Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows was 45,632 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in United Arab Emirates, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2024, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in United Arab Emirates stood at 45,632. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 48.7% on the previous year and up 312.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in United Arab Emirates peaked at 45,632 in 2024 and was at its lowest, -985.34, in 1999.
That places United Arab Emirates 12th out of 222 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -115.82 | — |
| 1991 | 25.94 | -122.4% |
| 1992 | 129.72 | +400.1% |
| 1993 | 401.32 | +209.4% |
| 1994 | 62.46 | -84.4% |
| 1995 | 399.85 | +540.2% |
| 1996 | 300.52 | -24.8% |
| 1997 | 232.43 | -22.7% |
| 1998 | 257.66 | +10.9% |
| 1999 | -985.34 | -482.4% |
| 2000 | -506.33 | -48.6% |
| 2001 | 1,184 | -333.8% |
| 2002 | 95.3 | -91.9% |
| 2003 | 4,256 | +4365.9% |
| 2004 | 10,004 | +135.0% |
| 2005 | 10,900 | +9.0% |
| 2006 | 12,806 | +17.5% |
| 2007 | 14,186 | +10.8% |
| 2008 | 5,063 | -64.3% |
| 2009 | 1,134 | -77.6% |
| 2010 | 8,797 | +675.5% |
| 2011 | 7,152 | -18.7% |
| 2012 | 9,567 | +33.8% |
| 2013 | 9,765 | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 11,072 | +13.4% |
| 2015 | 8,551 | -22.8% |
| 2016 | 9,605 | +12.3% |
| 2017 | 10,354 | +7.8% |
| 2018 | 10,385 | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 17,875 | +72.1% |
| 2020 | 19,884 | +11.2% |
| 2021 | 20,667 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 22,737 | +10.0% |
| 2023 | 30,688 | +35.0% |
| 2024 | 45,632 | +48.7% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 45,632 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,309, 13.8× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 45,632 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1,635, 27.9× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +4365.9% | 95.3 | 4,256 |
| 2010 | +675.5% | 1,134 | 8,797 |
| 1995 | +540.2% | 62.46 | 399.85 |
| 1999 | -482.4% | 257.66 | -985.34 |
| 1992 | +400.1% | 25.94 | 129.72 |
| 2001 | +333.8% | -506.33 | 1,184 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 70.87 | -985.34 | 401.32 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,912 | -506.33 | 14,186 | 10 |
| 2010s | 10,312 | 7,152 | 17,875 | 10 |
| 2020s | 27,922 | 19,884 | 45,632 | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More economy & growth data for United Arab Emirates
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.85 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.54 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 77.17 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.1397 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 7,024 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 45.64 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 48.71 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0826 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 4,154 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 22.86 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in United Arab Emirates?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in United Arab Emirates was 45,632 in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 45,632 in 2024.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was -985.34 in 1999.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 12th out of 222 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 312.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States dollars). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).