Country profile
United Arab Emirates
Middle East & North Africa · High income · Capital: Abu Dhabi
Key figures, 2024
FDI inflows 2024
$45.6 bn
Inflows % of GDP
8.3%
FDI outflows
$77.2 bn
Net FDI
−$31.5 bn
FDI % of investment
—
In 2024, United Arab Emirates recorded FDI net inflows of $45.6 bn, up 49% from $30.7 bn in 2023. That is 104% above its 2019–2023 average of $22.4 bn. By value, that ranks 12th of 195 economies with data for 2024. This is the highest annual inflow in a series that begins in 1970. Inflows were equivalent to 8.3% of GDP in 2024 — above the Middle East & North Africa aggregate (3.8%) and above the world as a whole (1.4%).
About this summary
Generated automatically from World Bank data. Figures are balance-of-payments net flows in current US$; 2024 is the latest year with broad coverage across economies.Trends
FDI flows over time
Net flows, current US$ (balance-of-payments basis)
- Inflows
- Outflows
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Indicators BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD and BM.KLT.DINV.CD.WD.
United Arab Emirates compared with its region and the world
- United Arab Emirates
- Middle East & North Africa (aggregate)
- World
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Indicator BX.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS.
FDI vs remittances, aid and portfolio equity, current US$
- FDI inflows
- Aid (ODA)
FDI is only one of the ways foreign money reaches an economy. For many developing economies, remittances from workers abroad or official aid are larger and more stable; portfolio equity is typically the most volatile.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Indicators BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD, BX.TRF.PWKR.CD.DT, DT.ODA.ODAT.CD, BX.PEF.TOTL.CD.WD.
Economy at a glance
The economy behind the investment
The macroeconomic, trade and workforce indicators investors and trade officials look at alongside FDI — latest year, 15-year trend and regional and world benchmarks.
| IMF World Economic Outlook | 2024 | 2025 | 2026forecast | 2027forecast | 2028forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth | 4.0% | 5.8% | 3.1% | 5.3% | 4.6% |
| Inflation | 1.7% | 1.3% | 2.5% | 2.0% | 2.0% |
| Current account, % GDP | 15.4% | 15.3% | 11.4% | 11.4% | 9.8% |
| Fiscal balance, % GDP | 6.4% | 5.2% | 4.9% | 4.8% | 4.7% |
| Government gross debt, % GDP | 34.9% | 34.3% | 31.4% | 30.1% | 28.8% |
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook via the IMF DataMapper API. Years from 2026 are IMF projections; recent years may be estimates and are revised in each WEO round (April and October).
Size & growth
GDP
$552 bn2024
27th of 200
GDP per capita
$50,2742024
27th of 200Region $6,275World $13,717
GNI per capita (PPP)
$81,6402024
16th of 195Region $16,195World $24,335
Population
11.5 m2025
85th of 217
Population growth
4.7%2025
1st of 217Region 1.8%World 0.9%
Trade & structure
Exports of goods & services
$558 bn2023
18th of 175
Imports of goods & services
$482 bn2023
19th of 175
Trade openness (% of GDP)
199%2023
8th of 176Region 77.3%World 58.1%
Manufacturing, % of GDP
9.4%2024
105th of 178Region 12.9%World 14.9%
Services, % of GDP
54.9%2024
105th of 189Region 52.0%World 63.3%
High-tech exports, % of manufactured exports
9.0%2023
66th of 160Region 8.6%World 23.0%
Workforce & innovation
Labour force
7.6 m2025
67th of 182
R&D expenditure, % of GDP
1.5%2021
26th of 88Region 1.3%World 2.5%
Internet users, % of population
100%2024
1st of 182Region 61.5%World 71.2%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Latest available year shown for each indicator; ranks are among economies reporting that year (highest = 1st). Region = World Bank regional aggregate. Growth, inflation, unemployment, the current account and government debt are shown in the IMF table above where the IMF covers the economy.
Who invests
Source and destination economies
Direct investment positions (stocks) by immediate counterpart economy, as reported to the OECD.
No bilateral positions for this economy
Structure & policy
Sectors and FDI openness
Inward FDI positions by sector
No sector breakdown
FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness
IndexNot covered by the index
Peers
Similar-sized economies in Middle East & North Africa
The six economies in the same World Bank region with the closest GDP, ranked by FDI inflows as a share of GDP (2024).
Sources & notes
World Bank, World Development Indicators
- FDI net inflows —
BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD - FDI net outflows —
BM.KLT.DINV.CD.WD - FDI net inflows, % of GDP —
BX.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS - Gross fixed capital formation —
NE.GDI.FTOT.CD - Personal remittances received —
BX.TRF.PWKR.CD.DT - Net official development assistance received —
DT.ODA.ODAT.CD - Portfolio equity net inflows —
BX.PEF.TOTL.CD.WD - Real GDP growth —
NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG - Inflation (annual average) —
FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG - Unemployment rate —
SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS - Current account balance, % of GDP —
BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS - Exports of goods & services —
NE.EXP.GNFS.CD - Central government debt, % of GDP —
GC.DOD.TOTL.GD.ZS
OECD: FDI statistics by partner economy and by industry (Benchmark Definition, 4th edition) and the FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index.
Flows vs positions. Charts on this page show annual balance-of-payments flows. Bilateral and sector figures are positions (accumulated stocks) and are not directly comparable.
Negative values. Net flows can be negative when foreign investors withdraw capital or intra-company loans are repaid faster than new investment arrives.
Timing. Headline figures use 2024, the latest year with broad coverage across economies; charts also show any newer early estimates. Rankings cover economies only, not aggregates.
Counterparts. Bilateral data record the immediate counterpart, so financial centres and conduit economies can appear larger than the ultimate investors behind them.