Emirati billionaire behind Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, eyes fresh investment in Africa’s luxury hotel sector

Emirati billionaire and Emaar Properties founder Mohamed Alabbar is preparing to deepen his investment footprint in Africa, with plans for a major luxury hospitality project in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he held a “highly productive working meeting” with Alabbar, describing him as the visionary founder of Emaar Properties, the Dubai-based developer behind landmarks including the Burj Khalifa.

According to Mnangagwa, the meeting produced plans for a “massive new investment in premium hospitality” that will bring luxury hotels to Zimbabwe.

Alabbar founded Emaar Properties, one of the UAE’s largest property developers. The company developed the Burj Khalifa, which opened in Dubai in 2010, and has expanded into residential, retail and hospitality developments across international markets.

The Burj Khalifa is a 828-metre skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and has been the world’s tallest building since its completion in 2010. It is one of Dubai’s most recognisable landmarks and a symbol of the emirate’s global real-estate and tourism ambitions.

The development is expected to move into the next stage later this month, with Alabbar and an executive delegation scheduled to travel to Zimbabwe to inspect potential sites and finalise details of the project.

Mnangagwa said the investment would create thousands of jobs, support local businesses and strengthen Zimbabwe’s position as a destination for international travellers.

The engagement was arranged and coordinated by the president’s Special Advisor on Investment and Empowerment, Dr Paul Tungwarara, who Mnangagwa said continues to play an important role in advancing Zimbabwe’s economic diplomacy and attracting international partnerships.

The latest announcement builds on earlier interest by Alabbar in Zimbabwe’s hospitality sector.

In 2024, reports emerged that the Emirati businessman was considering investments in luxury hotels and upscale residential developments in the country following discussions with Mnangagwa during the president’s visit to Dubai.

For Zimbabwe, the proposed project represents an attempt to attract globally recognised hospitality and property developers as the government seeks to increase foreign investment and expand tourism infrastructure.

The scale and value of Alabbar’s latest proposed investment have not yet been disclosed, with the upcoming site inspections expected to provide greater clarity on the locations, hotel brands and overall size of the development.