Dubai has once again claimed the top global ranking for Greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, reinforcing its status as one of the world’s most attractive destinations for international capital.
According to the Financial Times’ fDi Markets database, the emirate secured the No. 1 spot worldwide for the eighth consecutive half-year, attracting 643 Greenfield FDI projects in the first half of 2025—478 more than the next-ranked city and the highest half-year total since records began in 2003.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, said the achievement reflects the long-term vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the city’s ability to remain a preferred global investment hub. He highlighted that the milestone aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033 and position it among the world’s top three urban economies.
Dubai also advanced to second globally for total Greenfield FDI capital and third for jobs created through inward FDI, strengthening its lead in the Middle East. The emirate attracted an estimated AED40.4 billion (US$11 billion) in FDI capital during H1 2025, a 62% increase over the same period in 2024. Announced projects surged nearly 29% to 1,090, while new jobs rose 47% to 38,433.
The city achieved the global No. 1 ranking for headquarters-related FDI projects, with the number of HQ investments rising 60% to 32 in H1 2025. Dubai also topped global rankings across sectors such as ICT and electronics, creative industries, professional services, life sciences, consumer goods, financial services, industrial equipment, transportation and warehousing, and environmental technology. Emerging categories such as artificial intelligence and financial technology saw particularly strong inflows.
Investment activity was diversified across both types and functions. Greenfield projects accounted for 52.4% of total inflows, complemented by new forms of investment (36.1%), reinvestments (4%), venture capital-backed projects (4.3%), and mergers and acquisitions (3.2%). Business services led capital inflows with 31.3%, followed by construction (28.6%) and retail (10.7%).
The United States was Dubai’s largest source of FDI capital at 35%, followed by the United Kingdom (10.6%), France (8.9%), India (8.9%), and Saudi Arabia (5.2%). For announced projects, the top contributors were the UK (16.2%), the U.S. (14.9%), India (14.9%), France (5.4%), and Italy (4.6%).
Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said the city’s ability to maintain global leadership reflects the resilience of its economic model and the trust of international investors. Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation, added that rising investment in high-growth sectors such as AI, FinTech, and creative industries shows Dubai’s alignment with the future economy.
With a global market share of 8% and more than half of all Middle East Greenfield FDI projects, Dubai continues to build on a foundation of progressive regulation, advanced infrastructure, and digital-first services. The strong first-half performance reinforces its reputation as a safe, forward-looking investment destination and sets the stage for further growth in the second half of 2025 and beyond.
–Input WAM
