ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema met in Abu Dhabi on September 29 to explore ways to enhance economic cooperation. Hichilema visited the UAE shortly after beginning his second presidential term earlier this month. The leaders discussed collaboration in sectors such as the economy, renewable energy, and infrastructure. Their talks also included ongoing negotiations for a UAE-Zambia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, which aims to establish a broader framework for economic partnership.
Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Hichilema and extended best wishes for his new presidential tenure. Both presidents reaffirmed a bilateral relationship that they said has lasted over 50 years. They discussed development initiatives and economic diversification, along with opportunities for further collaboration between the UAE and Zambia. The meeting focused specifically on areas involving government and private-sector participation. Neither government announced a timeline for finalizing the CEPA, and officials did not disclose detailed provisions such as negotiated tariff terms.
The presidential discussions coincided with new commercial agreements signed during Hichilema’s visit to Abu Dhabi. Zambia’s State House announced that the two nations concluded memoranda of understanding valued at a combined $2.14 billion during the Zambia-UAE Business Forum. These agreements spanned several economic sectors, according to the Zambian government. Hichilema also reiterated Zambia’s desire to expand trade with the UAE through a comprehensive partnership agreement. The government did not provide a detailed breakdown of each project covered by the memoranda.
Trade deal still in negotiation stage
Following the leaders’ meeting, negotiations on the UAE-Zambia CEPA remain ongoing. Sheikh Mohamed and Hichilema stated that reaching an agreement would be a significant milestone in bilateral economic relations. They also described it as a framework to promote cooperation across both public and private sectors. No official signing date has been announced by either government. These discussions are part of broader economic engagement, with topics such as trade, investment, mining, infrastructure, and renewable energy, being prominent in official bilateral meetings scheduled for 2026.
These sectors have also been discussed in earlier meetings between officials from Zambia and the UAE. In March, UAE Minister of State Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan met Hichilema in Lusaka to discuss cooperation in trade, investment, mining, and renewable energy. Sheikh Shakhboot returned to Zambia in September for Hichilema’s inauguration and conveyed greetings from Sheikh Mohamed. These meetings followed Hichilema’s re-election in August and the start of his new term, adding another round of high-level discussions before his working visit to Abu Dhabi.
Mining and renewable energy as key components of bilateral cooperation
Mining already plays a significant role in UAE-related investments in Zambia. Abu Dhabi-based International Resources Holding acquired a 51% stake in Mopani Copper Mines in 2024, while Zambia’s ZCCM Investments Holdings retained 49%. In July 2025, International Resources Holding stated it had invested over $1.1 billion in Mopani since taking control. The company manages the Nkana and Mufulira mining complexes in Zambia’s Copperbelt, where operations include copper extraction, processing, smelting, and refining for export markets.
The September 29 meeting emphasized immediate efforts to expand economic cooperation while negotiations for the CEPA continue. Sheikh Mohamed and Hichilema also discussed infrastructure development and renewable energy as part of their bilateral agenda. The announcement of $2.14 billion in memoranda added a commercial dimension to the presidential visit, although the proposed trade agreement remains unsigned and separate from these memoranda. As of September 30, both governments described the CEPA as still under negotiation, with no official date set for its completion or signing.