In a landmark effort to deepen economic ties with the Gulf, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar has appointed Mohammed AlDulaim—a seasoned Saudi investor and founder of the Saudi African Investment and Development Company (SAIDC)—as its Advisor for Investment Promotion.
The appointment, officiated at State House Zanzibar, reflects a sharpened push to attract Gulf capital, strengthen bilateral ties, and anchor investment diplomacy in leadership-driven engagement.
This appointment’s roots trace back to the Tanzania–Saudi Business Forum, held in Riyadh in December 2024. Hosted under high-level patronage, the Forum convened over 200 business leaders from both nations and spotlighted strategic sectors such as infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, and energy.
That momentum carried into 2025, when a 34-member Saudi business delegation—led by the President of the Federation of Saudi Chambers—visited Tanzania and Zanzibar. The delegation included high-level investors, business leaders, and sector specialists focused on Blue Economy, Tourism and hospitality, and Oil and gas opportunities.
Their engagements culminated at State House Zanzibar, where H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, met with the Saudi delegation to underscore Zanzibar’s investment readiness.
“Zanzibar still holds many investment opportunities across various sectors,” President Mwinyi told the delegation. “We welcome investors from Saudi Arabia to explore and participate in our economy.”
The President highlighted priority sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, and oil & gas, and encouraged the delegation to serve as goodwill ambassadors in promoting Zanzibar’s potential back home.
During the same ceremony, two landmark agreements were signed in his presence: the appointment of Mohammed AlDulaim as Investment Advisor via SAIDC, and a cooperation MoU between the Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) and the Federation of Saudi Chambers.
AlDulaim’s mandate is strategic. He is expected to promote Zanzibar to Saudi and GCC investors, facilitate high-level investment partnerships, provide recommendations to improve investment policy and regulatory frameworks, support the organization of roadshows, forums, and bilateral meetings, and lead feasibility studies and investment packaging for priority projects.
The message from State House is unambiguous: Zanzibar is open business and ready to lead
Hon. Shariff A. Shariff, Minister of State, President’s Office (Labour, Economic Affairs and Investment), praised the initiative: “Zanzibar is peaceful. Opportunities abound. When you think of investment, think of Zanzibar — and invest now.”
In response to his appointment, AlDulaim expressed deep appreciation and a clear commitment to advancing Zanzibar’s investment future:
“I am honored by the trust placed in me by Hon. Shariff A. Shariff and the Government of Zanzibar. Zanzibar holds tremendous potential to become a strategic investment hub for Saudi and Gulf investors. I look forward to working closely with our partners to unlock high-impact opportunities, foster sustainable development, and build lasting economic bridges between our regions.”
This renewed investment diplomacy is anchored in the Zanzibar Investment Act, 2023, which offers a modern framework for attracting and retaining quality investors. Notable features include accelerated investment approvals via ZIPA, tailored incentives for strategic sectors, strengthened investor protections and dispute resolution, and simplified land access and project facilitation mechanisms.
With the targeted appointment of advisors like AlDulaim and H.E. Dr. Mohammed Al Rumhy, Zanzibar is signaling a clear shift from passive promotion to active investment facilitation.
Zanzibar is no longer waiting for investors to find it; it is meeting them. Through trusted envoys with market credibility and sector knowledge, the Isles are forging new partnerships that blend diplomacy, commercial acumen, and reform.
The message from the State House is unambiguous: Zanzibar is open for business and ready to lead.
Corporate Lawyer
(Company Secretary for Real Estate Developers Association of Zanzibar (REDA) and Specialist in International Commercial Law & Energy)
Email: masoud@saidattorneys.com
