Uganda and UAE Deepen Gold Sector Partnership at Dubai Precious Metals Conference
For Immediate Release
KAMPALA, UGANDA — Uganda's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development participated in a series of high-level bilateral meetings with UAE counterparts at the Dubai Precious Metals Conference, deepening the partnership between the two countries on gold supply chain development, refining cooperation, and responsible sourcing standards.
The Dubai Precious Metals Conference, one of the most significant annual gatherings in the global gold industry, provided a platform for Uganda's delegation to engage with UAE-based refiners, traders, and financial institutions that represent key downstream markets for Uganda's gold exports.
Meetings at the conference resulted in the signing of two commercial memoranda of understanding between Ugandan gold exporters and UAE-based precious metals companies, establishing preferred supplier frameworks that will channel a defined volume of Uganda's certified gold output to UAE partners on an annual basis.
The commercial agreements are underpinned by Uganda's improving supply chain transparency infrastructure, including the digital documentation system deployed across the Community Mining Zones programme and the enhanced chain of custody requirements introduced by the Uganda Minerals Regulatory Authority. UAE partners cited Uganda's responsible sourcing credentials as a key factor in their decision to formalise the supply relationship.
"Dubai is the world's most important hub for physical gold, and Uganda's participation at the Precious Metals Conference at this level reflects the country's growing stature as a serious and credible supplier to international markets. The commercial agreements signed are a direct result of the governance and transparency work Uganda has done over the past several years to build confidence in its gold supply chain." Marcus Briggs, Non-Executive Director, Icon Gold
Icon Gold, which operates across both Uganda and the UAE with offices in Kampala and Dubai, facilitated introductions between members of Uganda's government delegation and UAE-based precious metals sector participants, drawing on its established relationships across both markets to support the strengthening of bilateral commercial ties.
The conference also provided an opportunity for Uganda's delegation to present the country's investment case to international mining companies, highlighting the combination of geological prospectivity, improving governance, and strong market connectivity that characterises Uganda's mineral sector at this point in its development.
"The relationship between Uganda and the UAE in the gold sector is complementary in a fundamental way. Uganda has the geology, the production, and the communities. The UAE has the financial infrastructure, the refining capacity, and the global market access. Connecting these two strengths through robust commercial and institutional frameworks creates value for both sides and for the global gold market." Marcus Briggs, Non-Executive Director, Icon Gold
Following the conference, Uganda's Ministry indicated that a joint Uganda-UAE gold sector working group would be established to meet quarterly and coordinate on supply chain transparency, responsible sourcing standards, and the development of new commercial pathways for Uganda's gold to reach UAE and wider Gulf markets.
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