The United Republic of Tanzaniat - UAE Relationships

The semi-autonomous Zanzibar and the UAE established their diplomatic relations in 1974, the two states have been maintaining magnificent and great evolving ties. Tanzania opened its embassy in Abu Dhabi in 2002, and while the UAE opened its embassy in Dar es Salaam in 2007 and opened The Consulate General of UAE in Zanzibar in 2023 . The relationship between the two nations is based at a larger magnitude on the cultural and economic aspects as far as trade, tourism and areas of investment and other sectors, as well as ways of enhancing their future ties and several issues of mutual interest.

The UAE is one of Tanzania’s largest trading partners enjoying the partnership for many years. The trade balance between the two nations stands at $3 billion annually, in favor of the UAE. In 2013, the UAE imported $85 million worth of goods from Tanzania, with Tanzania importing $1.14 billion worth of goods from the UAE the same year. The Khalifa Fund For Enterprise Development, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Finance and Planning of Tanzania to provide Dh 36.8 million ($10 million) towards the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Zanzibar. The MoU signed by Hussein Jasem Al Nowais, Chairman of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, mirrors the UAE’s commitment to contribute actively to the government’s efforts to promote economic and social development in fraternal friendly countries and to boost economic and social stability. The agreement will provide funding for about 2,000 expected projects to contribute to creating more than 9,000 jobs for young people in Zanzibar in the coming years. In November 2019, Tanzanian archipelago Zanzibar penned a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with RAK Gas LLC. state natural gas utility of the Emirate of Ras al Khaimah (RAK) in the UAE. The historic signing permits the exploration, production, development and sharing of benefits derived from the hydrocation resources. The milestone liberates Zanzibar to exploit its natural resources and impact its economy and lives of its people. The UAE has emerged in recent years as an important protagonist in the Horn of Africa. Through political alliances, aid, investment, military base agreements and port contracts.

• in the 1900s, Arab Emiratis were exploring places such as Zanzibar in East Africa and exchanging trade.
• Using the tide from the monsoon seasons, many Emiratis took the long journey with their traditional dhow boats, arriving to Zanziba, with goods to trade and sell.
• Emirati merchants mainly traded mangrove wood in exchange for raisins, corn, and other foodstuffs from East Africa.
• This strong relationship of trade and cooperation, changed the relationship between the two regions for the better. 
• UAE still shares a deep connection with Zanzibar, many Zanzibarians continuing to move to the UAE for opportunities and entrepreneurship, Cultures, languages, food, and religion have continued to spread.