Abu Dhabi Ports, the Emirati state-owned company, is considering investments in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Matadi and Boma ports. The potential projects were discussed during a meeting between President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi and Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan on November 16, 2025.
No details were disclosed on the scale of Abu Dhabi Ports’ plans. According to the Congolese Presidency, the port initiatives fall within a wider infrastructure program that includes the Lobito Corridor, two dry ports, and road links from Kolwezi to Dilolo, as well as connections between the DRC, Angola, and Zambia.
The initiative aims to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries. The Presidency said talks also covered the mining sector, the exchange of financial intelligence to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, and cooperation between the two central banks. Both sides discussed completing a long-delayed free trade agreement and organizing an economic forum to attract investment.
Between 2021 and 2023, Congolese exports to the UAE averaged $1.059 billion per year, compared with $1.89 billion in imports, leaving an average annual trade deficit of $650 million. Exports are dominated by mining products such as refined copper, gold, and diamonds.
Trade could increase following the acquisition by Emirati conglomerate IRH/IHC of a 56% stake in Alphamin Resources, the owner of the Bisie tin mine, which strengthens the UAE’s presence in the DRC’s mining sector.
Two other Emirati companies, Lone Star Ltd and Business Gate, have also expressed interest in energy projects in Tshopo Province, particularly in renewable energy.
Boaz Kabeya
