The UAE Cabinet has approved the UAE National Investment Strategy 2031, a landmark plan designed to more than double annual foreign direct investment inflows to AED 240 billion ($65.4 billion) — up from AED 112 billion ($30.5 billion) recorded in 2023. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the Cabinet session at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, setting out an ambitious target to transform the country into a leading global hub for strategic capital.
FDI Targets: Doubling Stock to AED 2.2 Trillion
The strategy calls for expanding UAE FDI stock from AED 800 billion ($218 billion) to AED 2.2 trillion ($600 billion) by 2031. That represents a near-tripling of the country's accumulated foreign investment base within less than a decade.
To achieve this, the strategy introduces 12 new programmes and 30 dedicated initiatives. Annual FDI's share of total national investment is targeted to exceed 30%, while FDI's contribution to GDP is set to reach 8%.
Five Priority Sectors Driving the Plan
The UAE National Investment Strategy 2031 concentrates resources on five sectors identified as highest-impact:
- Industry — deepening manufacturing capacity and local value chains - Logistics — leveraging the UAE's geographic position as a global trade corridor - Financial services — reinforcing Dubai and Abu Dhabi as regional financial centres - Renewable energy — accelerating the clean-energy transition aligned with UAE Net Zero 2050 - Information technology — attracting tech multinationals and scaling domestic startups
Sheikh Mohammed described the UAE as a welcoming business environment, stating the strategy is designed to secure long-term economic stability through sustained global investment.
UAE–Africa Trade Reaches AED 235 Billion
The Cabinet also reviewed the UAE's expanding strategic ties with Africa. Trade between the UAE and Sub-Saharan Africa surged 87% over five years, rising from AED 126.7 billion ($34.5 billion) in 2019 to AED 235 billion ($64 billion) in 2024. The Cabinet finalised 28 international economic agreements during the session, with Malaysia, New Zealand, and Kenya among the signatories.
National Digital Economy Strategy: From 9.7% to 19.4% of GDP
Alongside the investment strategy, the Cabinet endorsed a National Digital Economy Strategy targeting a near-doubling of the digital economy's contribution to GDP — from 9.7% today to 19.4% by 2031. This tracks with the UAE's broader push to become one of the top ten digital economies globally.
Remote Work System and New Health Policies
In a notable policy shift for public-sector employment, the Cabinet approved a Remote Work System allowing UAE federal employees to carry out their duties from outside the country. The move is intended to give government entities access to specialised talent for project-based work regardless of location.
The session also ratified a National Policy for Combating Health Risks and new regulations governing organ and human tissue donation and transplantation — both part of a broader effort to strengthen national health infrastructure.
What It Means for Investors
The UAE National Investment Strategy 2031 signals a sustained, policy-backed commitment to attracting long-term foreign capital. With clear sectoral priorities, bilateral agreements expanding across Africa and Asia-Pacific, and a reinforced digital economy framework, the UAE is positioning itself as the region's most structured destination for strategic investment over the next six years.
