Zambia and the United Arab Emirates have signed six memoranda of understanding valued at a combined $2.14 billion, covering healthcare, renewable energy, logistics, technology, biotechnology, and agriculture in a major boost to Lusaka’s investment drive.
The agreements were signed during the Zambia-UAE Business Forum in Abu Dhabi and witnessed by President Hakainde Hichilema, marking the most significant economic engagement between the two countries since the Emirati-backed acquisition of a majority stake in Mopani Copper Mines in 2024 .
$2 BILLION MEDICAL CITY FOR LUSAKA
The highlight of the agreements is a $2 billion memorandum of understanding between Zambia’s Ministry of Health and DIHAD Sustainable Project Management LLC for the development of a Medical City in Lusaka’s Airport City.
Health Minister Professor Roma Chilengi signed the agreement on behalf of the Zambian government, while DIHAD Director-General Khaled Al Attar signed for the investor.
The Medical City will be developed on approximately 100 hectares of land near Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, in partnership with the Zambia Airports Corporation . The facility will house a National Paediatric Cardiac Centre and a National Renal Transplant and Kidney Disease Centre, and will offer robotic surgery, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, maternal and child health, and rehabilitation services.
“This project will reverse the flow of Zambians travelling abroad for complex treatment at great cost to families and government,” Chilengi said. “The Medical City will keep our patients at home and draw patients from across the region”.
The development will also include a hospital, university, and school to train Zambian specialists, alongside a convention centre, hotels, commercial space, and residential areas. Under the agreement, DIHAD will work with a multi-sectoral government team on planning, design, and management, and will identify partners and investors to bring the project to life.
Chilengi clarified that the MoU carries no direct financial commitment for the Zambian government.
AGRICULTURE, ENERGY, AND BROADER COOPERATION
Beyond healthcare, the Zambia Development Agency signed a memorandum with the Royal Group of Companies to identify and promote investment opportunities in agriculture, mining, infrastructure, housing, hospitality, and water development.
President Hichilema highlighted the scale of Zambia’s energy ambitions at the forum, stating that achieving the country’s target of 3 million tonnes of copper annually would require approximately 8,000 megawatts of electricity – for copper production alone . He pointed to energy sector reforms that now open the door to independent power producers, electricity traders, and private investment in transmission and distribution, and offered long-term power purchase agreements of 20 to 25 years as a stable market for patient capital.
UAE Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Fahad Siddiq Al Gergawi said the Emirates sees clear opportunities to deepen cooperation with Zambia, particularly in agriculture, energy, healthcare, digital technology, and mineral value addition.
CEPA ADVANCING
President Hichilema said the two countries are working toward signing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to increase trade between Zambia and the UAE.
The visit comes as diplomatic ties deepen. Zambia opened its embassy in Abu Dhabi in 2023, while the UAE deployed its first resident ambassador to Zambia in September 2026.
FROM PLEDGES TO PROJECTS
While the agreements represent significant investment intentions, analysts have noted the distinction between commitments and actual capital flows. Zambia has previously announced substantial UAE-linked investments, including a $2 billion Masdar-ZESCO solar programme in 2023, where project development was still ongoing as of 2024 .
The most substantial UAE-linked investment to date remains International Resources Holding’s $1.1 billion acquisition of a 51% stake in Mopani Copper Mines in 2024. IRH says it has since invested more than $1.1 billion in the mine, including $620 million in equity and $400 million in long-term funding, and is targeting copper production of 300,000 tons annually by 2029.
According to the Zambia Development Agency, the country issued investment licences for projects worth more than $100 billion between 2021 and 2026, exceeding the $70 billion recorded over the previous 18 years.