Dubai confirms itself as the first global hub for greenfield projects in 2025

If at the level of absolute global volumes the center of gravity of greenfield investments tends to concentrate in large global hubs such as the emirate, the territorial sector reports, such as the periodic surveys on the European cities of the future managed by fDi Intelligence, highlight different competitive dynamics on a continental scale.

In this European scenario, the large Italian metropolitan areas show diversified insertion trends: Milan is firmly positioned within the top 10 of large European cities for investment attractiveness, general economic potential and concentration of human capital, consolidating its role as the main gateway for foreign financial flows directed towards Italy. At the same time, the capital Rome highlights a more detached positioning in overall volumes but maintains a relevant trajectory with regards to projects specifically linked to tourism, hospitality and creative industries.

The sectoral analysis of flows highlights a strong diversification of the industrial areas affected by foreign capital. For the fourth consecutive year, Dubai maintained the first global position both for projects related to the establishment of corporate headquarters and for initiatives related to the artificial intelligence and advanced technologies sector. The statistical data also shows a prominent positioning in traditional and innovative clusters such as electronics, life sciences, financial services, clean technologies and the manufacturing sector, which for the first time has reached the top of the global rankings for attracted projects. In terms of logistics and international trade, the development of infrastructure has supported the leadership in the segments of goods transport and storage, with particular impact on high-impact sectors such as healthcare, industrial machinery and e-commerce.

Regarding the regulatory factors and financial flows recorded, Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), said: “Dubai’s ability to maintain its global leadership in attracting greenfield foreign direct investment for the fifth consecutive year is a testament to the strategic vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the continued trust that international investors place in the emirate. While global markets have faced significant challenges in recent months, Dubai has entered this period with quantifiable momentum, attracting record levels of capital that have provided a solid foundation for sustained growth. This clearly reflects the trust that investors and multinationals place in our ecosystem. This performance underlines the strength of Dubai’s diversified economy, the depth of public-private partnerships and the effectiveness of a forward-looking and well-defined regulatory framework, which continues to attract high-quality investment in priority sectors. These results further strengthen the ambitions of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, highlighting Dubai’s positioning as one of the most resilient investment destinations in the world”.

From the point of view of employment and national accounting, the contribution of foreign capital translated into actual investments worth 8.83 billion dollars in 2025 alone, supporting the creation of 38,918 jobs, an increase of 18.8% compared to the 32,754 units recorded in the previous year. Capital entry channels have included both new projects and reinvestment operations, venture capital activities and strategic expansions. This solidity of the fundamental framework is reflected in the evolution of the overall Gross Domestic Product, which reached the annual value of 232 billion euros, equivalent to a growth of 5.4% overallwith an acceleration in the last quarter of the year equal to 6.4% on a trend basis.

Regarding the establishment strategies of global companies in the long term, Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), highlighted: “The scale and quality of foreign direct investment flows in 2025 reflect continued global confidence in Dubai’s long-term growth trajectory. The continued influx of capital investments further demonstrates that investors are consolidating their operational presence rather than adopting short-term positioning strategies. From headquarters and high-value manufacturing to artificial intelligence, FinTech, logistics and creative industries, the diversity and quality of investment flows demonstrate Dubai’s ability to anticipate structural shifts in the global economy. Investors recognize that Dubai offers a unique combination of agile regulation, world-class digital infrastructure and access to top global talent. As we continue to advance the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, deal activity and expansion momentum remain strong, confirming our forecast of an acceleration for 2026 and beyond”.

Investment flows come from a differentiated geographic basin that includes North America, Europe, Asia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) area. In order to mitigate the pressures resulting from the volatility of international markets and stabilize the operational continuity of businesses, local authorities have recently implemented a 620 million euro economic incentive package. The measures include deferrals in the payment of taxes for the trade, licensing and hospitality sectors, extensions of customs exemption periods and the simplification of the procedures for issuing residence permits, interventions aimed at consolidating the permanence of professionals and specialized profiles within the production system.