According to a real estate specialist, the continent's investment industry would remain resilient despite the epidemic, with data centers in particular anticipated to increase.

In terms of the number of projects, the UAE remains one of the top investors in Africa, ranking fourth in a Knight Frank survey.

According to a new report titled Africa Horizons 2021/2022, the UAE had 71 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects worth a total of USD 5.639 billion in 2019, compared to the top investor, the United States, which has 115 projects worth a total of USD 3.459 billion, with France and the United Kingdom coming in second and third place by a number of FDI projects.

Despite the epidemic, the African investment industry is projected to remain robust, according to the research. However, the cities that survive the epidemic will be those that innovate, give long-term social solutions to their citizens, attract financing, and develop new demand for space, according to the report.

According to the research, Nairobi, Kenya, is the number one city in Africa for innovation and is in the top 100 internationally. Along with Kampala and Cairo, two South African cities, Cape Town and Johannesburg, were named among the top five cities in Africa for innovation.

'Cities with higher levels of innovation but weaker economies may attract those ready to take on more risk, such as private equity investors.' 'These cities include Nairobi, Kenya, Cape Town, South Africa, and Kampala, Uganda,' according to the research.

Lower risk investors, according to Tilda Mwai, Knight Frank's Africa researcher, are likely to favour cities with above-average innovation rankings and a healthy economy, such as Cairo and Johannesburg.

'These cities have the greatest potential to stay economically resilient in the long run while experiencing short-term shocks,' she added.