Namibia’s national animal is the oryx (gemsbok), which appears on the country’s coat of arms.
The Republic of Namibia
NamibiaSouthern Africa-2:00Hours behind the UAE
About the Country
General Information
National Identity
Official Language(s)English
National CurrencyNamibian Dollar (NAD)
National Day(s)21 March (Independence Day)
Capitals
Political / Administrative CapitalWindhoek
Economic CapitalWindhoek
Cultural CapitalWindhoek
Transport & Connectivity
Flight Duration from the UAE≈ 11 – 14 h
Connecting flights
Primary AirportHosea Kutako International Airport (WDH)
Primary PortPort of Walvis Bay
Geography
Land Area-
Length of the Coastline1,572 km
Highest PointKonigstein on Brandberg (2,573 m)
Primary Inland Water Body / RiverOrange River (forms most of Namibia’s southern border)
ClimateDesert; hot, dry conditions with sparse and erratic rainfall; subtropical in the far north
Border Countries
AngolaBotswanaSouth AfricaZambia
4Last Updated: July 2026Source: Internal Research
Key Facts
Oshituthi shomagongo, the marula fruit festival of Namibia’s Aawambo communities, was added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2015.
Namibia became independent from South African rule on 21 March 1990.
The Namib Desert is one of the oldest deserts in the world, estimated to be around 55 million years old.
Diamond mining began in 1908 and has historically been a major part of Namibia’s mining industry.
UNESCO describes the Namib Sand Sea as the world’s only coastal desert with extensive dune fields substantially influenced by fog.
Oshifima, a stiff porridge made from pearl millet (mahangu), is a staple food often regarded as Namibia’s national dish, usually served with meat or stew.
Namibia has some of the highest sand dunes in the world, including Big Daddy at 325 meters and Dune 7 at about 388 meters.
Namibia has the largest population of free-roaming cheetahs in the world, with around 3,000 cheetahs living in the wild.
Namibia’s national bird is the African fish eagle, which is also featured on the coat of arms.
Namibia was one of the first countries in the world to include environmental protection in its constitution.
Over one third of Namibia’s population is under the age of 15.
Last Updated: July 2026Source: Internal Research
Economic Overview
Macroeconomic Snapshot
GDP, current prices-USD Billions
Real GDP growth-Annual percent change (%)
GDP per capita, current prices-USD per capita
Population-Millions of people
General government gross debt-% of GDP
Income levelWorld Bank classification-
Economic Comparison
| Indicator |  UAE | NamibiaUAE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP, current pricesUSD Billions | - | - | |
| GDP, PPPCurrent int$ | - | - | |
| Real GDP growthAnnual percent change (%) | - | - | |
| GDP per capita, current pricesUSD per capita | - | - | |
| PopulationMillions of people | - | - | |
| Unemployment rate% of total labor force | - | - | |
| Inflation rate (avg. consumer prices)Annual percent change (%) | - | - | |
| General government gross debt% of GDP | - | - | |
| Income levelWorld Bank classification | - | - |
Foreign Trade
No data available for this section yet.
Political Overview
Leadership
H.E. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Since March 2025
H.E. Lucia Witbooi
Since March 2025
H.E. Dr. Elijah Ngurare
Since March 2025
H.E. Selma Ashipala-Musavyi
Since March 2025
H.E. Erica Shafudah
Since March 2025
H.E. Selma Ashipala-Musavyi
Since March 2025
H.E. Frans Kapofi
Since April 2021
Political Summary
Political System
Semi-Presidential Representative Democratic Republic
Namibia has a multi-party system under its Constitution, which separates powers among three independent branches: the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.
Ruling Party
South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO): Left-wing
Main Opposition Force(s)
Independent Patriots for Change (IPC): Centre
Next Presidential Election
Expected in 2029
Next Legislative Election
2029
Last Updated: May 2026Source: Internal Research
Membership in Key Organizations and Blocs
43Organizations
17Member
0Founding Member
13Partner, Observer or Participant
13Not a Member
No organisation matches.
Last Updated: July 2026Source: Official websites of the respective organizations
Competitiveness Indexes
| Index | Year | Rank Out of | Namibia | UAE |
|---|
No index matches.
Bilateral Relations
Diplomatic Relations and Representation
Date of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations22 Jul 199630 years of relations
UAE Ambassador
H.E. Mahash Saeed Salem Mahash Al HameliUAE Ambassador to Namibia · Non-residentForeign Ambassador
H.E. Feliu HanushekAmbassador of Namibia to the UAE · ResidentLast Updated: June 2026Source: MoFA; Internal Research
Flights by UAE Carriers
Passenger Flights
October 2026 figures0Total Weekly Passenger Flights
EYEtihad Airways0
EKEmirates0
FZflydubai0
G9Air Arabia0
Cargo Flights
October 2026 figures0Total Weekly Cargo Flights
EYEtihad Cargo0
EKEmirates SkyCargo0
Last Updated: October 2026Source: GCAA
Consular Information
Tourists | Residents | Students | Golden Visa Holders | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Namibia Nationalsin the UAE | - | - | - | - |
UAE Citizensin Namibia | - | - | - | - |
Main Agreements and MoUs
| Agreement / MOU | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
CEPAComprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement | - | - |
IPPAInvestment Protection and Promotion Agreement | - | - |
DTADouble Taxation Avoidance Agreement | - | - |
ASAAir Services Agreement | Signed | - |
Ratified— Signed and entered into force
Signed— Signed, but entry into force or ratification is pending
Not Signed— No signed agreement exists
Last Updated: May 2026Source: Internal Research
UAE Foreign Assistance
| UAE Aid to Namibia | Total Amount |
|---|---|
| Amount (USD Mn) | - |
Bilateral Visits
Official Visits from the UAE
- H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al ZeyoudiMinister of Foreign TradeFeb2026
- H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al NahyanMinister of StateMar2025
- H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al NahyanMinister of StateFeb2024
Official Visits to the UAE
- H.E. Lucia WitbooiVice President of NamibiaJan2026
- H.E. Ester-Anna NghipondokaMinister of Education, Arts and Culture of NamibiaFeb2024
- H.E. Hage GeingobPresident of NamibiaMar2022
The officials’ titles shown reflect the positions held at the time of the visit.
Last Updated: April 2026Source: Internal Research
Trade
Non-Oil Bilateral Trade
-
Rank Among UAE's Trade Partners
-Non-oil trade partner of the UAE
-Source of UAE imports
-Destination for UAE exports
-Destination for UAE re‑exports
Key Trade Commodities
-
Foreign Direct Investment Flows
FDI Inflows (Into the UAE)-
Jan 2021 – Sep 2026
FDI Outflows (UAE Abroad)235.9USD Millions
Capex and jobs data include estimated values.
Last Updated: November 2026Source: fDi Markets
Major Companies and Investments
Major Namibian Companies in the UAE
- -
Major UAE Companies in Namibia
Mubadala Investment Company-
DP WorldPorts and logistics
Masdar-
Last Updated: April 2026Source: Internal Research
Business Support
Joint Business Council(s)-
Cooperation Opportunities
Priority level: HIGH / MEDIUM / EMERGING, based on overall attractiveness to the UAE.
Last Updated: September 2026Source: Internal Research