DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, October 7, 2025/APO Group: The Africa Property Investment (API) Events has announced a bespoke investor tour in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, designed to provide African delegates with exclusive access to the Gulf’s capital markets and iconic real estate developments.
The Africa-UAE Investor Tour, set to take place from November 10-13, addresses a critical market need, a trend underscored by industry leaders. As Kevin Teeroovengadum, Board Director of real estate and hospitality companies, observes: “We are seeing growing interest from Middle East investors across Africa, extending beyond traditional sectors like ports, mining, and petroleum into areas such as high-end bush lodges in the hospitality sector.”
This sentiment is echoed by Murray Anderson-Ogle, Managing Director of API Events:
“There is a lot of Gulf capital — sovereign wealth funds, family offices — and a lot of activity led out of the Gulf and Dubai into Africa. But for someone from the Gulf to come to Africa to meet a developer or a pension fund, it’s hard; you’re going to spend months tracking them down.”
“It’s not just another conference or sightseeing trip. It’s a chance to forge authentic connections with sovereign wealth funds, family offices, private equity, and venture capital investors who actually deploy capital into Africa. Since some Gulf investors can be cautious about Africa, this tour is set to build trust and allow the kind of relationship-building that takes months or even years to develop if you go alone.”
The four-day tour will offer attendees an opportunity to study Dubai’s unparalleled blueprint for urban development, town planning, and sustainable residential growth through sessions and site visits with leading real estate developers, including Binghatti, DAMAC, and others.
This connection is a two-way street, observed Teeroovengadum: “Real estate companies from Dubai, such as DAMAC, are actively marketing their products to African buyers seeking to diversify their wealth and establish a ‘plan B’.”
It will also be an opportunity to meet global retailers and brands actively expanding into Africa’s high-growth markets, facilitated by the UAE’s role as a global trade hub. “As the UAE positions itself as a hub for trade, more and more Africans are using places like Dubai for their trading operations,” adds Teeroovengadum.
African delegates joining the tour will be welcomed by Dubai’s leading developers and funders, getting exclusive behind-the-scenes access to landmark projects. They’ll also engage directly with global retail giants and hospitality leaders who are expanding aggressively into African markets.
The tour combines project site visits with the Africa + UAE Investor Conference, featuring industry panels and networking sessions focused on joint ventures, capital raising, and preserving personal wealth.
The core conference day on 11 November will feature sessions led by industry luminaries, including a macroeconomic overview of Dubai by Taimur Khan, Head of Research at JLL in the region, and deep-dive panels on capital raising, urban development, and retail expansion into Africa.
Enhanced flight connectivity has been a key driver in strengthening these economic ties. “Airlines such as Emirates have been pivotal in connecting Africa with the Middle East and the world.” “All the above demonstrates the importance of the Middle East as a partner with the African continent, more so in a world of geopolitical turbulence,” says Teeroovengadum.
Anderson-Ogle stressed the growing role of Dubai as a neutral and strategic financial gateway. He notes that capital from the Gulf is increasingly viewed by African investors as a receptive and pragmatic source for diversification, offering a valuable and long-term option for wealth preservation within a rapidly evolving global landscape.
