South Africa and the United Arab Emirates have signed several MoUs to increase cooperation between the two countries. Currently, the UAE is South Africa’s 24th largest export market.
The UAE was the first GCC country to recognize South Africa’s new government after the abolishment of apartheid by establishing an embassy in Pretoria in 1995 with trade between the two countries increasing each year thereafter. And while the UAE mostly delves in South Africa’s gold industry, the MoUs could mean more investment in South Africa’s renewable energy sector.
The International Renewable Energy Agency is now headquartered in the UAE in addition to the world’s first zero carbon emissions city, MasdarCity. MasdarCity is seen as a catalyst for sector growth, so it could be possible that South Africa – in later years – could also have a zero carbon emissions city with a little help from the UAE. The GCC country is keen to push RE, so it will be interesting to see if it carries over into South African RE investments.
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