Dubai has retained its position as the world's leading destination for greenfield foreign direct investment for the fifth straight year, attracting 1,253 announced projects in 2025, a 10.5% increase on 2024, according to the fDi Markets database.
The emirate secured a record 7% share of global greenfield FDI projects and drew AED 32.43 billion in capital, supporting the creation of 38,918 jobs, up 18.8% year-on-year.
Dubai ranked first globally in headquarters FDI for the fourth consecutive year and topped manufacturing FDI rankings for the first time, alongside leadership in AI, transportation, healthcare, and e-commerce investment.
Dubai's GDP reached AED 937 billion in 2025, up 5.4%, accelerating to 6.4% growth in the fourth quarter. Officials cited a recently announced AED 2.5 billion economic incentive package, including fee deferrals and streamlined residency processes, as reinforcing the emirate's investment appeal under the D33 Agenda.
Gulf Economist Staff Writer