UAE-based Albaddad Holding has unveiled an ambitious $1.9 billion mixed-use development in Botswana, setting the stage for one of Southern Africa’s largest urban and business projects.
Named **New Botswana City**, the sprawling development will rise in Gaborone and is being delivered in partnership with Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), the country’s state-backed investment agency. Designed as a hub for trade, tourism and international commerce, the project aims to reshape Botswana’s economic landscape while strengthening its role as a gateway to regional and global markets.
Covering approximately 1.24 million square metres, the master-planned city will be built in three phases and combine residential, commercial, hospitality and entertainment components within a single integrated destination. The vision is to create a vibrant environment where businesses operate alongside residential communities, generating year-round economic activity rather than functioning as a traditional business district.
The blueprint includes 51 residential towers arranged across 17 complexes, six commercial and office clusters comprising 18 buildings, five international hotels, and a central boulevard lined with retail outlets, restaurants, cafés, entertainment venues and service facilities.
At the heart of the development will be the **Albaddad Botswana Global Exhibition & Convention Centre**, a 124,000-square-metre events and exhibition complex valued at $292 million. Serving as the first phase of the project, the facility is expected to become one of Africa’s largest convention and exhibition destinations, providing space for international trade fairs, conferences and large-scale business gatherings.
Groundbreaking ceremonies were attended by Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko, UAE Ambassador Mahash Saeed AlHameli, Albaddad Holding Chairman Dr Alfateen Hussein Albaddad, and BDC Managing Director Oteng Keabetswe.
Speaking at the launch, President Boko stressed that the project’s long-term success would be measured by the tangible benefits delivered to Botswana, highlighting the importance of turning strategic land assets into lasting economic value and ensuring that foreign investment aligns with national development priorities.
Beyond its physical scale, the exhibition and convention centre is expected to serve as a catalyst for investment, entrepreneurship and business tourism. The wider development is projected to support between 25,000 and 37,500 direct and indirect jobs once fully operational, creating opportunities across sectors including hospitality, retail, transportation and professional services.
Dr Alfateen Hussein Albaddad described the project as a landmark undertaking that will attract investment, expand employment opportunities and strengthen Botswana’s standing in regional and international commerce. He said the development reflects a long-term commitment to creating infrastructure that supports economic growth while positioning Botswana as a major destination for trade and business engagement in Africa.
For Albaddad Holding, the project also marks a significant expansion into Southern Africa, adding another major chapter to the company’s global portfolio of large-scale infrastructure, exhibition and urban development projects.
