UAE developer unveils US$1.9bn mixed-use project to anchor Gaborone as a trade hub
ALBADDAD Holding, the UAE-headquartered modular construction and events infrastructure group, has launched plans for New Botswana City, a three-phase mixed-use development on a 1.24 million square metre site in Gaborone. The project, presented at a ceremony attended by Botswana President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, is being developed in partnership with the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) and is valued at US$1.9 billion.
Project scope and flagship asset
New Botswana City is designed to combine residential, commercial, hospitality and events infrastructure. The masterplan includes 51 residential towers organised into 17 integrated complexes, 18 commercial buildings across six office complexes, five international hotels and a boulevard district with retail and leisure amenities. The first phase is the ALBADDAD Botswana Global Exhibition & Convention Centre, a 124,000-square-metre venue the developer values at US$292 million.
The exhibition centre is being positioned as the economic catalyst of the wider scheme. ALBADDAD says the venue will offer exhibition halls, conference spaces and outdoor event areas intended to host a year-round programme of trade fairs, industry forums and summits. The developer projects between 25,000 and 37,500 direct and indirect jobs once the development reaches full operational capacity.
Strategic partnership with BDC
The project will be delivered in collaboration with the Botswana Development Corporation, the government’s principal investment arm. Oteng Keabetswe, BDC’s managing director, framed the deal as a mechanism for converting strategic national land into economic participation and measurable value, saying the return should include jobs, procurement, skills transfer, tax revenue and tourism receipts.
That public-private structure follows a growing pattern in Africa where sovereign investment vehicles provide local anchoring and partial equity while leveraging foreign capital and expertise to scale projects faster than domestic markets might otherwise permit.
Why Botswana, and why an events-led city?
Botswana’s economy has long sought diversification beyond minerals and cattle. Policymakers have increasingly targeted services, business tourism and regional trade as growth levers. For developers and investors, a large, permanent exhibition and convention facility can act as an earning asset and as a magnet for corporate activity that supports hotels, retail, transport and professional services.
For ALBADDAD, the project extends a model it has deployed in other markets: vertically integrated delivery combining in-house planning, manufacturing and construction with long-term operations. The group, founded in the UAE in 1971, says it operates in more than 50 markets and employs roughly 7,000 people.
Economic implications and local benefits
If realised as outlined, New Botswana City could create multi-sector economic activity in and around Gaborone. The presence of an international-grade exhibition centre could boost business tourism and create recurring demand for hotels and services, while construction and operations phases would require labour and procurement.
BDC’s emphasis on skills transfer and procurement retention highlights a common expectation in such transactions: government partners seek to capture a portion of the downstream economic value rather than just receive a capital injection. The developer’s pledge to manage the project through its lifecycle may also address concerns about long-term asset utilisation, a frequent issue with single-use big-ticket developments.
Execution risks and considerations
Large-scale projects of this type face multiple execution risks. Financing and capital structuring beyond the headline valuation were not disclosed in detail; delivery will require sustained funding through construction phases and market demand to support operations. Local supply chains and workforce capacity will also determine how much value is retained onshore versus imported.
Moreover, demand risk is material for specialist venues. Exhibition centres require a steady pipeline of large-scale events to be financially viable. Success will depend on ALBADDAD’s ability to attract exhibitions, conference organisers and exhibitors, and on regional economic conditions that support corporate travel and trade.
Regional and investor context
The announcement adds to a broader trend of capital flows from Gulf investors into African infrastructure and real estate. Such projects often aim to link investment returns with geopolitically strategic goals: strengthening bilateral ties, opening new trade corridors and positioning partner countries as regional platforms.
For Botswana, partnering with an experienced international operator offers potential upside if the project delivers jobs, skills and a sustained events calendar. For ALBADDAD, the development represents a strategic entry into Southern Africa, testing a model that combines exhibition-led demand generation with mixed-use urban development.
Outlook
With construction ceremonially launched in June 2026, attention will shift to project financing details, construction timelines and early tenant or event commitments. Observers will watch whether the development secures strong local participation in procurement and workforce development and whether the exhibition centre can attract the international calendar needed to underpin long-term economic returns.
New Botswana City is an ambitious attempt to pair a specialised venue with mixed-use urban development. Its eventual impact will depend on execution, market absorption and how effectively public and private partners capture value for Botswana’s economy.
