UAE turns record FDI into more jobs than OECD average

Dubai, UAE - In 2025, the United Arab Emirates attracted a record-breaking $48.3 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), marking a 6% increase and the fourth consecutive record. According to a white paper by White Paper Media Consulting (WPM), the country has successfully turned this capital into jobs, skills, and technology.

The UAE now ranks ninth globally for FDI inflows and first in the Middle East, surpassing other GCC countries. Between 2019 and 2023, the UAE created approximately 2,816 jobs for every $1 billion of greenfield FDI, compared to the OECD average of 2,318 jobs. This 21% higher job creation puts the UAE ahead of its peers. The white paper also highlights the UAE's focus on intangible returns on FDI, such as patents, skills transferred, and clean technologies commercialized, rather than just FDI volumes.

The country's success is attributed to government measures, including 100% foreign ownership, the Golden Visa, a 9% federal corporate tax, and the National Investment Strategy 2031. The paper outlines seven policy shifts, including extending free zone spillovers to the mainland, prioritizing research-intensive investments, embedding skills transfer requirements in major projects, and leading on intellectual property and data governance.

While UAE's FDI stock reached Dh1.17 trillion at the end of 2025, accounting for about 74% of its 2025 annual goal, geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic uncertainty could pose risks to capital-intensive sectors.