Mining, agriculture and tourism are emerging as key areas for Saudi investment in Ethiopia, as the two countries seek to deepen economic ties and turn existing trade links into new business projects. Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Abdullah bin Hassan Al-Zahrani, highlights the country’s diverse natural resources and investment potential in an interview with the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), a TV BRICS partner.
Al-Zahrani says Ethiopia has significant opportunities across productive and service sectors, including mining, agriculture, tourism and the development of water resources. He adds that Saudi Arabia has the financial capacity and technical expertise to support projects in these fields and strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors.
The ambassador also points to the role of the Saudi-Ethiopian Business Council, which brings together companies, investors and other private-sector stakeholders from both countries. The council has held several meetings in recent months to identify investment opportunities and promote commercial partnerships.
Trade is another area with substantial growth potential. Saudi Arabia ranked first among Ethiopia’s export destinations in 2025, with imports from Ethiopia reaching around 2 billion Saudi riyals (approximately US$533.33 million). Ethiopian coffee accounted for about 80 per cent of the country’s exports to Saudi Arabia, while Saudi exports to Ethiopia stood at approximately 184 million Saudi riyals (approximately US$49.07 million).
The two sides aim to increase trade volumes further. Al-Zahrani says there is potential to raise bilateral trade to significantly higher levels, noting that the available opportunities could support a substantial expansion of economic ties.
The ambassador describes Ethiopia as a country with extensive untapped economic potential and says it could become a major destination for Saudi investment in Africa and the wider region. He stresses that closer coordination is needed to turn investment opportunities into tangible projects and further strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations.