Dubai International Chamber, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has inaugurated its seventh representative office on the African continent in Nigeria.
Located in Lagos, the chamber’s 28th international office worldwide will further strengthen economic and trade ties between the business communities in Dubai and Nigeria.
The new office was inaugurated in the presence of His Excellency Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, during the ‘Doing Business with Nigeria’ forum. The event was organised as part of the chamber’s ‘New Horizons’ trade mission to West Africa, which attracted the participation of 15 Dubai-based companies representing 10 diverse economic sectors.
Hosted in Lagos, the forum was attended by more than 230 participants and saw the chamber successfully coordinate over 195 bilateral business meetings between Dubai-based companies and their counterparts in the Nigerian market.
Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah President & CEO Dubai Chambers
“Establishing a presence in Lagos represents another significant milestone for Dubai International Chamber. The opening of the new office reflects our commitment to achieving the objectives of the Dubai Global initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, to establish 50 commercial representative offices for Dubai around the world by 2030.”
H.E. Lootah further emphasised the important role of the New Horizons initiative, which is focused on organising international trade missions to help Dubai-based companies expand into priority markets.
His Excellency Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, praised the historical bilateral trade relations between the UAE and Nigeria, which date back more than four decades. Key Nigerian exports to the UAE include gold, while Nigeria imports equipment, cars, and jewellery from the UAE.
His Excellency Sanwo-Olu stated that the partnership between the two nations can serve as a catalyst for growth, innovation, and prosperity, emphasising that the UAE’s expertise in the field of logistics and entry into global markets aligns with Lagos’ potential as a manufacturing and technology hub and can help take joint relations to new heights.
Highlighting key sectors for cooperation including fintech, renewable energy, and smart city solutions, His Excellency said that the UAE’s extensive experience in these sectors is set to bring benefits to Nigeria, while the chamber’s new office in Lagos creates a platform to strengthen economic relations and drive prosperity.
The new office will seek to strengthen relationships with key public and private sector stakeholders and deliver a comprehensive range of support to the Nigerian business community, including assisting Nigerian companies to enter the Dubai market and expand through the emirate.
The team in Lagos will also support and guide Dubai-based businesses that plan to enter the Nigerian market throughout every stage of their international growth journeys.
The opening supports the goals of the Dubai Global initiative, which aims to attract foreign companies, SMEs, investors, and international talent to Dubai by showcasing the emirate’s competitive advantages, sharing market intelligence, and enhancing engagement with key international stakeholders.
