During the Gerewol Festival, Wodaabe men wear elaborate makeup and compete in a traditional male beauty contest judged by women.
The Republic of Chad
ChadMiddle Africa-3:00Hours behind the UAE
About the Country
General Information
National Identity
Official Language(s)French, Arabic
National CurrencyCentral African CFA Franc (XAF)
National Day(s)11 August (Independence Day)
Capitals
Political / Administrative CapitalN'Djamena
Economic CapitalN’Djamena
Cultural CapitalN’Djamena
Transport & Connectivity
Flight Duration from the UAE≈ 9 – 12 h
Connecting flights
Primary AirportHassan Djamous International Airport (NDJ)
Primary PortNone (landlocked)
Geography
Land Area-
Length of the Coastline0 km (landlocked)
Highest PointEmi Koussi (3,445 m)
Primary Inland Water Body / RiverLake Chad (an endorheic lake shared with Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon)
ClimateTropical in the south, desert in the north
Border Countries
CameroonCentral African RepublicLibyaNigerNigeriaSudan
6Last Updated: July 2026Source: Internal Research
Key Facts
Chad’s flag is almost identical to Romania’s flag, with the main difference being the shade of blue.
The fossil known as Toumai, discovered in Chad, is considered one of the oldest known human ancestors, dating back about 6 to 7 million years.
Cotton is one of Chad’s most important agricultural exports.
The Ounianga Lakes survive in the Sahara Desert despite receiving almost no rainfall.
Many communities in Chad still practice nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyles.
Lake Chad was once one of Africa’s largest lakes and remains an important source of water for millions of people.
Chad is home to more than 200 ethnic groups, making it one of Africa’s most culturally diverse countries.
Chad is considered one of the hottest countries in the world, especially in its northern desert regions.
The Ennedi region contains thousands of ancient rock paintings and engravings that document life in the Sahara thousands of years ago.
Camels remain an important mode of transport in many desert regions of Chad.
Chad is the largest landlocked country in Africa.
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 | ChadUAE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. Marshal Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno
Since May 2024
H.E. Allamaye Halina
Since May 2024
H.E. Dr. Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul
Since February 2025
H.E. Tahir Hamid Nguilin
Since June 2019
H.E. Dr. Mathieu Guibolo Fanga
Since May 2024
H.E. Issakha Malloua Djamous
Since May 2024
Political Summary
Political System
Presidential Republic
The President is Head of State and appoints the Prime Minister as Head of Government.
Ruling Party
Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS): Centre-right (since 1990)
Main Opposition Force(s)
The Transformers (Les Transformateurs): Centre-left
Next Presidential Election
Expected in 2029
Next Legislative Election
2029
Last Updated: May 2026Source: Internal Research
Membership in Key Organizations and Blocs
43Organizations
28Member
0Founding Member
1Partner, Observer or Participant
14Not a Member
No organisation matches.
Last Updated: July 2026Source: Official websites of the respective organizations
Competitiveness Indexes
| Index | Year | Rank Out of | Chad | UAE |
|---|
No index matches.
Bilateral Relations
Diplomatic Relations and Representation
Date of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations27 Mar 197353 years of relations
UAE Ambassador
H.E. Rashed Saeed Rashed Al ShamsiUAE Ambassador to Chad · ResidentForeign Ambassador
H.E. Oumar Teguen IdibeiAmbassador of Chad 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chad Nationalsin the UAE | - | - | - | - |
UAE Citizensin Chad | - | - | - | - |
Main Agreements and MoUs
| Agreement / MOU | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
CEPAComprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement | Not Signed | Discussions Concluded. |
IPPAInvestment Protection and Promotion Agreement | Ratified | Signed on 4 Sep 2018.Entered into force on 12 Sep 2025. |
DTADouble Taxation Avoidance Agreement | Signed | Signed on 4 Sep 2018. |
ASAAir Services Agreement | Signed | 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: September 2026Source: Internal Research
UAE Foreign Assistance
| UAE Aid to Chad | Total Amount |
|---|---|
| Amount (USD Mn) | - |
Bilateral Visits
Official Visits from the UAE
- H.E. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al JarwanPresident of the Global Council for Tolerance and PeaceOct2025
- H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al NahyanMinister of StateNov2024
- H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al NahyanMinister of StateMay2024
- H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al NahyanMinister of StateApr2024
- H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al NahyanMinister of StateJul2023
Official Visits to the UAE
- H.E. Marshal Mahamat Idriss Deby ItnoPresident of ChadJul2026
- H.E. Marshal Mahamat Idriss Deby ItnoPresident of ChadNov2025
- H.E. Tahir Hamid NguilinMinister of State, Minister of Finance, Budget, Economy, Planning and International Cooperation of ChadNov2025
- H.E. Tahir Hamid NguilinMinister of State, Minister of Finance, Budget, Economy, Planning and International Cooperation of ChadJul2025
- H.E. Dr. Mathieu Guibolo FangaMinister of Trade and Industry of ChadJul2025
- H.E. Fatima Goukouni WeddeyMinister of Transport, Civil Aviation, and National Meteorology of ChadJul2025
- H.E. Dr. Mathieu Guibolo FangaMinister of Trade and Industry of ChadMay2025
- H.E. Marshal Mahamat Idriss Deby ItnoPresident of ChadApr2025
- H.E. Mahamat Idriss Deby ItnoPresident of the Transition of ChadJul2023
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)217.2USD Millions
Capex and jobs data include estimated values.
Last Updated: November 2026Source: fDi Markets
Major Companies and Investments
Major Chadian Companies in the UAE
Ecobank ChadBanking and finance
Airtel ChadTelecommunications
Major UAE Companies in Chad
Mubadala Investment Company-
DP World-
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