Qatar’s Al Mansour Pledges $103B to Six African Nations Amid Gulf Push

BREAKING NEWSSeptember 4, 2025 at 12:10 PM UTC

TLDR

Al Mansour Holdings, one of Qatar’s largest conglomerates, has announced plans to invest $103 billion across six African countries
The Democratic Republic of Congo will receive the largest allocation at $21 billion, followed by Mozambique at $20 billion
The Al Mansour deal reflects a wider Gulf trend, with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others ramping up African investments

Al Mansour Holdings, one of Qatar’s largest conglomerates, has announced plans to invest $103 billion across six African countries, marking one of the Gulf’s most ambitious pushes into the continent.

The Democratic Republic of Congo will receive the largest allocation at $21 billion, followed by Mozambique at $20 billion. Zambia and Zimbabwe will each secure $19 billion, while Botswana and Burundi will receive $12 billion apiece.

Qatar’s investment drive comes as it seeks to reduce dependence on hydrocarbons, which still account for about 60% of GDP. The National Vision 2030 plan aims to diversify into finance, services, tourism, and technology. Africa, with its arable land, mineral reserves, and labor supply, offers complementary resources.

Qatari firms already have a presence in aviation, telecoms, and energy across Africa. The Al Mansour deal reflects a wider Gulf trend, with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others ramping up African investments to secure food, energy, and geopolitical influence.

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Key Takeaways

Qatar’s $103 billion pledge underscores Africa’s rise as a frontier for Gulf capital. With hydrocarbons vulnerable to price shocks, Gulf states are turning to Africa to secure food, minerals, and new markets. For Africa, the promise is infrastructure, jobs, and finance, though execution risks remain. Foreign direct investment into Africa surged 75% in 2024, far outpacing global averages, with Gulf capital driving much of the growth. Qatar’s earlier moves, such as Qatar Airways’ stake in Rwanda’s airport and partnerships in banking and telecoms, set the stage for larger bets. Al Mansour’s portfolio reflects strategic diversification—energy expertise deployed in mineral-rich countries, capital channelled to underfunded infrastructure, and Gulf financing aligned with food security. The wider Gulf push, including UAE’s $10 billion clean energy pledge and Saudi-led projects in South Africa, shows Africa is now central to Gulf Vision 2030 programs. The continent’s fast-growing population and middle class make it both a resource base and a future consumer market.

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