Dubai Chamber Facilitates Entry into African Markets for Local Enterprises

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce, a key component of Dubai Chambers, hosted the inaugural event of its 2026 ‘In Focus’ series. This initiative aims to assist businesses in Dubai with exploring expansion opportunities in Ethiopia, Ghana, and South Africa.

With over 228 attendees, the event emphasized critical trade and investment possibilities across these three African nations. It offered insights on entering these markets, spotlighting high-potential economic sectors and actionable market entry strategies for sustained growth.

Additionally, the event unveiled the ‘New Horizons’ program, which enables Dubai-based firms to engage in trade missions orchestrated by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. These missions, targeting select global markets, provide platforms for business meetings, investment talks, and partnership opportunities, with missions to Ethiopia, Ghana, and South Africa earmarked for early 2026.

During his address, His Excellency Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, reaffirmed the chamber’s commitment to aid businesses in navigating new global markets. He articulated the chamber’s objective to foster robust partnerships, achieve sustainable growth, and enhance competitiveness through clear market analysis and expert guidance.

Trade statistics from the session underscored the flourishing economic relationships between Dubai and African nations. In 2024, non-oil trade with Ethiopia reached AED 6.6 billion—an impressive 90% year-over-year increase. Similarly, Dubai's non-oil trade with Ghana surged to AED 24.7 billion (up 75%), while trade with South Africa grew by 20% to AED 29 billion.

The presentation also highlighted how Dubai Chamber of Commerce bolsters firms entering international markets, offering support in areas such as market research, business establishment, joint ventures, and access to updated business intelligence.

Participants of the ‘In Focus’ series gain tailored market intelligence and comprehensive assistance throughout their global expansion journeys, empowering them to make educated decisions and develop successful international operations.