The UAE has launched a new strategy to double cumulative foreign direct investment to Dh1.3 trillion ($354 billion) by 2031 amid its economic diversification push.
The investment strategy was launched at the annual meetings of the UAE government in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said on X on Tuesday.
The strategy, which also aims to triple the cumulative FDI balance to Dh2.2 trillion by 2031, will target key sectors such as advanced manufacturing and renewable energy, the UAE government said in a statement.
“This will be achieved through five strategic directions: attracting new investments in priority sectors, expanding FDI in existing projects, strengthening international partnerships, enhancing investor relations, and boosting the UAE's overall competitiveness,” it said.
The UAE had previously set a target to attract Dh550 billion in foreign investment by 2031 and to eventually reach Dh1 trillion by 2051. It also aims to rank among the top 10 countries globally in terms of attracting FDI.
“The National Investment Strategy 2031 builds on achievements driven by carefully crafted plans, programmes and initiatives aimed at positioning the UAE as a global strategic investment hub,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “The UAE possesses strong fundamentals to attract investments, companies, businesses and talent.”
Speaking at the government meetings on Tuesday, Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said the UAE's key focus in the coming years was ensuring a better life for its citizens and maintaining the nation's position as a global role model.
He said the government has put prioritising national identity, family, and artificial intelligence at the heart of government efforts, and this focus will be translated into actionable plans, policies, and initiatives for 2025.
"Our foremost pillar is our national identity, preserving our values, language, heritage, and cultural influence," Mr Al Gergawi said in a readout from news agency Wam.
"Without it, who are we? National identity is a top priority for our leadership, consistently emphasised by His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.”
Focus on FDI
The UAE, the Arab world’s second-largest economy, has been striving to boost FDI as it moves forward with its aim to diversify its economy away from oil.
The Emirates attracted $30.68 billion of FDI inflows in 2023, compared with $22.73 billion in 2022, an annual growth of 35 per cent, the UN Conference on Trade and Development stated in its 2024 World Investment Report in June. FDI outflows from the country stood at $22.3 billion, compared with $24.8 billion in 2022.
In terms of cumulative FDI balance, the UAE has “significantly outpaced global growth rates” over the past decade, according to the UAE's Ministry of Investment. From 2013 to 2023, the UAE’s FDI balance increased by 150 per cent, compared with the global average growth rate of 97 per cent.
The country was also ranked in the Unctad report as the second-largest market after the US for greenfield foreign direct investment in 2023, as it continues to boost business with its investor-friendly policies. Greenfield FDI involves a company establishing operations in another country by building new facilities from the ground up.
The Emirates made 1,323 greenfield FDI project announcements last year, up 33 per cent annually, while the US had 2,152 greenfield FDI project announcements, the Unctad report found. The UAE gained two places in the ranking of top destinations for greenfield projects, after entering the top five in 2022.
To boost FDI, the UAE has unveiled initiatives including 100 per cent foreign ownership of companies, reduced visa restrictions and incentives for small and medium enterprises. It also unveiled the NextGen FDI programme, which seeks to speed up licensing, increase the issuance of bulk or golden visas, improve banking services and provide commercial and residential lease incentives for technology companies seeking to relocate to the country.
The country's comprehensive economic partnership agreements are also aimed at enhancing bilateral investments.
According to the Ministry of Economy, the “promising foreign investment sectors” in the UAE include FinTech, AgriTech, health care, education, e-commerce, tourism, space, logistics services, information and communications technology, manufacturing, renewable energy, gaming and smart cities.
At the meetings on Tuesday, the UAE also launched the InvestUAE brand to act as a unified platform for promoting the country as a global investment hub. While the Ministry of Investment handles policy and regulation, InvestUAE will lead promotional efforts, including awareness campaigns, summits, international events and digital marketing targeting global investors, the statement said.
The UAE also moved up on Kearney’s 2024 Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index, jumping to eighth place from 18th. It also came second on Kearney’s emerging market index – behind China, rising from third last year.
The UAE’s higher ranking “is a clear reflection of its … decisive push towards economic diversification, which [has] firmly cemented the UAE’s position as a magnet for global investment”, Rudolph Lohmeyer, partner at the National Transformations Institute, Kearney Middle East, said during the launch of the report in April.
The ranking also “reflects growing investor confidence driven by the UAE’s sustained track record of policy reform”, he said.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained
Defined Benefit Plan (DB)
A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.
Defined Contribution Plan (DC)
A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
Kalra's feat
- Becomes fifth batsman to score century in U19 final
- Becomes second Indian to score century in U19 final after Unmukt Chand in 2012
- Scored 122 in youth Test on tour of England
- Bought by Delhi Daredevils for base price of two million Indian rupees (Dh115,000) in 2018 IPL auction
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3ECompany%20name%3A%20CarbonSifr%3Cbr%3EStarted%3A%202022%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Onur%20Elgun%2C%20Mustafa%20Bosca%20and%20Muhammed%20Yildirim%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Climate%20tech%3Cbr%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%241%20million%20raised%20in%20seed%20funding%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Stage 2
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix 4:18:30
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:06
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma 0:00:06
4. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:06
5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:08
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Company profile
Name: Tharb
Started: December 2016
Founder: Eisa Alsubousi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Luxury leather goods
Initial investment: Dh150,000 from personal savings
The five pillars of Islam
Biog:
Age: 34
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite sport: anything extreme
Favourite person: Muhammad Ali
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
UAE%20ILT20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMarquee%20players%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMoeen%20Ali%2C%20Andre%20Russell%2C%20Dawid%20Malan%2C%20Wanindu%20Hasiranga%2C%20Sunil%20Narine%2C%20Evin%20Lewis%2C%20Colin%20Munro%2C%20Fabien%20Allen%2C%20Sam%20Billings%2C%20Tom%20Curran%2C%20Alex%20Hales%2C%20Dushmantha%20Chameera%2C%20Shimron%20Hetmyer%2C%20Akeal%20Hosein%2C%20Chris%20Jordan%2C%20Tom%20Banton%2C%20Sandeep%20Lamichhane%2C%20Chris%20Lynn%2C%20Rovman%20Powell%2C%20Bhanuka%20Rajapaksa%2C%20Mujeeb%20Ul%20Rahman%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInternational%20players%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELahiru%20Kumara%2C%20Seekugge%20Prassanna%2C%20Charith%20Asalanka%2C%20Colin%20Ingram%2C%20Paul%20Stirling%2C%20Kennar%20Lewis%2C%20Ali%20Khan%2C%20Brandon%20Glover%2C%20Ravi%20Rampaul%2C%20Raymon%20Reifer%2C%20Isuru%20Udana%2C%20Blessing%20Muzarabani%2C%20Niroshan%20Dickwella%2C%20Hazaratullah%20Zazai%2C%20Frederick%20Klassen%2C%20Sikandar%20Raja%2C%20George%20Munsey%2C%20Dan%20Lawrence%2C%20Dominic%20Drakes%2C%20Jamie%20Overton%2C%20Liam%20Dawson%2C%20David%20Wiese%2C%20Qais%20Ahmed%2C%20Richard%20Gleeson%2C%20James%20Vince%2C%20Noor%20Ahmed%2C%20Rahmanullah%20Gurbaz%2C%20Navin%20Ul%20Haq%2C%20Sherfane%20Rutherford%2C%20Saqib%20Mahmood%2C%20Ben%20Duckett%2C%20Benny%20Howell%2C%20Ruben%20Trumpelman%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
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