The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening collaboration with the United Arab Emirates through shared initiatives in arts, culture, tourism, and the creative economy. The Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, warmly received His Excellency Salem Saeed Musabbeh Al Mahyoubi Al Shamsi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Nigeria, at the Ministry headquarters in Abuja. She was joined by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Directors, and senior officials, while Ambassador Al Shamsi led a high-level UAE delegation.
The meeting focused on strengthening cultural and tourism ties as engines for growth, innovation, and international cooperation. Ambassador Al Shamsi thanked the Ministry for its hospitality and collaboration, highlighting progress in visa facilitation for Nigerians and plans to resume Emirates Airline flights to Lagos and Abuja in early 2026. He noted the rapid growth in non-oil trade between Nigeria and the UAE and invited the Honourable Minister and her team to visit Abu Dhabi and Dubai to explore frameworks for practical cooperation and joint investment.
The Permanent Secretary emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration, proposing the establishment of an annual Nigeria–UAE Cultural and Tourism Exchange Festival, alternating between both countries to showcase cinema, music, fashion, arts, cuisine, and crafts. He also recommended forming working groups to develop formal agreements that clearly outline responsibilities, timelines, and shared objectives.
Minister Musawa expressed appreciation for the UAE’s partnership and reaffirmed Nigeria’s intent to formalize cooperation through Memoranda of Understanding and strategic frameworks for tourism, culture, and creative economy projects. She commended Dubai and Abu Dhabi for their global leadership in tourism, cultural innovation, and creative infrastructure, noting that Nigeria can learn valuable lessons from their models. She also celebrated the historic appointment of Sheikha Mai as Secretary-General of UN Tourism, describing it as a landmark achievement for women, inclusivity, and the Global South. She revealed that Nigeria looks forward to hosting Sheikha Mai for a high-level visit, including meetings with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and tours of key cultural sites in Abuja.
The discussions also covered prospective UAE investment in Nigeria’s hospitality, film, fashion, and music sectors, including a proposed flagship hotel in Abuja or Lagos. Both parties agreed to commence work on a Memorandum of Understanding to guide joint initiatives in culture, tourism, and the creative economy.
Minister Musawa reiterated that the partnership aligns seamlessly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasizes creative enterprise, tourism innovation, and international collaboration. She described the engagement as a transformative moment for cultural diplomacy, a reflection of Nigeria’s global vision, and a pathway to sustainable growth and shared opportunity.
The meeting concluded on a warm and optimistic note, with both sides expressing confidence that the strengthened Nigeria–UAE partnership will foster cultural understanding, promote economic growth, and empower the creative industries in the years ahead.
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