According to the World Investment Report 2024 issued by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the value of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to the UAE in 2023 amounted to USD 30.688 billion compared to USD 22.737 billion in 2022, to rank 2^nd globally in FDI inflows.

The UAE provides numerous incentives to investors, and promotes entrepreneurship. It implements incentives to attract FDI. Incentives include the opportunity for investors of different nationalities to establish and own companies fully. One of the initiatives in NextGenFDI, a collaborative effort between government and private entities. The initiative facilitates expedited licensing and incorporation procedures for cutting-edge technology companies looking to establish their presence in the UAE.

The establishments would be in accordance with the lists published by local authorities, except for specific sectors deemed as Activities with Strategic Impact. In these cases, full ownership is subject to the approval of the regulatory authorities overseeing these sectors.

Promising foreign investment sectors in the UAE

The UAE is actively engaged in incentivising new economic sectors in the knowledge and digital economy. Ministry of Economy identifies the below mentioned sectors as highly promising:

1. fintech
2. eCcommerce
3. agritech
4. health care
5. education
6. tourism
7. space
8. logistics services
9. information and communications technology
10. manufacturing
11. medical tourism
12. renewable energy
13. media and entertainment
14. creative industries
15. gaming
16. smart cities.

Read more about FDI on the ‘Grow in UAE’ portal.

Useful links:

• Foreign investment in the UAE – Ministry of Economy
• FAQs about investment in the UAE – Ministry of Economy
• Foreign Investor Guide - A Practical Guide to Requirements and Procedures (PDF, 500 KB) - Ministry of Economy