Dubai is an exceptional success story that inspires the world

Dubai has topped the cities of the world in attracting new foreign direct investment projects during the first half of 2025, to maintain its position as a leading world center for foreign direct investment, for the eighth time in a row, since the second half of 2021, according to the data of the “Financial Times – FDIMERTES” data on direct foreign investment markets.

The emirate attracted 643 new foreign direct investment projects during the first half of 2025, a difference of 478 projects from its closest competitors, the city that ranked second, and this result represents the best performance achieved by any city in a half -year, since the FDI Markets began documenting this data in 2003.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, stressed that «the continuous leadership of Dubai in leading the cities of the world in attracting new foreign direct investment projects, for the eighth time in a row, is a real translation of a long -term forward -looking vision, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, May God bless him, who wanted Dubai to be the city of the future, a first destination for investors, and a global platform for the opportunities industry. ”

His Highness said: “This distinction is the fruit of a strategic and advisory vision to keep pace with economic and technological transformations, in order to achieve the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) targets aimed at doubling the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033, and consolidating its position among the three most important economic cities in the world.”

His Highness added that «Dubai exported this important global indicator during the first half of 2025, by attracting 643 new projects of foreign direct investment, and in a record difference from the nearest competitive city, which reflects the depth of international confidence in the Dubai investment environment, the transparency of its systems, the efficiency of its infrastructure, and its ability to adapt to the global economy changes in the spirit of innovation and the speed of achievement.

His Highness said: “This achievement represents a global testimony that confirms Dubai’s position as a pivotal center in the global economy, and a favorite destination for investors looking for a flexible business environment, motivated legislation and stability.”

His Highness added: “The prestigious position that Dubai has achieved as a prominent global destination in attracting new foreign direct investment projects is only a new station in the emirate’s march towards global economic leadership.”

His Highness continued: “We are continuing to consolidate the culture of innovation, enhance the competitiveness of our economy, and create an exceptional business environment that enables companies and investors to achieve growth and prosperity. We are also steadily moving towards dedicating the position of Dubai the city of the future, a major center for the global economy and an incubator for the best minds and leading companies.

His Highness said, in a post on the “X” website, yesterday: “For the eighth time in a row, Dubai topped the cities of the world in attracting new foreign direct investment projects during the first half of 2025, according to the data (Financial Times – FDI Marks), with more than 640 qualitative projects. The vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, his directives, the directions of government work teams and the integration of partnership with the private sector, turned Dubai into an exceptional success story that inspires the world, and proud of the confidence of renewable international investors, reflecting the durability of the investment environment, transparency of its systems, its infrastructure, and its unique ability to adapt to the global economy transformations. Every day we bring us closer to achieving the targets of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and in a spirit that does not know the impossible, we confirm that the future is Dubai, and Dubai is the future. ”

Safe destination

Dubai continues to enhance its reputation as a safe destination that meets the aspirations of investors, thanks to its strategic location, the investment system based on clear regulatory regulations, advanced infrastructure, in addition to the leading digital services, and the distinct link network that reaches various destinations of the world.

Dubai presented from the fourth place in the world in the first half of the year 2024 to the second place in the first half of the year 2025, in terms of the total capital of the new foreign direct investment projects, and also rose to the third place globally in terms of creating job opportunities through foreign direct investment projects that were attracted, compared to the fourth place last year. The emirate maintained its position in the two categories as the best city in the Middle East.

Emerging sectors

Dubai won the first place globally in attracting foreign direct investment projects by hosting the main headquarters of business, as the number of projects increased by 60% from 20 projects in the first half of the year 2024 to 32 projects in the same period of the year 2025, which enhances its presence as a preferred destination for the main headquarters of multinational companies. This continuous momentum highlights the effectiveness and attractiveness of the business system in Dubai, as an important center for achieving growth and prosperity at the regional and global levels.

The emirate also exported the world rankings in terms of new foreign direct investment projects, attracting capital, and providing job opportunities that resulted from attracting investments in various sectors worldwide, including information and communications technology, electronics, creative sectors, professional services, life sciences, consumer goods, financial services, industrial equipment, transportation, storage, and environmental technology. It also continued its leadership among many emerging fields, such as artificial intelligence and financial technology, which reflects its great attractiveness for investors with future visions.

Dubai strengthened its position as a pioneering investment center, as its share in the global market reached 8%, while in the Middle East, it accounts for 56% of the total new foreign direct investment projects. These accomplishments contribute to achieving the Dubai Economic Agenda Devils D33 aimed at doubling the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033, and enhancing the emirate’s position to become a leading global destination for business and entertainment.

For his part, the Director General of the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, Hilal Saeed Al -Marri said: “Dubai Governorate is on its global lead in attracting new foreign direct investment projects for the eighth time in a row. The real fruitful between the governmental and private sectors, as well as the confidence of international investors, multinationals and emerging projects in the city. “He added:” Dubai is distinguished by its ability to convert investments into opportunities, creativity and innovation to ensure long -term growth in the framework of Dubai Economic Agency D33, and we are continuing to work to establish a system that enables companies, creators and talented people to succeed. In the context of the distinguished performance during the first half of this year, Dubai continues to provide the appropriate environment and opportunities to attract investors from all over the world, even in light of the changing global circumstances, as the emirate has the strong foundations and a clear future vision that allows it to continue to consolidate its global position during the second half of this year and beyond ».

Strong growth levels

According to the Dubai Foreign Investment Observatory data issued by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, the capital of foreign direct investment projects that Dubai succeeded in attracting about 40.4 billion dirhams (about 11 billion dollars) during the first half of the year 2025, an increase of 62%, compared to 24.7 billion dirhams, equivalent to 6.8 billion dollars in the first half of the year 2024. The total number of investment projects recorded The direct foreign foreign increase by 28.7%, as it reached 1090 projects in the first half of this year, up from 847 projects in the first half of last year. The total number of job opportunities provided by foreign direct investment projects also increased by 46.7%, up from 26.202 thousand in the first half of 2024 to 38.433 thousand jobs in the first half of this year.

The emirate’s performance in the first half was distinguished by the multiplicity of the types of investment and its fields, as new projects acquired 52.4%of the total projects attracted by Dubai, followed by the new forms of foreign investment by 36.1%, redesmment projects by 4%, and projects supported by adventurous capital by 4.3%, and integration and acquisitions by 3.2%.

This was met with gains in many sectors, including business services, consumer products, food and beverages, software and information technology services, financial services, real estate, tourism, and transportation activities, which is in line with Dubai’s ambitions aimed at attracting innovative future economic investments.

Live foreign investment projects were also distributed over many areas of business, as business services acquired 31.3%of capital flows, followed by the construction sector by 28.6%, retail by 10.7%, logistical services, distribution and transportation by 7.8%, and manufacturing by 7.5%. In terms of projects, retail projects accounted for 36.6%of the total foreign direct investment projects announced, followed by business services by 30.7%, sales, marketing and support at 21.3%, the main headquarters by 2.9%, and logistical services by 2.4%.

This diversity confirms the confidence of the investors in Dubai’s ability to provide support for the various operational requirements, including the main headquarters, logistical centers, manufacturing needs, and direct sale of consumers, which enhances its ability to keep pace with the global economic scene.

Sectors and source markets

Dubai Foreign Investment Observatory data showed that the five most prominent countries constitute a source of capital of foreign direct investment projects that contributed to 68.7%of the total foreign investment capital flows to Dubai during the first half of the year 2025. The list was topped by the United States by 35%, followed by the United Kingdom by 10.6%, France by 8.9%, India by 8.9%, and the Kingdom Saudi Arabia by 5.2%. As for the direct foreign investment projects, the five most prominent source countries acquired 56%of them, led by the United Kingdom by 16.2%, then the United States by 14.9%, India with 14.9%, France by 5.4%, and Italy with 4.6%. These results emphasize the strong confidence that Dubai has in many regions, as a global destination that provides strategic opportunities and a stable climate for business.

Five sectors formed the main amount of 72% of the total capital of foreign investment projects in Dubai during the first half of the year 2025, as well as 69% of the total foreign direct investment projects announced. The list of leading sectors, in terms of attracting foreign direct investment capital, exports each of the business services sectors by 30.6%, hotels and tourism by 21.3%, transportation and storage by 7.2%, consumer products by 6.6%, and real estate by 6.3%.

The business services sector also topped the list of the most attractive sectors for foreign direct investment projects by 19%, followed by the consumer products sector by 16.5%, the food and beverage sector by 15%, the software and information technology services sector by 11%, and the financial services sector by 6.6%.

Partnership between the public and private sectors

“Dubai’s great achievements emphasize the efficiency of our system, the importance of real partnership and fruitful cooperation between the public and private sectors, and with the success of efforts to host the main headquarters of companies, and attracting investments, this will enhance their position as a global center for decision -making and achieving growth, as it reflects the diversification of investments And its quality, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence, financial technologies, and creative sectors, Dubai’s ability to anticipate global transformations, and meet the requirements that draw the features of the future economy, and in the coming months, we will continue to expand the prospects of new partnerships and strengthen the existing ones, as well as establishing the innovation system, to ensure that Dubai’s position is preserved a first global destination preferred for investors looking for growth and stability ».

Hamdan bin Mohammed:

• Mohammed bin Rashid wanted Dubai to be the city of the future, a first destination for investors, and a global platform for the opportunities industry.

40.4 billion dirhams of the capital of foreign direct investment projects that Dubai succeeded in attracting, an increase of 62%.

38.4 thousand job opportunities provided by foreign direct investment projects, an increase of 46.7% on an annual basis.