UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, for discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in support of both countries’ development ambitions.
The meeting was also attended by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President, several Sheikhs, ministers, and top officials.
During the meeting, which took place at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi during President Bio’s working visit to the UAE, the two leaders explored opportunities to expand collaboration in priority sectors, including the economy, trade, investment, renewable energy, and sustainability.
During the occasion, a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was also signed between the nations, which will further reduce trade barriers between the two sides, apart from enhancing investment flows and promoting private sector collaboration in key sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, and infrastructure development.
The UAE and Sierra Leonean Presidents, apart from affirming their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral ties to advance the progress and prosperity of the nations and their peoples, also reviewed several regional and international issues of mutual interest, underscoring the importance of promoting peace and stability, both regionally and globally.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan further reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to deepening its ties with African nations in pursuit of shared development, in line with the Gulf country’s approach to building inclusive partnerships that promote mutual benefit and prosperity for all.
In recent years, the trade relationship between the UAE and Sierra Leone has shown promising growth, with bilateral non-oil foreign trade reaching USD153 million in 2025. The UAE-Sierra Leone CEPA now aligns with the UAE’s long-term objective of strengthening economic ties with African nations, reflecting the Gulf country’s commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth and diversification across the continent.
The UAE has also emerged as the continent’s largest source of new FDI, with over USD110 billion invested across the continent since 2019. As the UAE continues to enhance its trade and investment relationship with Africa, it aims to unlock new opportunities for businesses and create lasting partnerships, apart from accelerating mutually beneficial economic growth.