Relationship dossier
Democratic Republic of the Congo
United Arab Emirates
Relationship assessment
Economic ties feature a trade agreement and plans for a major port project
Democratic Republic of the Congo toward United Arab Emirates
+35The Congolese government signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the United Arab Emirates in 2023 and granted DP World a concession to develop the Banana deep-water port, supporting economic engagement with the UAE.
United Arab Emirates toward Democratic Republic of the Congo
+35The Emirati government signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2023. DP World, a Dubai-based company, also received a Congolese concession to develop the Banana deep-water port, reflecting Emirati-linked commercial engagement.
Overall relationship
+35The relationship is characterized by economic cooperation, notably the 2023 trade agreement and the planned Banana port development involving DP World. The degree to which these initiatives have been implemented, and their longer-term effects on bilateral ties, remains unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
The relationship includes concrete efforts to expand trade and investment. The two governments signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in 2023, and the DRC granted DP World a concession to develop the Banana deep-water port. These initiatives indicate meaningful economic cooperation, though the scope and implementation of the agreements are not fully clear.
Key developments
The two governments signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement intended to expand trade and economic cooperation.
The Congolese government granted DP World a concession to develop the Banana deep-water port.
Major uncertainties
- The implementation and economic effects of the 2023 trade agreement are unclear.
- The current status and progress of the Banana port project are uncertain.
- Details of bilateral cooperation on investment and trade beyond these initiatives are limited.