Dubai tops global greenfield FDI projects list for 8th straight half-year period

Image: Dubai Media Office

Dubai attracted a record 643 greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in H1 2025, maintaining its global lead for the eighth consecutive reporting (half-year) period, according to data from the Financial Times’ fDi Markets database.

The emirate drew 478 more projects than the second-placed city, the highest half-year figure recorded by any city worldwide since the data series began in 2003.

Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said the achievement reflected Dubai’s long-term vision and the success of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which seeks to double the size of the city’s economy by 2033.

“The strength and resilience of Dubai’s economy continues to inspire confidence among global investors in its ability to reimagine the future and unlock emerging global technological trends and sustainable sectors,” he said.

Dubai also rose to second place globally for FDI capital and third for jobs created, up from fourth place in both categories a year earlier.

The emirate attracted an estimated Dhs40.4bn ($11bn) in FDI capital in H1 2025, up 62 per cent from Dhs24.7bn a year earlier, according to the Dubai FDI Monitor published by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).

Total announced FDI projects rose nearly 29 per cent year-on-year to 1,090, while estimated jobs created jumped 47 per cent to 38,433.

Helal Saeed Almarri, DG of DET, said the results demonstrated “the trust that international investors, multinational corporations and start-ups continue to place in Dubai,” and highlighted the role of public-private partnerships in sustaining growth.

Dubai ranked first globally for headquarters FDI projects in H1

Dubai ranked first globally for headquarters FDI projects, with numbers rising 60 per cent to 32 in H1 2025, and also led across sectors such as ICT, creative industries, financial services, life sciences, consumer goods, transportation, and environmental technology.

Emerging categories including artificial intelligence (AI) and financial technology (fintech) also saw strong inflows.

The US accounted for 35 per cent of total estimated FDI capital, followed by the UK (10.6 per cent), France (8.9 per cent), India (8.9 per cent), and Saudi Arabia (5.2 per cent).

Sector-wise, business services represented 30.6 per cent of capital inflows, hotels and tourism 21.3 per cent, and transportation and warehousing 7.2 per cent.

By project numbers, business services led with 19 per cent, followed by consumer products (16.5 per cent), food and beverages (15 per cent), software and IT services (11 per cent), and financial services (6.6 per cent).

Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation, said the diversity of investments underscored the city’s role as a hub for global decision-making and its ability to “anticipate global shifts and align with the sectors shaping the future economy.”