Skip to main content
CooperationInternational

UAE economic model inspires Chad’s development plans

July 9, 2026

By Aisha DUWAI ALI

The United Arab Emirates is no longer just known for oil. Today it is a strong example of economic diversification in the Middle East.

Due to clear planning and investment, the UAE has built new sectors like tourism, trade, logistics, finance, and renewable energy. Its economy is now worth more than $540 billion and grows by about 4% each year.

Each emirate has its own role. Abu Dhabi leads in energy and finance. Dubai is a center for trade and tourism. Sharjah focuses on industry and education. Other emirates work in manufacturing, transport, and small businesses.

This success has caught the attention of Chad. Chad has many resources including agriculture, livestock, minerals, oil, gum arabic, cotton, and renewable energy. The country hopes to learn from the UAE model.

Through cooperation, the UAE could support Chad with investment, technology, and infrastructure. A recent meeting in Abu Dhabi on Chad’s “Connexion 2030” development plan showed this new direction. The goal is to turn agreements into real projects that create jobs and support growth.

The next step is to move from signing deals to putting projects into action. Together, Chad and the UAE can build a partnership for long-term development.

Djinodji Solmengar

Djinodji Solmengar

Djinodji Solmengar Rodrigue is a journalist with MRTV English, Chad’s first English-language media outlet, where he led English-language news coverage at its launch. Based in N’Djamena, his reporting explores political, economic, and social developments, with particular attention to everyday realities, informal sectors, and cultural life. His work also extends to football and broader societal issues, approached through field reporting and in-depth storytelling. Beyond reporting, Djinodji regularly conducts interviews focused on education, including the teaching of English in Chad, as well as conversations (with AFROTRONIX, to name a few) on culture and music. He is also active as an English–French interpreter, working alongside international media professionals. In this capacity, he recently supported and interpreted for a delegation of foreign journalists, including BBC representatives, during the PND Chad Connexion 2030 mission. Alongside his professional practice, Djinodji is pursuing a PhD, with research centered on the presence of China and Russia in Africa as portrayed in selected Commonwealth online media. His academic interests lie at the intersection of media, geopolitics, and discourse analysis. Earlier in his career, he taught English and authored a Master’s thesis examining the contextualization of English language teaching in Chad, reflecting a sustained engagement with educational challenges and policy.

Share