Dubai: For the fourth time, the UAE’s glittering emirate, Dubai, has attained the top global ranking for Greenfield FDI, according to the data released by Financial Times Ltd.’s fDI Markets. This remarkable achievement has been announced by the Emirates’ Deputy Prime Minister and Dubai’s crown prince, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan, through his X post.
Dubai Tops Global Greenfield FDI Rankings Again
Announcing another remarkable achievement by Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan said that the emirate secured 1,117 Greenfield FDI projects worth AED 52.3 billion last year, 33.2% higher than in 2023. The FDI capital the emirate secured last year was the highest ever recorded in a single year since 2020. According to data from DET’s Dubai FDI Monitor, the emirate has achieved another milestone in FDI capital attraction by attracting 1,826 projects, which is an 11% increase from 2023.
With this milestone, the previous records of securing the highest FDI projects have been broken by Dubai. In the previous year, around 58,680 job opportunities were generated through these FDI projects, which was a 31% increase in job creation from 2023. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan said that the emirate’s dominance in the global investment landscape has been made possible through the guidance of the UAE’s visionary leader, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, the current ruler of Dubai and the nation’s Prime Minister.
Dubai’s Consistent Growth: Four Years at the Top
Dubai’s vision to progressively secure its rank as the leading global destination for FDI showcases its commitment to delivering outstanding value to global investors. Its top ranking for the fourth time has been achieved due to the city’s economic and technological transformations under the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 objectives, which is to expand the emirate’s economy twofold by 2033, securing a place among the top three urban economies worldwide.
Dubai’s Crown Prince, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan, said that the latest emirate’s FDI rankings reflect another milestone in its journey towards consistent development. He further said that, despite economic obstacles, Dubai is progressing as a universal focal point for investment, talent, and enterprise, as it offers stability, top-tier infrastructure, and pro-business policies. He added that the emirate is committed to encouraging a culture of innovation to enhance economic dominance and create an outstanding ecosystem that empowers businesses and investors to achieve more success and fortune. He ended by saying that their unwavering ambitious goals are to reinforce Dubai’s rank as the city of the future and a global focal point for visionary minds and the most advanced enterprises.
Dubai’s Strategic Vision Transformed it into an FDI Global Hub
Dubai, with its lucrative business policies, favorable business environment, high-end infrastructure, and advantageous location, is a prime location for global investors. In the previous year, the emirate gained the fourth rank in the global Greenfield FDI capital ranking, which was the top spot across the MEA region, according to data from Financial Times Ltd’s fDI Markets. Additionally, it had the top position in the MEA for job creation through FDI in 2024. From business services, real estate, and IT services to transportation, communications, and industrial equipment, the city has attracted talented professionals across diverse sectors. This escalation in talent attraction showcases Dubai’s favorable business and economic policies, attracting global skilled professionals, which has strengthened the emirate’s top rank in investment and innovation.
The revolutionary projects and strategies introduced under the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which has a goal to strengthen Dubai’s rank as the leading destination for business and leisure, have contributed greatly to its stellar FDI performance in 2024. With a 6.2% and 55% share in global and Middle Eastern total Greenfield FDI projects, it continued to showcase its dominance for investment excellence and economic progress. On this achievement, DET’s Director General, Helal Saeed Almarri, said that the emirate’s consistent dominance in achieving great FDI capital attraction is a testament to the UAE’s visionary leader, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s proactive thinking. He further said that the FDI capital attraction also showcases that global investors, MNCs, and talented professionals are confident to invest in our stable ecosystem, supported by the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and collaborative contributions by public-private partnerships.
Dubai’s Future Outlook on 2025 FDI Rankings
Helal Saeed Almarri said that Dubai is committed to achieving new benchmarks in global economic growth, which are powered by its future-thinking regulations, affordable energy solutions, and strategic international partnerships, to create a landscape to empower visionary businesses. Based on FDI capital data, the top five sectors that accounted for 53% of capital attractions are hotels and tourism (14%), real estate (14%), software and IT services (9.2%), building materials (9%), and financial services (6.8%).
However, the top sectors for FDI projects were business services, food and beverages, software and IT services, textiles, and consumer products, with contributions of 19.2%. 16.5%, 14.3%, 9.6%, and 8.3%, respectively. Dubai’s future outlook for 2025 FDI rankings is positive amid global uncertainties and shifts in economic growth. It can be anticipated that the emirate will continue to secure significant investment, especially in high-tech and innovation-driven sectors, which will be supported by its favorable regulatory framework and incentives for investors.
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