The UAE continues to strengthen its position as a leading global investment destination, ranking ninth worldwide for foreign direct investment inflows in 2025. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the country attracted a record USD 48.24 billion in foreign investment, representing a 6% increase compared with the previous year.
The UAE was also the leading recipient of foreign investment in the broader Middle East region, ranking ahead of Saudi Arabia, Mexico, India and Australia. This performance reflects growing international confidence in the country’s stable economy, investor-friendly policies and long-term development vision.
A significant increase in greenfield investment played an important role in supporting this growth. The UAE attracted investments across key sectors, including manufacturing, telecommunications, digital infrastructure, business services, financial services, transport and technology. Greenfield projects also contributed to the creation of more than 65,000 jobs during the year.
The country received investment across 1,562 projects in 2025 and ranked second globally for the number of greenfield projects for the third consecutive year. These results support the UAE’s National Investment Strategy 2031, which aims to increase annual foreign investment inflows and further diversify the national economy.
The achievement comes despite wider geopolitical and economic uncertainties affecting investment decisions across the region. The UAE’s continued ability to attract global capital demonstrates the strength and resilience of its business environment.
For entrepreneurs and international companies, the UAE’s strong investment performance highlights the opportunities available within its growing and diversified economy. Businesses operating in the country are well positioned to benefit from advanced infrastructure, access to international markets and a supportive environment for long-term growth.
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