Expert of the Center for African Studies participated in the RIAC seminar
The seminar was moderated by Ivan Loshkaryov, PhD in Political Science, Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Theory at MGIMO-University. A collective monograph “The Politics of the Leading Non-Western States on the African Continent”, published in 2025 and edited by Loshkaryov, was also presented during
the event.
Among the speakers was Andrey Shelkovnikov, an expert of the HSE Center for African Studies. He reported on the niches and competitive advantages of the Arabian monarchies' foreign policy activities in Africa.
In recent years, the Arabian monarchies have been the most active among all external players in Africa. Such GCC members as UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are realizing the growing importance of the continent, both in terms of economy and demography, as well as in the security context.
It was noted during the workshop that the Gulf monarchies are institutionalizing their policies towards Africa in an attempt to find new areas of engagement. In addition to contacts in the areas of traditional energy sources and food security, the Gulf countries are increasingly involved in renewable energy, mining, and telecommunications projects. This is in line with their desire to diversify their economic development and foreign relations.
In his report Shelkovnikov focused mostly on the African strategy provided by the UAE. He noted that the country's policy in Africa is based on port operators from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which are both presented in all African regions. Moreover, Emirati policies in other fields are often linked to logistics and infrastructure investments.
The speaker also mentioned that the UAE strives to develop its military and industrial ties with Africa.
Follow the link to the RIAC website to watch the seminar in full.