Authors : Hessa K. Al-Suwaidi; Dr. Osigbodi Ajose

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 7 - July

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/3yfyj892

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/cfx3h3ke

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25jul1848

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Note : Google Scholar may take 30 to 40 days to display the article.

Abstract : The historical, geographical, and cultural linkages between Africa and the Arab world have fostered a complex and multifaceted relationship that extends across various domains, including trade, investment, cultural exchange, and political cooperation. These interactions, rooted in centuries of shared history, hold immense significance for the socio- economic development and cultural enrichment of both regions. In today's globalised landscape, these relations hold significant economic opportunities and challenges, as well as fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding. On this premise, this paper aim to aims to explore the importance of business relationships between Africa and the Arab world. This Paper delves into the importance of fostering strong business and cultural relations between these two regions, exploring the historical context that has shaped their interactions. From economic opportunities and challenges to the significance of cultural exchange, the paper will examine the various facets of this relationship and the potential impact it holds for both regions. The secondary materials used for each of the subject matters covered by no less than 26 scholarly articles, despite several studies pursuing wide-ranging survey efforts, which did not dig deeper. The study shows that initiatives such as the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are expected to boost intra-Africa trade and create opportunities for businesses to thrive in the region. Despite these promising developments, challenges such as political instability, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure continue to hinder the progress of the Arab and Africa countries. It will be crucial for leaders in these regions to address these issues and implement policies that promote inclusive growth and sustainable development. By investing in education, healthcare, and infrastructure, the Arab and Africa nations can unlock their full potential and contribute positively to the global community. It concludes that by prioritising transparency, good governance, and infrastructure development, the Arab and Africa countries can leverage FDI as a tool for sustainable and inclusive growth. As the global economy continues to evolve, the Arab and Africa countries must seize the opportunities presented by FDI to enhance their competitive advantage and drive long-term prosperity.

Keywords : Importance of Business; Cultural Relationship; Africa and Arab World; Business in Qatar.

References :

1. Le Vine, V.T. and Luke, T.W., 2019. The Arab-Africa connection: political and economic realities. Routledge.
2. Hamza, N. ed., 2022. Architecture and urban transformation of historical markets: Cases from the Middle East and North Africa. Taylor & Francis.
3. Farah, A.I., 2024. Shifting Tides amidst Regional Challenges: Navigating Horn of Africa’s Geopolitical Chessboard—Literature Review. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 12(2), pp.70-83.
4. Zaidan, E., Al-Saidi, M. and Hammad, S.H., 2019. Sustainable development in the Arab world–is the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region fit for the challenge?. Development in Practice, 29(5), pp.670-681.
5. Sushil Jha, S. and Tandon, D.J., 2019. A study on the impact of transport and power infrastructure development on the economic growth of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Journal of Management, 6(2).
6. El-Dukheri, I., 2024. The Implications of Agricultural Saudi Arabia Investment Abroad on Food Security. In Food and Nutrition Security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Vol. 2: Macroeconomic Policy and Its Implication on Food and Nutrition Security (pp. 97-127). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
7. Weir, D., Sultan, N. and Bunt, S.V.D., 2019. Doing business in the Arab world: Unlocking the potential of wasta. In Globalisation and development: Entrepreneurship, innovation, Business and policy insights from Asia and Africa (pp. 323-341). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
8. Central Bank of Nigeria, 2023. Bullion: Fourth Quarter Edition. Available at: https://www.cbn.gov.ng/out/2023/ccd/bullion%20single% 20page%20fourth%20quarter.pdf
9. MURITALA, I., 2025. A Journey Through Africa's Nations: Unveiling the Vibrant Tapestry of Africa Countries. Ibrahim Muritala.
10. Hillman, J.R. and Baydoun, E., 2018. The future of universities in the Arab region: A review. Universities in Arab Countries: An Urgent Need for Change: Underpinning the Transition to a Peaceful and Prosperous Future, pp.1-53.
11. Prince, A.I., Bello, K.O., Nwimo, C.P. and Collins, O., 2023. The intersection of economic inequality and political conflict in Africa: A comprehensive analysis. International Journal of Social Sciences and Management Research, 9(6), pp.69-87.
12. Ojumu, O., Osho, G.S. and Tandon, S., 2025. Economic Diversification and Bilateral Trade Agreements in the United Arab Emirates: A Gravity Model Analysis. Journal of Applied Business & Economics, 27(2).
13. Azumah, J.A., 2014. The legacy of Arab-Islam in Africa: A quest for inter-religious dialogue. Simon and Schuster.
14. Central Bank of Nigeria, 2008. Economic and Financial Review, Volume 44, Number 4. Abuja: Research Department, Central Bank of Nigeria. Available at: https://www.cbn.gov.ng/out/publications/efr/rd/2008/efr-vol.44-no.4.pdf
15. Maranz, D.E., 2025. Africa friends and money matters. SIL International.
16. Ye, Z., 2024. Language barriers in intercultural communication and their translation strategies. In International Conference on Finance and Economics, Humanistic Sociology and Educational Development (EHSED 2024) (Vol. 6, No. 1).
17. Fukutomi, M., 2024. Oil or geopolitical issues?Quantitative rethinking of political instability in the Middle East and North Africa. GeoJournal, 89(2), p.55.
18. Albert, M.S. and Esther, M., 2022. ‘Arab Spring’and its destabilising effects on the world. Journal of Globalisation Studies, 13(1), pp.106-119.
19. Jreisat, J.E., 2019. Bureaucratisation of the Arab world: Incompatible influences. In Handbook of comparative and development public administration (pp. 1007-1018). Routledge.
20. Alhalalmeh, A.H., 2024. The Role of Cultural and Social Diversity in Achieving Sustainable Development in Arab Countries. In Frontiers of Human Centricity in the Artificial Intelligence-Driven Society 5.0 (pp. 573-584). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
21. United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, 2024. 2024 IDTFAA Annual Report. New York: United Nations. Available at: https://www.un.org/osaa/sites/www.un.org.osaa/files/files/documents/2024/publications/2024_idtfaa_annual_report.pdf
22. Giliberto, F. and Labadi, S., 2022. Harnessing cultural heritage for sustainable development: an analysis of three internationally funded projects in MENA Countries. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 28(2), pp.133-146.
23. Hodzi, O., Nilsson, E., Komba, N., Sutinen, E., Kautonen, M. and Laakso, L., 2020. Connecting Africa-Perspectives for Energy, Transport, Digitalisation and Research & Innovation.
24. Bishku, M.B., 2021. Nigeria and the Muslim Middle East: Historical, political, economic, and cultural Ties. The Journal of the Middle East and Africa, 12(4), pp.361-383.
25. Department of Trade and Industry, Republic of South Africa, 2014. Annual Report 2014. Pretoria: Government of South Africa. Available at: https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201410/dtiar2014a.pdf
26. United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (UN OSAA), 2024. International Dialogue on the Future of Africa and Africa Descendants: Annual Report 2024. New York: United Nations. Available at: https://www.un.org/osaa/sites/www.un.org.osaa/files/files/documents/2024/publications/2024_idtfaa_annual_report.pdf
27. Ballout, S., 2024. People of Arab Heritage. In Handbook for Culturally Competent Care (pp. 97-137). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
28. Aballat, M. and Bannykh, G., 2023. Cultural Diplomacy as a Soft Power Tool in Foreign Policy: Morocco’s Approach Towards Africa. Стратегии развития социальных общностей, институтов и территорий. Т. 1.—Екатеринбург, 2023, pp.101-105.
29. Odjo, C.Z., 2024. Self-Determination and Economic Development in Africa: Assessing Successes, Challenges, and Future Prospects. Challenges and Future Prospects (July 10, 2024).
30. Akrong, A.O., 2019. Trade, routes, trade, and commerce in pre-colonial Africa. In Gender, democracy and institutional development in Africa (pp. 67-98). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
31. Botha, O.A., 2024. The Role and Impact of Ancient Egyptian Red Sea Trade Routes in Facilitating Cross-Cultural Exchange. Journal of Research in Social Science and Humanities, 3(2), pp.59-65.
32. Scheele, J., 2024. Trans-Saharan Trade. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of African History.
33. Berzock, K.B., ed., 2019. Caravans of Gold, Fragments in Time: Art, Culture, and Exchange across Medieval Saharan Africa. Princeton University Press.
34. Horton, M., Boivin, N. and Crowther, A., 2021. Eastern Africa and the early Indian Ocean: understanding mobility in a globalising world. Journal of Egyptian History, 13(1-2), pp.380-408.
35. Meservey, J., 2021. ‘Salafis, Sufis, and the contest for the future of Africa Islam’, Heritage Foundation (Africa Commentary), 30 July. Available at: https://www.heritage.org/africa/commentary/salafis-sufis-and-the-contest-for-the-future-Africa-islam
36. Farah, A.I., 2024. Shifting Tides amidst Regional Challenges: Navigating Horn of Africa’s Geopolitical Chessboard—Literature Review. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 12(2), pp.70-83.
37. Al Dwakat, M.K., Al Dwaikat, M.K. and Alolabi, Y.A., 2023. The educational role of the Arab family: Challenges of cultural globalisation. International Journal of Business and Society, 24(3), pp.1118-1142.
38. Mir, S., 2019. Colonialism, postcolonialism, globalisation, and arab culture. Arab Studies Quarterly, 41(1), pp.33-58.
39. Benyera, E., 2019. The colonial state is the problem in Africa. In Reimagining justice, human rights and leadership in Africa: Challenging discourse and searching for alternative paths (pp. 21-35). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
40. Mikdashi, Z., 2019. The international politics of natural resources. Cornell University Press.
41. Christensen, D. and Laitin, D.D., 2019. Africa states since independence: Order, development, and democracy. Yale University Press.
42. Mir, S., 2019. Colonialism, postcolonialism, globalisation, and arab culture. Arab Studies Quarterly, 41(1), pp.33-58.
43. Yahya, M. ed., 2023. How Border Peripheries are Changing the Nature of Arab States. Palgrave Macmillan.
44. Mir, S., 2019. Colonialism, postcolonialism, globalisation, and arab culture. Arab Studies Quarterly, 41(1), pp.33-58.
45. Elgamri, A., Mohammed, Z., El-Rhazi, K., Shahrouri, M., Ahram, M., Al-Abbas, A.M. and Silverman, H., 2024. Challenges facing Arab researchers in conducting and publishing scientific research: a qualitative interview study. Research Ethics, 20(2), pp.331-362.
46. Elgamri, A., Mohammed, Z., El-Rhazi, K., Shahrouri, M., Ahram, M., Al-Abbas, A.M. and Silverman, H., 2024. Challenges facing Arab researchers in conducting and publishing scientific research: a qualitative interview study. Research Ethics, 20(2), pp.331-362.