Gaborone: In the presence of Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana, ALBADDAD Holding, the UAE-headquartered global group specializing in modular construction and exhibition infrastructure, announced the launch of New Botswana City. This transformative mixed-use destination is designed to position Botswana as a leading hub for trade, tourism, and international business engagement. The project is facilitated through a strategic partnership with Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), the main investment arm of the Government of Botswana.
According to Emirates News Agency, New Botswana City spans 1,240,000 square meters with a total projected value of US$1.9 billion across three phases. The development positions Gaborone, Botswana's capital, as a regional center for trade, business events, and investment. It is envisioned as a destination where people live, work, and trade every day, bringing together business, commerce, hospitality, and community life within a dynamic ecosystem that generates continuous economic activity and opportunity.
The city comprises 51 residential towers across 17 integrated complexes, 18 buildings for commercial and office use, five international hotels, and an integrated boulevard district featuring retail outlets, restaurants, cafes, entertainment facilities, and service amenities. This development will expand ALBADDAD's international footprint into Southern Africa and reinforce its standing as a leading global developer and operator of large-scale exhibition, event, and infrastructure destinations.
New Botswana City represents a new model for economic development in Southern Africa, integrating infrastructure to support business growth, international investment, and modern urban living. Its development will be anchored by the ALBADDAD Botswana Global Exhibition and Convention Centre, a 124,000-square-meter integrated events facility valued at US$292 million, designed as the first phase of the new city development.
The construction was marked by a groundbreaking ceremony officiated by Advocate Duma Gideon Boko in the presence of Mahash Saeed AlHameli, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of South Africa and Non-Resident Ambassador to Botswana; Dr. Alfateen Hussein Albaddad, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ALBADDAD Holding; and Oteng Keabetswe, BDC's Managing Director.
President Boko emphasized that the project must ultimately be judged by the value it creates for Botswana and its people, stating, "New Botswana City must prove that strategic land can be converted into national value; that global capital can enter Botswana under clear terms, with clear benefits and respect for national priorities; and that private sector capability can work with a public development mandate."
The ALBADDAD Botswana Global Exhibition and Convention Centre will be among the largest and most advanced venues of its kind in Africa. It will serve as a catalyst for economic growth by providing a permanent platform for trade, investment, innovation, and business tourism. Beyond hosting exhibitions and conferences, it aims to attract international capital, support entrepreneurship, and strengthen Botswana's SME ecosystem, creating opportunities across hospitality, retail, transport, and professional services. Full operational capacity is anticipated to generate approximately 25,000 to 37,500 total direct and indirect jobs, embedding sustained economic opportunity across multiple sectors.
Dr. Alfateen Hussein Albaddad expressed pride in partnering with Botswana Development Corporation on a development of this significance. He extended gratitude to Advocate Duma Gideon Boko for his support and vision, and to Botswana Development Corporation for its partnership and confidence in ALBADDAD. New Botswana City is designed to create opportunities, attract investment, generate employment, and strengthen the country's position in the regional and global economy. He emphasized the project's role as a gateway to Africa's trade future and a landmark legacy built in Botswana, made for the world.
Oteng Keabetswe highlighted the project's potential for converting a strategic national asset into participation, economic activity, and measurable value for Botswana. The broader return is expected through jobs, procurement, skills transfer, tax revenues, tourism receipts, business activity, and value retained in Botswana.
Beyond its physical infrastructure, the ALBADDAD Botswana Global Exhibition and Convention Centre is designed to establish a year-round calendar of international exhibitions, trade fairs, industry forums, corporate events, and regional summits. This sustained program of activity will create recurring opportunities for business growth, tourism, and international engagement, generating economic impact well beyond the venue itself.