Dubai Hits Record 7 Per Cent Global FDI Share as Fifth Year at No. 1 Delivers Manufacturing Milestone

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Dubai's 1,253 greenfield projects in 2025 deliver a record 7% global share, 38,918 jobs and a first-ever No. 1 ranking in manufacturing FDI.

Dubai retained its position as the world's top destination for greenfield FDI projects for a fifth consecutive year, according to the Financial Times' fDi Markets database.
The emirate attracted 1,253 greenfield projects in 2025, a 10.5 per cent increase on 2024, with capital inflows of AED 32.43 billion ($8.83 billion).
Investment activity supported the creation of 38,918 jobs, an 18.8 per cent rise compared with the previous year.
Dubai secured a record 7 per cent share of all global greenfield FDI projects, the highest in its history.
For the first time, the emirate ranked No. 1 globally for manufacturing FDI projects, marking a major diversification milestone.
Annual GDP reached AED 937 billion ($255.1 billion) in 2025, with growth of 5.4 per cent and a fourth-quarter acceleration to 6.4 per cent.

How Dubai's D33 Strategy Drives Record Investment Flows

Dubai has cemented its position at the top of global greenfield FDI projects rankings for a fifth consecutive year, according to data from the Financial Times' fDi Markets database. The emirate recorded 1,253 announced greenfield projects in 2025, a 10.5 per cent increase on 2024, while securing a record 7 per cent share of all such projects worldwide.

The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) confirmed that investment activity supported 38,918 new jobs during the year. Meanwhile, the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC) highlighted deepening operational commitments from multinational investors across manufacturing, AI, logistics and financial services. These results reinforce the ambitions of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which targets doubling the emirate's economy by 2033.

Record Capital Inflows and Job Creation

According to the fDi Markets data, Dubai attracted AED 32.43 billion ($8.83 billion) in greenfield FDI capital during 2025. The investment activity was driven by a mix of greenfield projects, reinvestments, venture capital-backed activity, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic business expansions.

Job creation linked to greenfield FDI rose 18.8 per cent year-on-year, from 32,754 positions in 2024 to 38,918 in 2025. Strong employment growth was recorded across business services, hotels and tourism, transportation and warehousing, consumer products, real estate, software and IT services, and financial services. Geographic diversity among investors reinforced Dubai's role as a strategic bridge between East and West.

At the macroeconomic level, the emirate's annual GDP reached AED 937 billion ($255.1 billion) in 2025, reflecting 5.4 per cent real growth. Growth accelerated further in the fourth quarter to 6.4 per cent, despite continued global market volatility.

Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum credited the results to a long-term strategy built on openness, connectivity and strategic partnerships. He said Dubai remains focused on creating the conditions for businesses to succeed while reinforcing its position in the global economy.

Sector Leadership and the Manufacturing Breakthrough

In a significant milestone, Dubai ranked No. 1 globally for manufacturing FDI projects for the very first time. This achievement highlights the growing role of advanced manufacturing within the emirate's economic diversification strategy and aligns directly with D33 objectives around building an innovation-driven industrial base.

Beyond manufacturing, the emirate retained its global leadership in artificial intelligence-related greenfield FDI for a fourth consecutive year. It also maintained its position as the world's leading destination for headquarters greenfield FDI projects, reflecting sustained confidence from multinationals seeking regional and international expansion bases.

Dubai secured top global rankings across several strategic clusters:

ICT and electronics
Creative industries
Professional services
Life sciences
Consumer goods
Financial services
Industrial equipment
Environmental technology

At the individual sector level, the emirate also ranked first globally in food and beverages, electronic components, healthcare, business machines and equipment, cleantech, metals and e-commerce. It was the only city worldwide to attract more than 10 greenfield FDI projects across several of these sectors, demonstrating both the depth of its economic base and its ability to sustain investment momentum. Dubai's continued rise in the Global Financial Centres Index further underscores this expanding investment appeal.

D33 Targets and Economic Support Measures

The 2025 results advance the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to generate AED 32 trillion in cumulative economic activity over a decade and attract more than AED 700 billion in FDI. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of DET, called the performance a testament to visionary leadership and to the trust that international investors place in Dubai. He described the emirate's ecosystem as future-ready and built to attract high-quality investment across priority sectors.

In parallel, Dubai announced an AED 2.5 billion economic incentive package in two tranches during 2026. The measures include fee deferrals across tourism, education and cultural sectors, an extension of customs clearance grace periods from 30 to 90 days, and streamlined residency permit processes. An 80 per cent reduction in fines for customs cases was also introduced.

Hadi Badri, CEO of the DEDC, said investors are 'deepening their operational presence rather than adopting short-term positioning strategies'. He pointed to the diversity of flows across manufacturing, AI, fintech and logistics as evidence that Dubai can anticipate structural shifts in the global economy.

What Dubai's FDI Dominance Means for Advisory and Corporate Services Firms

For financial advisors, wealth managers and corporate services firms, the sustained greenfield investment flow creates expanding demand for structuring, compliance, tax and risk advisory. The breadth of sectoral activity - spanning real estate, financial services, manufacturing, AI and logistics - implies growing need for specialised industry expertise. Firms positioned to advise on DIFC and ADGM licensing, free zone selection, and immigration-linked wealth planning stand to benefit directly from the inflow pipeline.

At the same time, Dubai's multi-layered regulatory landscape requires careful navigation. Federal law, emirate-level regulations and financial free zone regimes each impose distinct ownership, licensing and compliance requirements. With the AED 2.5 billion incentive package introducing time-bound fee deferrals and customs extensions, advisors should incorporate these measures into client planning to ensure businesses capture available benefits before deadlines pass.

What Clients are Asking their Advisors

What does greenfield FDI mean and how is it measured?

Greenfield FDI refers to new cross-border investment projects that create fresh productive capacity, such as factories, offices or service centres. The Financial Times' fDi Markets database tracks announced projects by city, sector and estimated capital value. Dubai's No. 1 ranking is based on project count, which reflects the breadth and diversity of new investment rather than capital volume alone.

Can foreign investors own 100 per cent of a company in Dubai?

Yes. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 on Commercial Companies, most commercial activities in Dubai now permit full foreign ownership. Investors can establish through the Department of Economy and Tourism for mainland licences or through one of Dubai's more than 40 free zones, each with its own licensing conditions and sector restrictions.

How does Dubai's FDI performance compare with other global cities?

Dubai has held the No. 1 position for greenfield FDI projects for five consecutive years, according to fDi Markets. Its record 7 per cent share of all global greenfield projects in 2025 exceeds the shares of competing financial and commercial centres, including London, Singapore and New York.

What support measures has Dubai introduced for businesses in 2026?

Dubai announced an AED 2.5 billion incentive package across two tranches in 2026. Measures include fee deferrals in tourism, education and culture, customs grace period extensions from 30 to 90 days, an 80 per cent reduction in customs fines, and streamlined residency permit processes.