UAE Attracts $45.6 Billion in FDI in 2024

The UAE is on track to achieve its target of doubling the Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and has attracted $45.6 billion in foreign investments in 2024, up 49.8% y-o-y from $30.7 billion, according to the UN Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD).

In its “2025 World Investment Report,” the UNCTAD has put the UAE at 10^th place worldwide for FDI inflows, and said that the Emirates was the second largest FDI recipient in the developing world, with Singapore taking the first place.

The UAE Foreign Direct Investment Report 2025, which issued by the Ministry of Investment, highlights the country’s exceptional performance and unmatched success in attracting capital across strategic sectors, reinforcing its status as a premier global investment destination despite an unstable global landscape.

The UAE has set a goal to attract $350 billion in FDI over the next six years, and triple the cumulative FDI balance to $600 billion. The UAE ranked second globally, after the US, in attracting greenfield FDI projects, with 1,369 new projects announced in 2024.

Annual FDI inflows rose from $8.6 billion in 2015 to $45.6 billion in 2024, with cumulative FDI stock reaching $270.6 billion, reflecting a 10.5% compound annual growth rate from 2015 to 2024.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, the UNCTAD report confirms the Emirates’ status as a land of boundless opportunities and the premier destination for innovative businesses and bold ideas.

In a post on X, His Highness said that the UAE accounted for 37% of all foreign direct investment inflows into the region. Out of every $100 invested in the region, $37 comes to the UAE. The country also ranked second globally, after the US, in the number of newly announced FDI projects.

“Our foundation is strong, our future is promising, and our focus on our goals is crystal clear. Our message is simple: development is the key to stability, and the economy is the most important policy,” he added.

Despite a global slowdown in greenfield FDI project growth to 0.8%, the UAE achieved a remarkable 2.8% growth, solidifying its position as a key destination for investment flows. Total capital for announced greenfield FDI projects in 2024 reached $14.5 billion, the UNCTAD report said.

The UAE’s Ministry of Investment has been leading these efforts by enabling investment in key sectors, providing a flexible and competitive environment for global capital, and acting as a trusted partner for international investors.

Reflecting Leadership’s Vision

Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment, said that recording this unprecedented level of FDI inflows to the UAE is an achievement that reflects the strategic choices made by THE UAE’s wise leadership and its long-term vision to establish the UAE as a leading global investment destination.

The Ministry is committed to developing a comprehensive regulatory and legislative framework aligned with the national priorities, meeting investors’ needs, and providing a competitive business environment that attracts global capital, he said.

He added: “The UAE’s investment ecosystem has become a global model, thanks to its stability, transparency, trade openness, and ease of doing business. Through the National Investment Strategy 2031, we continue to set ambitious goals to cement the UAE’s position as a leading global FDI destination. We provide a clear pathway to drive sustainable growth, double investment opportunities, diversify priority sectors, and open new horizons for global companies seeking innovation and expansion in future markets.”

The strong performance of key economic sectors boosted the upward trajectory of announced greenfield FDI projects in the UAE. Software and IT services led announced FDI greenfield project values (11.5%), followed by business services (9.7%), renewable energy (9.3%), coal, oil, and gas (9%), and real estate (7.8%).

The energy sector attracted $1.3 billion in greenfield FDI, advancing the UAE’s national goal to triple renewable energy production capacity by 2030.