The UAE has been named the world’s tenth largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024, drawing in AED167.6bn ($45.6bn) in inflows, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on Commerce and Growth (UNCTAD) World Funding Report 2025.
This marks a 48 per cent enhance year-on-year, cementing the nation’s standing as a worldwide magnet for capital, significantly throughout strategic sectors. The UAE additionally accounted for 37 per cent of all FDI inflows into the Center East area in 2024.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai said: “In a world vote of confidence within the UAE’s economic system, the newest report by the United Nations Convention on Commerce and Growth (UNCTAD) revealed that the UAE attracted AED167b ($45bn) in international direct funding over the previous 12 months, marking a 48 per cent development in comparison with the earlier 12 months.”
UAE international direct funding
“The UAE accounted for 37 per cent of all international direct funding inflows into the area. Out of each $100 invested within the area, $37 involves the UAE. The nation additionally ranked second globally, after the USA, within the variety of newly introduced international direct funding initiatives.
“Our subsequent purpose is to draw AED1.3tn ($354bn) in international direct funding over the following six years.
“Our basis is powerful, our future is promising, and our give attention to our objectives is crystal clear. Our message is easy: improvement is the important thing to stability, and the economic system is crucial coverage.”
The UAE additionally ranked second globally—after the USA—for the variety of newly introduced greenfield FDI initiatives, with 1,369 new initiatives valued at AED53.3bn ($14.5bn).
In distinction to a worldwide slowdown in greenfield undertaking development (0.8 per cent), the UAE achieved 2.8 per cent development.
The highest sectors for greenfield FDI in 2024 included:
- Software program and IT companies: 11.5 per cent
- Enterprise companies: 9.7 per cent
- Renewable power: 9.3 per cent
- Oil, gasoline, and coal: 9 per cent
- Actual property: 7.8 per cent
The power sector alone attracted AED4.8bn ($1.3bn), supporting the UAE’s goal to triple renewable capability by 2030.
The UAE’s cumulative FDI inventory reached $270.6bn in 2024, pushed by a ten.5 per cent compound annual development fee since 2015, when inflows stood at AED31.6bn ($8.6bn).
Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Funding, mentioned: “Recording this unprecedented stage of FDI inflows to the UAE is an achievement that displays the strategic selections made by our smart management and its long-term imaginative and prescient to determine the UAE as a number one world funding vacation spot.
“The Ministry of Funding is dedicated to creating a complete regulatory and legislative framework aligned with our nationwide priorities, assembly buyers’ wants, and offering a aggressive enterprise surroundings that pulls world capital.
“The UAE’s funding ecosystem has grow to be a worldwide mannequin, due to its stability, transparency, commerce openness, and ease of doing enterprise. By means of the Nationwide Funding Technique 2031, we proceed to set bold objectives to cement the UAE’s place as a number one world FDI vacation spot.
“We offer a transparent pathway to drive sustainable development, double funding alternatives, diversify precedence sectors, and open new horizons for world firms searching for innovation and growth in future markets.”
The Nationwide Funding Technique targets AED2.2tn ($599bn) in cumulative FDI by 2031, with a give attention to superior manufacturing, renewable power, monetary companies and knowledge expertise.
The United Arab Emirates funding local weather is bolstered by:
- Full international possession in mainland firms
- A aggressive 9 per cent company tax fee
- Streamlined licensing processes
- Authorized frameworks just like the Dubai Worldwide Arbitration Centre
Its world attraction is strengthened by 21 Complete Financial Partnership Agreements and 120 bilateral funding treaties.
In expertise attraction, the United Arab Emirates ranks fifth globally (INSEAD’s World Expertise Competitiveness Index 2024) and third in attracting AI expertise (Stanford College’s AI Index 2024).
Current milestones embody a $1.5bn AI three way partnership between Microsoft and Abu Dhabi-based G42, highlighting the nation’s rising position in digital transformation.