
Dubai attracted a report 1,117 overseas direct funding (FDI) for tasks in 2024, sustaining its place as the highest international vacation spot for FDI for the fourth consecutive 12 months, based on knowledge from the Dubai FDI Monitor.
Dubai attracted an estimated 52.3 billion Emirati Dirhams (roughly $14.2 billion) in FDI capital throughout 2024, a 33% enhance from 39.26 billion Emirati Dirhams ($10.7 billion) in 2023.
Resorts and tourism accounted for 14% of estimated overseas capital in 2024, equal to $2 billion, tied with actual property as essentially the most closely invested sector in Dubai. The tourism class noticed 45 particular person FDI tasks, making it essentially the most lively by challenge rely among the many high 5 sectors. Actual property adopted with 11 development tasks.
In 2024, Dubai noticed 18.7 million worldwide guests, up 9% from the earlier 12 months.
Dubai’s High FDI Sources
For Dubai, India emerged as the highest supply of FDI capital for the primary time, pushed partly by actual property investments. The USA and Switzerland concentrated their capital in software program, IT companies, and tourism.
In international phrases, Dubai accounted for six.2% of all FDI tasks. Inside the Center East, it captured 55% of the area’s whole.
The information comes as Dubai pushes forward with its D33 financial agenda, which features a goal of $177 billion in FDI over the subsequent decade. The technique focuses on positioning Dubai as one of many high three cities globally for each enterprise and leisure — a purpose that hinges partly on continued progress in tourism-related funding.
Riyadh Investments
Riyadh, which has been aggressively positioning itself as a regional funding hub, attracted 191 FDI tasks in 2024. Regardless of high-profile efforts such because the creation of a devoted FDI advertising ministry and the launch of a $5 billion funding partnership with BlackRock, Saudi Arabia’s capital continues to be far behind in changing international investor curiosity into precise challenge commitments.
FDI is a sizzling matter in Saudi Arabia, particularly concerning tourism tasks. Multi-billion-dollar tasks like Neom, Diriyah and Pink Sea draw consideration for the immense quantity of public spending they’ve required. Nonetheless, these tasks are largely centered on the leisure market – spiritual tourism is the most important journey phase in Saudi by a large margin. In January, Saudi opened up FDI into Makkah and Medina tasks for the primary time.