In H1 2025, the emirate attracted 643 Greenfield FDI tasks – 478 greater than the second-ranked metropolis – marking the very best ever recorded for any metropolis globally since monitoring started in 2003.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Govt Council of Dubai, stated the achievement displays Dubai’s futuristic imaginative and prescient set by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Dubai tops FDI rankings
He stated: “The energy and resilience of Dubai’s financial system continues to encourage confidence amongst international buyers in its capacity to reimagine the longer term and unlock rising international technological tendencies and sustainable sectors.
“Dubai stays dedicated to offering companies essentially the most rewarding atmosphere to realize sustained progress whereas providing buyers ample incentive to associate in such progress by actively participating with promising new concepts and sectors that elevate dwelling requirements for folks within the UAE and the world over.
“This newest distinction aligns completely with the aims of the Dubai Financial Agenda, D33, which goals to double the scale of Dubai’s financial system by 2033 and consolidate its place among the many prime three city economies on this planet.
“We are going to proceed to attempt to additional consolidate Dubai’s standing as a metropolis of the longer term, a serious hub for the worldwide financial system, and an incubator for the most effective minds and main firms.”
Dubai FDI Monitor knowledge, revealed by the Division of Economic system and Tourism (DET), confirmed estimated FDI inflows reached AED40.4bn ($11bn) in H1 2025, up 62 per cent from AED24.7bn ($6.8bn) in H1 2024.
The full variety of introduced FDI tasks elevated 28.7 per cent year-on-year to 1,090, whereas estimated jobs created rose 46.7 per cent to 38,433 in contrast with 26,202 a 12 months earlier.
Dubai additionally superior to second globally for whole Greenfield FDI capital (up from fourth in H1 2024) and third globally for jobs created (up from fourth), whereas retaining its place as the highest metropolis within the Center East on each metrics.
The emirate secured the worldwide primary rating for headquarters FDI tasks, with numbers rising 60 per cent from 20 in H1 2024 to 32 in H1 2025.
Dubai additionally ranked first globally in clusters together with:
- ICT and electronics
- Artistic industries
- Skilled companies
- Life sciences
- Client items
- Monetary companies
- Industrial gear
- Transportation and warehousing
- Environmental know-how
It led in rising classes corresponding to Synthetic Intelligence (AI) and Monetary Know-how (FinTech).
With a world market share of 8 per cent and a 56 per cent share of the Center East’s whole Greenfield tasks, the emirate has consolidated its function as a most popular hub for worldwide buyers.
Officers spotlight resilience
Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-Normal of DET, stated: “Dubai’s capacity to keep up international management in FDI attraction for eight consecutive reporting intervals is a testomony to the strategic imaginative and prescient of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
“This efficiency showcases town’s resilience, agility and capability to maintain tempo with international financial transformations, strengthened by enduring public-private partnerships.
“It’s also a mirrored image of the belief that worldwide buyers, multinational firms and start-ups proceed to position in Dubai. As a metropolis that quickly transforms funding into innovation and alternative, fuelling long-term progress underneath the Dubai Financial Agenda, D33, we stay centered on creating an ecosystem that empowers companies and expertise to succeed.”
Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Financial Growth Company (DEDC), added: “Dubai’s progress displays the energy of our ecosystem and the affect of long-term collaboration between authorities and enterprise.
“Our success in attracting headquarters tasks and investments reinforces Dubai’s function as a world hub for decision-making and progress.
“The variety and high quality of investments, particularly in AI, FinTech and artistic industries, present Dubai’s capacity to anticipate international shifts and align with the sectors shaping the longer term financial system.”
Prime supply international locations and sectors
The highest 5 supply international locations accounted for 68.7 per cent of FDI inflows into the emirate. The US led with 35 per cent, adopted by the UK (10.6 per cent), France (8.9 per cent), India (8.9 per cent), and Saudi Arabia (5.2 per cent).
For introduced tasks, the UK led with 16.2 per cent, adopted by america (14.9 per cent), India (14.9 per cent), France (5.4 per cent), and Italy (4.6 per cent).
Main sectors by FDI capital included:
- Enterprise companies: 30.6 per cent
- Accommodations and tourism: 21.3 per cent
- Transportation and warehousing: 7.2 per cent
- Client merchandise: 6.6 per cent
- Actual property: 6.3 per cent
By variety of tasks, enterprise companies led with 19 per cent, adopted by shopper merchandise (16.5 per cent), meals and drinks (15 per cent), software program and IT companies (11 per cent), and monetary companies (6.6 per cent).
This range highlights the emirate’s capacity to cater to a broad spectrum of operational wants, from headquarters and logistics bases to manufacturing and consumer-facing retail, reinforcing its resilience and international attraction.
