The United Arab Emirates was ranked as the second country worldwide leading Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects. The UAE appears in the report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) within this prestigious ranking on global competitiveness for 2024.
The country’s human development policies are one of the main reasons for this inclusion, ranking first globally in 223 indicators, compared to 215 in 2023. The strategies for modernization, growth, promotion of investments, and technological development are key factors in establishing this territory as one of the best globally.
The factors that made the UAE a leader in foreign investment
According to reports from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the UAE ranked first in many of the variables analyzed in the study. The country demonstrated an outstanding performance in global reports, including the 2024 World Competitiveness Yearbook by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), the 2023/2024 Human Development Index (UNDP), and the 2023/2024 Global Entrepreneurship Report.
In addition to excelling in this category, the UAE is also a leader in infrastructure and transportation development. According to the “2024 Travel and Tourism Development Index,” the country achieved top global rankings, including fifth globally in road quality and tenth in public transport efficiency. Regarding the civil aviation sector, the UAE ranked first in air transport infrastructure quality and third in the efficiency of air transport services.
Foreign investments, the jewel of the UAE
Within this detailed report, the UAE holds a prominent position in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). As is well known, the country offers multiple advantages for foreigners, growth opportunities, and a booming industry that goes beyond oil. According to UNCTAD, the UAE was the second country globally in projects driving this economic engine.
According to statistics, FDI was promoted through the realization and presentation of 1,323 new projects in 2023, representing a growth of 33%. The analysis highlighted that in the UAE, Foreign Direct Investment amounted to 30.688 billion dollars (112.6 billion dirhams), while foreign investments totaled 262.208 billion dollars (962 billion dirhams).
Sustainable strategies, the UAE’s stronghold
The digital era and the plan to make the UAE a territory aligned with 100 percent sustainable policies place the country high in these rankings. According to the ICT Infrastructure Index of the 2024 UN E-Government Survey, the UAE holds a top position in these standards and rose 34 positions in the Human Capital Index, reaching tenth globally and first in Asia and the Arab world.
The UAE also ranks fifth globally among countries with a GDP of between 100 billion and one trillion dollars, within the 2024 UNIDO Sustainable Development Infrastructure Quality Index. In this way, the UAE is solidified as a global leader, where technological advancements and investment opportunities are its main strengths. And it promises to continue growing.
