Dubai tops world in greenfield FDI projects in first half

Dubai ranked as the global leader for the number of greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) projects it attracted for the eighth consecutive half-year period since H2 2021, according to data published in the Financial Times’ ‘fDi Markets’ tracking database.

- Khaleej Times Staff [e-mail]

The emirate maintained its status as a leading hub for FDI, and attracted 643 greenfield FDI projects in the first half of 2025, 478 more than the second-placed city, and the highest number ever recorded for any city globally in a half-year period since fDi Markets began tracking the data in 2003.

The achievement highlighted Dubai's futuristic development vision, and its continued success as a preferred global investment destination and global centre for creating new opportunities, said Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.

"This latest distinction aligns perfectly with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033 and consolidate its position among the top three urban economies in the world," he added.