UNCTAD ranks UAE 10th globally for inbound foreign direct investment, totaling AED167.6 billion
In 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) solidified its status as one of the world’s rapidly expanding economies, fueled by a thriving non-oil sector, substantial foreign and domestic investments, business-friendly regulations, and a flexible regulatory framework.
14x global trade growth rates
In the first half of 2025, non-oil foreign trade increased by 24.5 percent, reaching AED1.7 trillion, which is approximately 14 times the global growth rate.
The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Report 2025 ranked the UAE 10th worldwide for inbound foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024, totaling AED167.6 billion.
The International Monetary Fund increased its growth forecast for the UAE in 2025 to 4.8 percent, while Fitch, Moody’s, and S&P Global confirmed the country’s sovereign ratings, highlighting its robust economic performance and sound fiscal policies.
Data from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) indicated that gross bank assets rose to AED5,199.9 billion by the end of September 2025, while gross credit reached AED2,478.8 billion during the same timeframe.
The CBUAE also introduced the UAE National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2026–2030, aimed at enhancing access to financial services and bolstering financial stability.
Soaring GDP and fiscal stability
Real GDP increased by 4.2 percent year-on-year, reaching AED929 billion in the first half of 2025. Non-oil GDP grew by 5.7 percent to AED720 billion, representing 77.5 percent of real GDP, while oil activity contributed 22.5 percent.
The UAE adopted the Federal Budget for 2026, totaling AED 92.4 billion,marking the largest budget in history.
In the industrial sector, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology signed five memoranda of understanding with national banks to secure over AED40 billion in financing. The fourth edition of the “Make it in the Emirates” platform wrapped up with industrial projects surpassing AED11 billion and a record attendance of over 122,000 visitors.
The Cabinet endorsed the National Investment Strategy 2031, which encompasses 12 programs and 30 initiatives designed to boost annual foreign investment inflows from AED112 billion in 2023 to AED240 billion by 2031, and increase the UAE’s total foreign investment stock from AED800 billion to AED2.2 trillion.
The Cabinet also sanctioned the creation of the National Investment Fund, which will have an initial capital of AED36.7 billion, and endorsed the UAE Strategy for Islamic Finance and the Halal Industry to enhance the country’s status as a global hub.
A hub for 10,000 entrepreneurs
In 2025, the country introduced the “UAE Future 50” initiative across 15 sectors, along with a national campaign aimed at establishing the UAE as a global hub for entrepreneurs, focusing on the training and incubation of 10,000 entrepreneurs.
Between January and the end of November, over 220,000 new companies were registered, along with more than 36,000 new trademarks, representing a 48.2 percent increase compared to the previous year.
The UAE further enhanced its position as a global trade gateway by expanding comprehensive economic partnership agreements, launching the “UAE Global Centre of Trade” program aimed at the world’s top 1,000 international trading companies, and introducing a digital gateway that links thousands of UAE exporters to global markets.
By the end of September, the UAE had 402,311 registered national and international trademarks. In the first half of 2025, nearly 20,000 trademarks were registered, representing a 129 percent increase compared to the previous year.
Source: economymiddleeast