• Senegal, UAE expand port partnership to include Ndayane project
• DP World to modernize Dakar terminal, build deep-water port
• Bilateral ties now span energy, trade, education, and security

Senegal and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the port sector, formalized by an agreement signed between the Emirati port company DP World, Senegal's Ministry of Finance and Budget, and the Autonomous Port of Dakar (PAD). The information was released in a statement from the Prime Minister's Office on Friday, September 12, 2025.

The agreement, concluded during Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko's visit, aims to bolster the existing partnership between DP World and the Port of Dakar while also incorporating the new port of Ndayane.

The partnership between DP World and the Port of Dakar was established in 2007 and became effective in 2008. It grants the Emirati operator management of the Dakar container terminal and mandates the modernization of its infrastructure. As a continuation of this collaboration, DP World launched the construction of the Ndayane deep-water port, which is considered one of the most ambitious port projects in West Africa.

Relations between Senegal and the UAE have gradually evolved from primarily humanitarian aid to a diversified cooperation covering strategic sectors. This includes projects in solar and hydroelectric energy, innovation, youth training, and judicial and security cooperation. It also extends to the academic sphere through excellence scholarships for studies at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.

Trade between the two nations is growing rapidly. According to the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD), Senegalese imports from the UAE increased from $174 million in 2019 to $668.5 million in 2023, consisting mainly of refined hydrocarbons, equipment, and machinery.

This trip marks the Senegalese Prime Minister's third journey outside Africa, set against the backdrop of Senegal's ambition to revitalize its industrialization.

Ingrid Haffiny (Intern)