UAE-Guyana trade surges as Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi leads Emirati delegation to Guyana
UAE-Guyana trade reached $746.3m in 2025 as Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi led a UAE delegation to Guyana to boost investment in energy, agriculture and technology.
The President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali, received UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi during an official visit by an Emirati delegation aimed at deepening commercial and investment ties. The visit, which included senior officials and business leaders, underscored a mutual desire to expand UAE-Guyana trade and cooperation across strategic sectors. Envoy Omar Shuhada, the foreign ministry’s representative to the Caribbean and Pacific, also attended the talks, signalling sustained diplomatic engagement.
President Irfan Ali receives UAE trade minister
Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali welcomed the UAE delegation and discussed the bilateral agenda, emphasizing Guyana’s interest in broadening partnerships with the United Arab Emirates. The meeting focused on practical mechanisms to deepen trade and investment flows and on aligning cooperation with each country’s development priorities. Both sides expressed intent to elevate relations beyond diplomacy into sustained economic partnership.
UAE-Guyana trade posts record growth in 2025
Non-oil foreign trade between the UAE and Guyana reached $746.3 million (approximately AED 2.74 billion) in 2025, representing a year‑on‑year increase of 48.4% compared with 2024. This sharp rise reflects accelerating commercial exchanges and expanding investment interest from Emirati firms in Guyana’s fast-growing market. Officials on both sides framed the figures as an early sign of untapped potential for goods, services and capital flows.
Discussions centered on energy, agriculture, mining and technology
Delegation meetings identified renewable energy, agriculture, mining, and technology as priority sectors for collaboration, with infrastructure and financial services also highlighted. Participants explored cooperation models ranging from project partnerships and joint ventures to capacity building and technology transfer. UAE companies showed particular interest in renewable projects and agri-tech solutions that can support Guyana’s sustainable growth trajectory.
Minister Al Zeyoudi highlights Guyana’s rapid-growth opportunity
Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi described Guyana’s accelerating economy and abundant natural resources as a compelling opportunity for enhanced trade and investment with the UAE. He said the discussions aimed to “consolidate frameworks for practical projects” and to lay the groundwork for long-term, sustainable partnerships. The minister’s delegation held a series of bilateral meetings with ministers and senior officials to identify specific pipelines and investment-readiness measures.
Business delegation explores pipelines during ‘Emirati Trade Days’
The visit formed part of the UAE’s broader “Emirati Trade Days” initiative, during which Emirati business leaders met with Guyanese counterparts to evaluate market entry and joint-investment opportunities. Sessions covered regulatory frameworks, investment incentives, and potential pilot projects that could move quickly from concept to implementation. Private-sector participants stressed the need for targeted memoranda of understanding and technical cooperation to translate political intent into bankable deals.
Officials map next steps to institutionalize cooperation
Both governments agreed on follow-up mechanisms to sustain momentum, including working groups to study sectoral opportunities and timelines for investment facilitation. Officials discussed establishing joint committees to monitor progress, support private-sector matchmaking, and streamline approvals for priority projects. The roadmap aims to convert the recent diplomatic engagement into measurable projects that benefit both economies and support sustainable development objectives.
The UAE-Guyana trade dialogue comes at a moment when both capitals are seeking diversified partners and resilient supply chains, and when Guyana’s economic expansion is attracting global attention. Continued engagement through ministerial visits, business delegations and technical cooperation will be key to translating the recent growth in trade into long-term strategic ties that deliver jobs, infrastructure and technology transfer for both countries.