The UAE attracted $45.6bn in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024, ranking 10th globally and accounting for 37% of all inbound investment into the region, according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) World Investment Report 2025.

This represents a 48% year-on-year increase, driven by strategic policy reforms, economic openness and sectoral diversification. The UAE also ranked second globally for newly announced greenfield FDI projects, with 1,369 initiatives valued at $14.5bn.

Vice-President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum described the figures as “a vote of confidence” in the UAE’s economic trajectory, adding that the nation’s next goal is to attract AED1.3tn in FDI over the next six years. “Out of every $100 invested in the region, $37 comes to the UAE,” he stated.

The UAE’s long-term approach, guided by the National Investment Strategy 2031, aims to double annual FDI inflows and reach a cumulative AED 2.2tn in investment by 2031. The country’s total FDI stock hit $270.6 billion in 2024, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5% since 2015.

Key sectors driving greenfield project value included software, business services, and renewable energy. The energy sector alone attracted $1.3bn, aligning with national plans to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030.

Investment Minister Mohamed Hassan Al-Suwaidi emphasised that policy clarity, legal protections and full foreign ownership rights remain core drivers of global investor confidence. The UAE’s investment climate is further strengthened by 21 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) and a landmark $1.5bn AI collaboration between Microsoft and G42.

At a time when global FDI flows are decelerating, the UAE’s performance highlights its growing stature as a resilient and competitive hub for sustainable investment.