The Presidency said the visit follows an invitation from UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with Ramaphosa scheduled to hold bilateral talks ahead of the summit’s opening ceremony.
The annual gathering, themed “Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” brings together political leaders, investors, and civil society to shape cooperation on sustainability and climate-resilient development.
He will deliver a keynote address at the Youth 4 Sustainability Forum, focusing on skills development and inclusive growth, and will join a heads-of-state panel on global energy futures.
The President will also attend the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards, which recognise innovations in sectors including health, food, energy, water, climate action, and education.
His programme includes participation in a high-level session on infrastructure investment across the Global South, an area in which South Africa is seeking fresh capital to modernise transport, logistics, and power systems.
The visit underpins the depth of South Africa–UAE relations, with the Gulf state a significant investor in renewable energy, logistics, and transport. According to the Presidency, Ramaphosa will engage leading business figures to unlock new investment opportunities and deepen economic cooperation.
He is accompanied by International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau, and Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, signalling the economic and diplomatic weight attached to the trip.
