By Abdullah Almusaibeeh, President BADEA
“At BADEA, the commitment to Africa is not transactional — it is transformational- mobilising resources, forging partnerships, and closing financing gaps with one clear purpose: to accelerate inclusive prosperity through enduring Arab-African solidarity.”
Arab-African cooperation is one of the longest-standing South–South partnerships. In light of recent global emergencies, the partnership has emphasised the need to reduce reliance on commodity exports and diversify partners as part of efforts to increase economic resilience.
Investment and trade between the two regions have grown significantly in recent years. In 2022, exports from the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to Africa amounted to around $169 billion, while imports from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to the GCC totalled $59.4 billion. In terms of investment, the GCC has collectively invested over $100 billion over the last decade.
East Africa dominates Arab-African engagement, boasting the highest volume of trade and strategic Arab investment. Several structural factors explain this dominance.
