Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) was 45,632 million current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in United Arab Emirates, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in million current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in United Arab Emirates stood at 45,632 million current US$. 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 million current US$ in 2024 and was at its lowest, -985.34 million current US$, in 1999.
That places United Arab Emirates 12th out of 224 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | million current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -115.82 million current US$ | — |
| 1991 | 25.94 million current US$ | -122.4% |
| 1992 | 129.72 million current US$ | +400.1% |
| 1993 | 401.32 million current US$ | +209.4% |
| 1994 | 62.46 million current US$ | -84.4% |
| 1995 | 399.85 million current US$ | +540.2% |
| 1996 | 300.52 million current US$ | -24.8% |
| 1997 | 232.43 million current US$ | -22.7% |
| 1998 | 257.66 million current US$ | +10.9% |
| 1999 | -985.34 million current US$ | -482.4% |
| 2000 | -506.33 million current US$ | -48.6% |
| 2001 | 1,184 million current US$ | -333.8% |
| 2002 | 95.3 million current US$ | -91.9% |
| 2003 | 4,256 million current US$ | +4365.9% |
| 2004 | 10,004 million current US$ | +135.0% |
| 2005 | 10,900 million current US$ | +9.0% |
| 2006 | 12,806 million current US$ | +17.5% |
| 2007 | 14,186 million current US$ | +10.8% |
| 2008 | 5,063 million current US$ | -64.3% |
| 2009 | 1,134 million current US$ | -77.6% |
| 2010 | 8,797 million current US$ | +675.5% |
| 2011 | 7,152 million current US$ | -18.7% |
| 2012 | 9,567 million current US$ | +33.8% |
| 2013 | 9,765 million current US$ | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 11,072 million current US$ | +13.4% |
| 2015 | 8,551 million current US$ | -22.8% |
| 2016 | 9,605 million current US$ | +12.3% |
| 2017 | 10,354 million current US$ | +7.8% |
| 2018 | 10,385 million current US$ | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 17,875 million current US$ | +72.1% |
| 2020 | 19,884 million current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2021 | 20,667 million current US$ | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 22,737 million current US$ | +10.0% |
| 2023 | 30,688 million current US$ | +35.0% |
| 2024 | 45,632 million current US$ | +48.7% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 45,632 million current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,309 million current US$, 13.8× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 45,632 million current US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1,635 million current US$, 27.9× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +4365.9% | 95.3 million current US$ | 4,256 million current US$ |
| 2010 | +675.5% | 1,134 million current US$ | 8,797 million current US$ |
| 1995 | +540.2% | 62.46 million current US$ | 399.85 million current US$ |
| 1999 | -482.4% | 257.66 million current US$ | -985.34 million current US$ |
| 1992 | +400.1% | 25.94 million current US$ | 129.72 million current US$ |
| 2001 | +333.8% | -506.33 million current US$ | 1,184 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 70.87 million current US$ | -985.34 million current US$ | 401.32 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,912 million current US$ | -506.33 million current US$ | 14,186 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 10,312 million current US$ | 7,152 million current US$ | 17,875 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 27,922 million current US$ | 19,884 million current US$ | 45,632 million current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More economy & growth data for United Arab Emirates
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -7.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0056 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 285.14 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 0.2593 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0043 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 208.21 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.68 % 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 million current US$ 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 million current US$ in 2024.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was -985.34 million current US$ in 1999.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 12th out of 224 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.
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