President Hakainde Hichilema is visiting Abu Dhabi from September 29 to 30, 2026, at the invitation of UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The talks will focus on investment opportunities under Zambia’s “Grow Zambia” economic agenda.
The two countries are expected to review existing commitments and identify new projects in mining, mineral processing, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, transport, logistics, tourism and healthcare.
Lusaka also wants to advance negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the UAE. Several memorandums of understanding could be signed during the visit, alongside a business and investment forum involving UAE companies.
Copper remains at the centre of Zambia’s economic relationship with the UAE. The metal is the country’s main export revenue source, and Zambia was among the world’s major copper producers in 2024, according to the US Geological Survey.
Trade between the two countries has also increased. Zambia exported $244 million worth of copper and copper products to the UAE in 2024, compared with $94.5 million in 2023, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
UAE investment in Zambia’s mining sector has also grown. Since 2023, International Resources Holding (IRH) has invested more than $1.1 billion in Mopani Copper Mines. IRH became the company’s majority shareholder with a 51% stake in 2024.
The company is supporting an expansion plan aimed at raising copper production to 200,000 tonnes annually.
For Lusaka, the objective is not only to increase copper production. The government also wants to process more of the metal locally while attracting UAE capital to build the energy, transport and logistics infrastructure needed for industrial development.
