July 14,2025 | Dubai, UAE: On the invitation of His Excellency President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, President of the African Union, President to President, Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, headed the UAE delegation to the African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (AUMYCM) in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. This is a giant leap towards further facilitation of the cooperation the UAE has long shared with African nations.
As demanded by UAE leaders, Sheikh Shakhboot addressed in a strong manner to reiterate the country’s strong alliance with the African Union and member states. In his address, he mentioned future collaboration in priority fields of health, infrastructure, renewable energy, education, development, and food security in the African Union Mid-year Coordination Meeting.
“The UAE never thought of its investment in Africa in terms of federation but one of obligation and cooperation towards development and growth,” Sheikh Shakhboot added. “We promise to rely on such collaborations with respect for each other.”
African Union Mid-year Coordination Meeting: UAE signs a Strategic Health MoU with African Union
In the first of its kind at the African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan and Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf signed on to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for health strategy cooperation. The first of its kind signing was reflective of the ultimate level of dedication which had some of the AUMYCM present heads of state, an indication of the ultimate level of dedication for multilateral cooperation.
The new MoU in the African Union Mid-year Coordination Meeting requires coordination by the UAE Foreign Ministry and African Union to develop robust health systems in Africa. It aims to provide improved access to primary medical care, robust public health systems, and construct longer-term solutions in an effort to construct health resilience among Africans.
Sheikh Shakhboot said at the signing of the agreement, “This MoU shows our shared ambitions to bring genuine and lasting value to African communities, ambitions that offer a platform for future potential cooperation in the health field.”
The deal is UAE’s vision for world health equity long-term development in the future and a reflection of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s unshakable commitment to world development, sustainability, and humanitarian values.
UAE-Africa Cooperation Enhancement in Strategic Areas
Except health, Sheikh Shakhboot said that the UAE is eager to develop cooperation with African countries on the widest possible horizon of strategic association and in the country’s representation at the African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, talked about the UAE vision for:
- Climate action and environmental sustainability: Enabling collective efforts to address climate change with a beginning in renewable energy efforts.
- Food security: Upgrading the value chain and collaboration for agriculture development.
- Digital innovation: Interconnection with digital education and digital infrastructure on the continent.
- Empowerment of youth: Initialization of education, skills, and entrepreneurship programs.
All these initiatives are a demonstration of the UAE collective desire for global development, capacity development, diversification of the economy, and empowerment of the grassroots. Sheikh Shakhboot’s visit to the AUMYCM attests to UAE active diplomacy and enthusiasm in establishing strong visionary ties with the African Union and member countries. The UAE remains interested in growing the continent through investment, giving, and sharing knowledge on the topic of principles of shared vision and respect.
As the UAE builds its international reputation, its cooperation in Africa and particularly through avenues like the African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting is positioned as a sure bet to sustainable development and international collaboration
The African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting is AU’s premier policy coordination forum, AU member state coordination, and mutual policy implementation of development. Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan’s tour and signing of a historic health MoU are merely some of the UAE’s increasing diplomatic visibility and trust-based cooperation in Africa.
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