Senegal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) solidified their bilateral cooperation with the signing of ten memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in Dakar on Wednesday, December 10.
The agreements cover critical sectors, including energy, mining, health, and agriculture. The Emirati delegation was led by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, who met with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko during the working visit.
According to the Government Information and Communication Bureau (BIC Gouv), the ten MoUs focus on ambitious projects designed to support Senegal’s strategic development: Energy: Strengthening Senegal’s gas network and constructing a photovoltaic power plant (200-megawatt). Mining: Developing an iron ore mine and establishing a national gold trading post; developing phosphate resources. Health: Installing a generic drug factory and expanding hospital infrastructure. Infrastructure: Supporting the social housing program and developing digital infrastructure. Agriculture: Supporting the National Agropole Development Program.
The discussions identified five overall priority areas for partnership: energy, transport and logistics (including the expansion of Blaise Diagne International Airport and the standard-gauge railway), agriculture, mining, digital technology, and tourism/real estate.
During the presidential audience, both countries illustrated a “shared commitment… to deepen a strategic partnership geared towards innovation, investment, and the ambitions of the Senegal 2050 Vision.” Prime Minister Sonko emphasized the strategic guidelines for a “sovereign, just, and prosperous” Senegal, citing its political stability, geostrategic positioning, and human potential.
To ensure the prompt implementation of these agreements, the Prime Minister has instructed the relevant ministerial departments to work in coordinated fashion with central government bodies, including the Prime Minister’s Office and key financial and investment agencies (APIX, FONSIS).
This high-level visit follows recent visits by both President Faye (December 2024) and Prime Minister Sonko (September 2025) to Abu Dhabi, demonstrating a continuous and dynamic consolidation of the strategic partnership that dates back to the 1970s.
AC/fss/abj/APA