Kitona (Lippens) tourist site.

Details yet to be finalized

At this stage, the funding has not been secured. Mazenga said the process and timeline for accessing the funds will be clarified at a forthcoming summit in Nairobi. In the meantime, the Ministry of Tourism, working with the Ministry of Planning, is preparing technical requirements, including project briefs.

The minister also called for closer coordination with other relevant ministries, including Finance, Budget, Land Affairs, and Infrastructure and Public Works, to help the DRC attract these investments and turn them into tangible projects.

This development comes amid strengthening economic ties between Kinshasa and Abu Dhabi. In February 2026, the DRC and the United Arab Emirates signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement, along with three memorandums of understanding. Authorities aim to double bilateral trade from $5 billion to $10 billion by 2030.

In recent months, the UAE has shown growing interest in sectors including infrastructure, mining, agriculture, health, energy and tourism. In January 2026, Lualaba province announced 16 agreements with Emirati investors.

For now, the Dubai summit has initiated an investment process that remains under development rather than confirmed funding. The challenge for the Congolese government will be to convert this interest into firm commitments and deliver projects on the ground.

Ronsard Luabeya