The UAE has retained its position among the world’s top 10 destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI), ranking ninth globally in Kearney’s 2026 Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index. In 2025, the UAE attracted $48.3 billion in inbound FDI, a 6% year-on-year increase led by investments in manufacturing, digital infrastructure and real estate. The United States also maintained its position as the world’s leading destination for foreign investment, reinforcing the strength of both economies in attracting global capital.

The report also ranked the UAE second among emerging markets for the third consecutive year and identified the country as the world’s most economically optimistic market, reflecting continued investor confidence in its growth outlook, business environment, and long-term economic strategy.

The UAE’s strong performance comes amid continued efforts to attract high-value investment across technology, energy, advanced manufacturing, logistics, financial services, and artificial intelligence. Recent reforms, expanding market access, and a growing network of international economic partnerships have further strengthened the country’s position as a global investment hub.

Why This Matters

The rankings underscore the growing importance of the UAE and the US as destinations for global investment and innovation. As capital increasingly flows toward markets offering stability, talent, and access to emerging industries, both countries continue to distinguish themselves as leading hubs for business growth. For the UAE–US economic relationship, strong investor confidence in both markets creates fertile ground for deeper investment, commercial partnerships, and long-term economic collaboration.

What makes 2025 a distinctive year is not only the scale of inbound capital, but its composition. Investment continued to diversify across sectors, deepening in quality and broadening in geographic origin. – HE Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, UAE Minister of Investment