President William Ruto on Monday hosted a high-level delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at State House, Nairobi, to discuss strategic partnerships in infrastructure, energy, and trade.
The delegation, led by Abdulla Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, held talks with the President on deepening bilateral cooperation through public-private partnerships (PPPs) targeting Kenya’s ambitious development projects.
Ruto revealed that Kenya is seeking UAE’s support to accelerate projects such as the construction of 10,000 kilometres of tarmac roads, dual expansion of 1,500 kilometres of highways, and development of 50 mega dams to boost irrigation and food security.
He further noted that Kenya aims to expand its energy generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts within seven years, while also improving ports, airports, and digital infrastructure.
“We held discussions with the Sharjah delegation to strengthen trade and investment ties between Kenya and the UAE,” President Ruto said.
“Our focus is on infrastructure and energy partnerships that will transform Kenya’s economy and create opportunities for our youth.”
The talks also explored potential collaborations in ICT, creative industries, and digital transformation, areas Ruto emphasized as crucial to empowering Kenya’s growing youth population.
According to the President, the partnerships fall under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) framework, which aims to boost trade and investment between the two nations.
In 2024, trade between Kenya and the UAE reached $3.2 billion (Ksh 413.4 billion), with imports from the UAE — mainly petroleum and energy products — valued at $2.5 billion, while Kenyan exports, including minerals, meat, fruits, and flowers, stood at $759 million.
Focus on Airport Expansion and Middle East Relations
The meeting follows Ruto’s recent talks with the Emir of Qatar during the World Summit for Social Development, where discussions centred on a Ksh 200 billion plan to upgrade Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Ruto noted that external financing will be critical to modernising the airport and positioning Kenya as a major aviation hub in Africa.
Additionally, the President secured commitments for 13,000 new job opportunities for Kenyan youth in Qatar, alongside the establishment of a Qatari visa centre to simplify travel and work arrangements.
The latest engagements underscore Ruto’s renewed diplomatic and economic outreach to the Middle East, aimed at attracting large-scale investment to power Kenya’s development agenda.