Mining and investment ties between the UAE and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) gained significant momentum in 2025 with the signing of a series of strategic agreements.
As the world’s leading producer of cobalt, accounting for over 70% of global output, as well as a major tin supplier and Africa’s top copper producer, the DRC is drawing growing interest from UAE investors looking to secure critical minerals for energy transition and high-tech industries.
With an estimated US$24 trillion in untapped mineral reserves, the DRC is seeking to attract long-term UAE investments to unlock greater value across its mining value chain. African Mining Week (AMW) 2025, one of the continent’s flagship mining events, is expected to provide a key platform for strengthening bilateral cooperation. It will be held in October.
A dedicated Middle East-Africa Roundtable will convene high-level stakeholders, including UAE investors, DRC policymakers, and regional mining operators, to explore investment-ready projects and policy alignment.
Increased global demand for minerals central to electric vehicles and renewable energy systems has encouraged the UAE to expand its footprint in the DRC’s extractive industries. Recent investments signal a deeper commitment to supporting local beneficiation while securing reliable supply chains.
In July 2025, Congolese mining firm Buenassa entered a partnership with UAE-based NG9 Holding to establish the country’s first integrated copper-cobalt refinery.
Key Africa investments
The facility will produce 30,000 tonnes of copper cathodes and 5,000 tonnes of cobalt sulphate per year, supporting the DRC’s efforts to move up the value chain and capture more revenue from its mineral wealth.
A month earlier, Abu Dhabi’s International Resources Holding (IRH) finalised a US$366mn deal to acquire a majority stake in Alphamin Resources, gaining access to the Bisie Tin Complex, one of the world’s largest and highest-grade tin deposits.
Tin from Bisie currently accounts for about 6% of global supply, and demand is projected to rise 20% by 2035. At AMW, IRH’s investment will feature in a panel discussion titled Cobalt Opportunity: DRC’s Strategic Position in the EV Revolution, aimed at connecting Gulf capital with African resources.
Beyond mining, UAE players are also investing in the DRC’s power infrastructure. NG9 Holding signed an agreement with local utility Kipay Energy to co-develop a 46 MW hydropower plant in Haut-Katanga, contributing to a planned 166 MW capacity.
These developments underscore how UAE-DRC cooperation is expanding across both mining and energy, with AMW 2025 expected to catalyse further deals and partnerships.
The UAE continues to strengthen its footprint in Africa’s mining industry, with a series of strategic investments aimed at boosting production, infrastructure, and energy security across key markets.
Just this February, investment fund Ambrosia Investment Holding acquired a 50% stake in Canadian company Allied Gold’s mining projects in Ethiopia and Mali.
The deal includes a US$375mn capital injection to accelerate project development, increasing gold output in Ethiopia by 290,000 ounces per year by mid-2026 and in Mali by 400,000 ounces per year by 2028.