African Marketplace Dubai 2025 Launches, Spotlighting Top African and Caribbean Brands on the Global Stage

The African Marketplace Dubai 2025 has officially opened at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Dubai, uniting around 200 export-ready brands, creators, and SMEs from across Africa and the Caribbean for a four-day showcase of trade, culture, and enterprise.

Exhibitors from Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Rwanda, the UAE, the UK, and the US are presenting a diverse range of products spanning fashion, beauty, wellness, agriculture, technology, art, and lifestyle. The event underscores the region’s increasing influence in global commerce and creative industries, as businesses position themselves for international visibility and investment.

Mrs Ibukun Awosika and other dignitaries launching the African Marketplace Dubai 2025 

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, Founder of the Ibukun Awosika Leadership Academy and convener of the marketplace, said “Dubai represents the world, a nation of nearly 200 nationalities, built on trade, structure, and inclusivity. It offers the right environment to showcase Africa’s excellence to global buyers and investors. I believe it’s the perfect stage for us to build a mother platform that carries the weight of Africa’s productivity to international markets.”

Delivering a keynote address on Exploring the African Tech Story – Past, Present, and Future, Juliet Ehimuan, Founder of Beyond Limits Africa, highlighted the continent’s digital transformation and the rising impact of youth innovation. “The African tech ecosystem is no longer emerging, it’s maturing. We’ve moved from isolated success stories to building strong, interconnected systems powered by innovation, local partnerships, and resilience. The next decade will be defined by African solutions transforming global industries.”

Startups showcasing their work

Ody Akhanoba, Director of SME Development at Afreximbank, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to strengthening trade and entrepreneurship across the continent. “SMEs are the backbone of Africa’s economic transformation. At Afreximbank, our commitment to advancing Africa’s trade vision goes far beyond words. In 2024 alone, we disbursed over $18.7 billion across Africa, including 111 trade lines that enabled 127,000 SME subloans, we are building the ecosystems that will power Africa’s industrialisation and global competitiveness.”

African Marketplace Dubai 2025 is powered by the Ibukun Awosika Leadership Academy (IALA) with sponsorship from organisations including Afreximbank, Access Bank, Lagos State (through Lagos State Tourism), Wema Bank (SARA), Bank of Industry, GText Holdings, Moniepoint, Nexim Bank, and Sterling Bank. Key partners include the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), African Business Heroes (ABH), TVC Communications, Togo Mall, Ecobank Ghana, and FCMB (SheVentures).

Running from 12–15 November 2025, the exhibition features product showcases, business forums, and cultural exchanges designed to drive investment, foster collaboration, and expand global market access for African and Caribbean entrepreneurs.