The United Arab Emirates ranked second globally for announced greenfield foreign direct investment projects in 2025, reflecting a sharp acceleration in capital inflows and investor confidence. According to a report released by Emirates NBD, the UAE attracted AED 361.41 billion in greenfield FDI project announcements between 2021 and 2025, with investment volumes rising by 78% year on year in 2025.
Manufacturing and technology led the surge, with India emerging as the largest source of capital, followed by the United States. Ras Al Khaimah was the top recipient by capital, drawing AED 39.96 billion across multiple projects, while Abu Dhabi attracted major technology investment, including Microsoft’s Stargate AI campus. The UAE also ranked third globally as a source of outbound greenfield FDI capital in 2025, underlining its growing role in global investment flows.
Gulf Economist Staff Writer