Africa Rising: First it was China, now the Gulf discovers the African market

Ten years ago, goods from or headed for Africa rarely passed through the ports of the United Arab Emirates — one of the world’s busiest commercial hubs.

The tiny country on the Arabian Peninsula saw about $1.5 billion of trade with Africa each year, barely enough to register on government statistical reports. Other exchanges were also rare: Aside from the occasional international meeting, African ministers rarely had an occasion to frequent the Emirates.