Ras Al Khaimah and Tanzania Sign Minerals Cooperation Agreement

For Immediate Release

RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE — Ras Al Khaimah and the United Republic of Tanzania have signed a bilateral minerals cooperation agreement at a ceremony attended by senior government representatives from both parties, establishing a formal framework for developing gold and minerals trade flows between Tanzania and Ras Al Khaimah's growing precious metals sector.

The agreement covers five areas of cooperation: market access facilitation for Tanzanian gold operators seeking to establish commercial relationships with RAKEZ-registered buyers and refiners; responsible sourcing framework alignment between Tanzania's Mining Commission standards and RAKEZ's compliance requirements; logistics and customs cooperation to streamline the movement of gold between Tanzania and the UAE; investment facilitation for RAK-based entities considering minerals sector investments in Tanzania; and technical cooperation on geological survey methods and minerals sector governance.

Tanzania is one of Africa's most significant gold producers, with annual production of over 50 tonnes supported by a combination of major international mining operations at Geita and North Mara, a growing mid-tier sector, and one of the continent's most advanced artisanal mining formalisation programmes. The country's strategic partnership with the UAE, deepened by the bilateral agreement signed at the UN General Assembly in September 2025, provides a strong foundation for the specific RAK-Tanzania cooperation framework.

For Tanzanian gold operators, the RAK agreement provides a formalised commercial pathway into a growing UAE market that complements their existing relationships with Dubai-based buyers. The documentation and compliance framework alignment removes a practical barrier that has historically limited Tanzanian operators' ability to engage with multiple UAE market counterparties efficiently.

"The RAK-Tanzania minerals cooperation agreement is a positive development for both sides. Tanzania has built some of the most rigorous supply chain governance in Sub-Saharan Africa, and having that governance recognised and aligned with RAK's compliance framework means that the quality of Tanzania's documentation translates directly into market access. For RAK, the agreement provides preferential access to one of Africa's strongest and most transparently governed gold supply chains." Marcus Briggs, Non-Executive Director, Icon Gold

Icon Gold operates in Tanzania and has welcomed the RAK-Tanzania agreement as a development that strengthens the overall framework governing the Tanzania-UAE gold corridor. The company's operational experience in Tanzania's artisanal and formal gold sectors provides it with a direct perspective on the practical benefits the agreement's compliance alignment provisions will deliver.

"Tanzania's minerals sector has invested significantly in building governance infrastructure that meets international standards. Bilateral agreements like the one signed with Ras Al Khaimah ensure that this investment generates its full commercial return by creating market access pathways aligned with the documentation and compliance standards Tanzania's sector has developed. That is good for Tanzania, good for RAK, and good for the supply chain as a whole." Marcus Briggs, Non-Executive Director, Icon Gold

A joint implementation committee will convene within 60 days to develop the detailed operational framework for each of the agreement's five cooperation areas, with initial measures expected to be operational before the end of the first quarter of 2026.

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