A host of African leaders enjoyed the winter warmth of the Gulf in mid-January as they jetted into the United Arab Emirates for the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, Nigeria's Bola Tinubu and Mozambique's Daniel Chapo were among the heads of state to join this year's edition of the annual event.
The fact that the sustainability summit in the Emirati capital has become the latest fixture on the diplomatic circuit for African leaders is not surprising, given the importance of the Gulf nation to Africa's energy ecosystem.
The UAE, a nation of just 11 million residents, has become among the largest - if not the largest - source of foreign investment flows into Africa in recent years. Emirati companies have been particularly active in the fast-growing renewable energy sector. According to UAE government figures , out of 110bn of Emirati investment in Africa between 2019 and 2023, some 70bn has flowed into renewable energy and green infrastructure.
