The Republic of Somaliland has finalized a landmark agreement with the United Arab Emirates to establish the region’s first internationally certified and accredited minerals laboratory, marking a major step forward in the country’s mining sector development.
Republic of Somaliland’s Minister of Energy and Minerals, Hon. Eng. Ahmed Jama Barre, and the ministry’s Director General, Mr. Shuayb Osman Mohamud, concluded high-level talks with a delegation from Emirates Industrial Laboratories (EILAB), led by its General Manager, Ms. Nariman Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi.
The UAE delegation spent the past week in Somaliland conducting intensive discussions with senior government officials to finalize the partnership.
Once operational, the state-of-the-art facility will be the only minerals testing and certification laboratory of its kind in the Greater Horn of Africa, providing internationally recognized standards for mineral analysis and quality assurance.
“This partnership represents a strategic milestone for Somaliland’s mining industry and strengthens our bilateral ties with the United Arab Emirates,” said Minister Ahmed Jama Barre. “The laboratory will enhance our ability to attract responsible investment and ensure our mineral resources are developed to global standards.”
The initiative is expected to boost scientific research, improve mineral certification processes, and support sustainable resource management across the region.
The agreement underscores growing economic cooperation between Somaliland and the UAE, building on previous collaborations in energy, infrastructure, and trade.