The UAE recorded a 2.3% y-o-y increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in 2024, reaching 1.3k, and leading the Middle East and Africa region, Al Khaleej reports, citing fDi Markets’ 2025 FDI report. Investment inflows were concentrated in real estate, business services, and renewable energy.

The UAE also ranked among the world’s top ten capital-exporting countries. It was the fourth-largest foreign investor in Europe (USD 7.2 bn) and the fifth-largest in North America (USD 14.3 bn).

Globally, over 17k FDI projects were announced in 2024 with total capital expenditure declining 6.1% y-o-y to USD 1.3 tn. The US remained the top investment destination, followed by India.

REMEMBER- The UAE came in ninth place globally in terms of confidence in its FDI front. The country aims to boost the total stock of foreign investments to AED 2.2 tn by 2031, and annual FDI flows to AED 240 bn, as part of its national investment strategy. Dubai topped the global list for greenfield FDI project destinations in 2024, drawing in AED 52.3 bn in capital, and maintained its lead in greenfield FDI in cultural and creative industries for the third consecutive year.

Tags: