AGDA Trainee Diplomats Visit South Africa to Strengthen Diplomatic Ties

The UAE Embassy in South Africa hosted a delegation of trainee diplomats from the UAE’s Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (ADGA) from February 14 to 19 2025. The Academy is a leading centre of excellence, educate the next generation of foreign policy decision makers.

The Country Visit programme is a key component of the UAE Trainee Diplomats’ curriculum, providing them with hands-on experience in international relations, diplomacy, and cultural exchange. The group comprised of 10 ambitious young Emiratis from diverse academic backgrounds, ranging from social sciences to engineering. Upon arrival, the group first visited OTT Technologies and AGM plants in Pretoria, where they received briefings on the companies' operations and their longstanding relations with the UAE. Additionally, the diplomats had the opportunity to tour the OTT plant and explore the company’s products first-hand.

From February 15-16, the trainee diplomats took part in two excursions. These included a game drive in the Pilanesburg Game Reserve, as well as a visit to the iconic Soweto township, where they explored ways to strengthen cultural and people-to-people diplomacy. This immersive experience also allowed the trainees to engage with South Africa’s vibrant arts scene.

While ADGA operates autonomously, with the responsibility of preparing aspiring diplomats for future roles, it also provides foreign policy advisory services to the UAE government. Therefore, the trainees also visited the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) on February 17, to receive a briefing about the department’s Diplomatic Academy and the current state of UAE-South Africa bilateral relations. They were warmly received by Ambassador Andre Groenewald, Director of the Diplomatic Training and Research Development Institute of the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Senior members of DIRCO’s Diplomatic Training and Research Development (DTRD) provided valuable insights on the department’s operations. In addition, Nelia Barnard, Acting Chief Director for the Middle East at DIRCO, also briefed the diplomats on the historical and contemporary status of the UAE-South Africa relationship, focusing on both economic and political ties.

The trainees then visited the University of Pretoria’s department of Political Science, where they met Professor Chris Isike, Head of the department. The meeting offered them the opportunity to interact with postgraduate students and gain insights from a renowned Professor Abdi Samatar of the University of Minnesota, who is also a visiting Professor in the University of Pretoria.

On February 18, the trainees visited the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), where they heard from three SAIIA experts on key topics; South Africa’s G20 Presidency and its potential benefits for the African continent, as well as the expansion of BRICS. These discussions were particularly relevant, as the UAE recently joined the BRICS grouping and is also a participant in G20 activities under South Africa’s presidency.

Given the growing importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in global business, the UAE’s focus on new technology, and the significant changes diplomacy is undergoing in response to technological advances, the trainee diplomats engaged with the Gordon Institute for Business Science’s Faculty of Strategy, Sustainability and Digital. Professor Manoj Chiba, MBA Director, and Abdullah Verachia, Head of the Faculty, conducted sessions that explored the evolution of technology and how AI is likely to shape the future of diplomacy.

The trainee diplomats departed South Africa on February 19, enriched with new knowledge, expanded networks, and a deeper appreciation for South Africa’s diversity and resilience.