The bridge between Africa and Dubai
Africa Investment supports African entrepreneurs and institutions investing in Dubai, and UAE investors building projects in Africa. Strategic advice, qualified introductions, deal structuring.
Two directions, one standard
We work in both directions across the bridge. Every mandate starts with a precise objective and ends with a reliable partner, a secure framework and a deal that holds.
Set up and invest in Dubai
- Real estateresidential, commercial, off-plan, Golden Visa
- Company formationMainland, Free Zone, Offshore
- Gold and precious metalsDMCC trading, refining, compliance
- Banking, residency, taxaccount opening, structuring
Deploy capital in Africa
- Mining and energycopper, cobalt, gold, gas, solar, hydro
- Agriculture and agro-industryland, processing, food security
- Infrastructure and logisticsports, corridors, economic zones
- Real estate and hospitalitycapitals, secondary cities, coast
Why now
The UAE has become one of the leading investors in Africa, and Dubai the natural gateway for African capital to the world.
Indicative figures, updated regularly. Detailed country data is on each dedicated page.
Choose your country
A dedicated page for every country: strengths, sectors, opportunities for UAE investors, legal framework and ties with the UAE. Every page is available in English and in French.
West Africa
What defines ABC Consultancy
A strategic advisory firm based in Dubai, led by Nidhal Chaawa, designed as a structural bridge between Africa and international markets.
Dual expertise
A deep understanding of African institutional, economic and regulatory realities, and a command of the standards and expectations of international markets.
High-level facilitator
Far more than an intermediary: we connect governments, institutions, companies and exporters with reliable technical, financial and commercial partners.
Trust and rigour
Due diligence, counterparty checks, clear contractual frameworks. We put our name only on transactions we have examined.
Performance
Mandates framed by measurable objectives: a signed partner, an incorporated company, a structured financing, a secured export.
"Africa does not need more middlemen. It needs solid bridges, held by people who understand both shores."Nidhal Chaawa, founder and managing director of ABC Consultancy, Dubai
Why Dubai has become the capital of African business
Understanding the relationship between Africa and Dubai to make the most of it.
In under twenty years Dubai has established itself as the place where Africa meets international capital. More than twenty-five African destinations are served by direct flights from Dubai airport, making it the best-connected city to the continent outside Africa. Every week, business leaders from Lagos, Kinshasa, Nairobi, Abidjan, Cairo or Johannesburg meet funds, manufacturers and traders from the Gulf, Asia and Europe there. The UAE has become, by volume, the Gulf's leading investor in Africa and one of the largest in the world, with commitments in ports, energy, mining, agriculture, finance and real estate across dozens of countries.
This relationship runs both ways. Tens of thousands of African entrepreneurs live and work in Dubai. They have opened trading companies, holdings and regional offices, bought apartments and villas, enrolled their children in school and obtained long-term residence visas. African gold, cocoa, coffee, sesame, gemstones, fruit and fish products pass through Dubai before reaching world markets. In the other direction, consumer goods, vehicles, materials and equipment leave Jebel Ali for African ports.
Africa Investment exists to make this bridge usable. We have found that most projects that fail between Africa and Dubai lack neither capital nor opportunity: they lack preparation, vetted partners and a suitable legal framework. An African investor often arrives in Dubai without knowing which free zone to choose, which developer is reliable or how to open a bank account. A UAE fund looks at Africa without knowing which country fits its thesis, which local partner is solid or how to secure a land title. Our job is to answer these questions before the money moves.
How we work
Every engagement begins with an in-depth conversation, in English, French or Arabic, in which we clarify the client's real objective: is it to protect wealth, grow a business, raise funds, obtain residency, find an industrial partner or secure a supply chain? Country, sector, structure and timeline all follow from that objective. We decline engagements whose objective is vague or whose counterparties fail our checks.
We then produce a scoping note describing the options, their costs, timelines and risks. This note is the basis for the decision and the mandate. During execution we coordinate lawyers, notaries, bankers, accountants and operating partners, in Dubai and in the African country concerned, and report at every step. After signing we remain available for follow-up: renewals, compliance, reporting, growth.
Our fees are transparent: fixed fees for advisory and structuring work, and a success fee for introductions that close. We receive no hidden remuneration from the partners we refer clients to, and we state this in writing in every mandate.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work with individuals or only with companies?
Both. We support families buying property in Dubai or applying for a Golden Visa, entrepreneurs forming companies, groups investing in Africa and public institutions seeking partners.
What is the minimum ticket?
For Dubai, a first property investment or company formation starts around 150,000 dollars. For Africa, the operations we structure generally start at a few hundred thousand dollars and go up to several tens of millions.
Which languages do you work in?
English, French and Arabic, with partners covering Portuguese and Swahili.
How long does a first engagement take?
A company formation in Dubai takes two to four weeks; a property purchase, one to two months; a set-up in Africa, three to twelve months depending on the country and sector.
One site, 39 countries, two languages
Every country we cover has its own page, in English and in French, with the same structure: economic profile, strengths, sectors, opportunities for UAE investors, risks and how we manage them, legal framework, ties with the UAE, how to use Dubai as a base, and a form to describe your project. Start with the Africa page to choose a country, or the Dubai page if your project is in the other direction.
Let's talk about your project
A first confidential conversation, no commitment, in English or French.