Dubai Retains Top Global Ranking for Greenfield Foreign Investment
Dubai secured the top global ranking for inward greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) projects for the fifth consecutive year in 2025, according to data from the Financial Times Ltd’s fDi Markets database.
The emirate attracted 1,253 announced greenfield investment projects throughout the year, representing a 10.5 percent increase compared to 2024. The performance captured approximately 7 percent of all greenfield FDI projects announced worldwide, marking the highest global market share in Dubai's tracking history.
Greenfield investments, in which an overseas company builds entirely new physical operations or facilities from the ground up rather than acquiring local firms, brought $8.83 billion (AED 32.43 billion) in capital inflows into the city during 2025. Local officials reported that the influx supported the creation of 38,918 jobs, an 18.8 percent increase over the previous year's employment figures.
The tracking data revealed that Dubai maintained its primary global position for projects establishing corporate regional headquarters and artificial intelligence operations for the fourth consecutive year. Additionally, the emirate achieved the top ranking for manufacturing-related greenfield investments for the first time, signaling a shifting emphasis toward industrial diversification alongside its established trade, logistics, and technology sectors.
The investment metrics correlate with broader economic indicators reported by the emirate. Dubai's annual gross domestic product (GDP) reached AED 937 billion in 2025, reflecting a 5.4 percent growth rate for the year. Economic activity accelerated in the fourth quarter, posting a 6.4 percent expansion despite broader global market volatility.
According to data from the Dubai FDI Monitor, capital flows originated from a geographically diverse mix of source markets across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
The performance supports the long-term objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, known as D33, a strategic framework launched to double the size of the emirate's economy by 2033. To sustain this momentum into 2026, the local government recently introduced an AED 2.5 billion economic incentive package, which includes corporate fee deferrals across the hospitality and licensing sectors, alongside streamlined residency permit processes designed to retain foreign workforce talent.
Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office
Andrew Shelepnytsky Andrew Shelepnytsky is an Editor of Dubai Voice.
Vladyslava Garkusha
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