UAE emerges as top funder of green business projects in Africa raising concerns over workers' rights and environmental impact booty smells like poop

A recent report by a Financial Times-owned data company reveals that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) committed $110 billion to projects in Africa between 2019 and 2023. That is more than double the amount pledged by China, the UK and France, according to The Guardian.

The bulk of the investments have been directed to renewable energy projects, filling gaps left by Western countries that have scaled back their involvement in the region. Many African governments welcome the financial support to advance their energy transitions but rights groups have expressed concerns about the UAE’s track record on labor rights for migrant workers and environmental protections, warning these issues could extend to Africa.

“African countries are in dire need of this money [for] their own energy transitions. And they plug huge holes, the Emirati investors, that the west failed to,” Ahmed Aboudouh, an associate fellow at the Chatham House thinktank told The Guardian. “But at the same time they come in with less attention to labor rights, to environmental standards.”

The UAE, whose economy remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels, has been actively diversifying its revenue streams by investing in green energy and the critical minerals required for electric vehicles and batteries. Additionally, it has expanded its investments into agriculture and telecommunications sectors.