Dubai has ranked as the world's number one destination for Greenfield Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the fourth consecutive year, according to the Financial Times' fDi Markets data. In 2024 the emirate attracted AED 52.3 billion ($14.24 billion) in estimated FDI capital — a 33.2% increase from AED 39.26 billion ($10.69 billion) in 2023 and the highest single-year figure ever recorded since tracking began.
Record-Breaking Greenfield FDI in 2024
Dubai achieved 1,117 new Greenfield FDI projects in 2024, its largest-ever project count in a single year. The city also ranked fourth globally for greenfield FDI capital — up from fifth in 2023 — and claimed the top position across the entire Middle East and Africa region. Investment generated an estimated 58,680 new jobs, a 31% increase from 44,745 in 2023, giving Dubai the third-highest FDI-driven job creation figure worldwide.
D33 Economic Agenda Driving Growth
The sustained momentum behind Dubai's greenfield FDI ranking is closely tied to the strategic D33 Economic Agenda. Launched under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the agenda targets doubling the size of Dubai's economy by 2033 and positioning the emirate among the world's top three urban economies. The 2024 results demonstrate how those transformational strategies continue to attract global capital at record pace.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, noted that the emirate's investment growth reflects its ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts taking place across the global economy.
Leading Sectors and Source Countries
Dubai maintained leadership across several high-growth sectors. Hotels and tourism (14%) and real estate (14%) led by FDI capital share, followed by software and IT services (9.2%), building materials (9%), and financial services (6.8%). The city also remained a hub for AI and cybersecurity investment.
By source country, India led with 21.5% of total estimated FDI capital into Dubai, followed by the United States (13.7%), France (11%), the United Kingdom (10%), and Switzerland (6.9%). Dubai's strategic location, transparent regulatory environment, and world-class infrastructure continue to draw investors from across the globe.
What the Numbers Mean
The 2024 FDI results reinforce Dubai's standing as a core actor in global business development. Its combination of strategic planning, openness to technology, and a welcoming business environment has enabled it to outperform competing global cities and sustain top-tier rankings year after year.
