Foreign direct investment, net outflows in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 14.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in United Arab Emirates, 1980–2024
Source: Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows in United Arab Emirates is 14.0%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 227.4% on the previous year and up 405.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in United Arab Emirates peaked at 14.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, -0.1%, in 1990.
United Arab Emirates ranks 5th of 191 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | -0.0% | — |
| 1981 | 0.0% | -232.6% |
| 1982 | 0.0% | +182.2% |
| 1983 | 0.0% | -59.2% |
| 1984 | 0.0% | +241.3% |
| 1985 | 0.0% | +14.0% |
| 1986 | -0.1% | -352.1% |
| 1987 | -0.0% | -55.6% |
| 1988 | 0.2% | -728.5% |
| 1989 | 0.0% | -95.4% |
| 1990 | -0.1% | -1378.8% |
| 1991 | 0.0% | -117.8% |
| 1992 | 0.0% | +38.3% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | +97.4% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | +1659.5% |
| 1995 | 0.1% | -90.2% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | +84.0% |
| 1997 | 0.3% | +67.7% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | -42.6% |
| 1999 | 0.4% | +123.2% |
| 2000 | 0.4% | +8.1% |
| 2001 | 0.2% | -49.1% |
| 2002 | 0.4% | +94.2% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | +98.4% |
| 2004 | 1.5% | +87.4% |
| 2005 | 2.1% | +39.0% |
| 2006 | 4.9% | +136.2% |
| 2007 | 5.6% | +15.2% |
| 2008 | 5.0% | -11.2% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | -78.6% |
| 2010 | 0.7% | -39.0% |
| 2011 | 0.6% | -9.8% |
| 2012 | 0.6% | +9.3% |
| 2013 | 2.2% | +233.8% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | +28.1% |
| 2015 | 4.4% | +58.2% |
| 2016 | 4.1% | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 3.5% | -15.3% |
| 2018 | 3.4% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 4.9% | +42.9% |
| 2020 | 5.3% | +8.4% |
| 2021 | 5.3% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | -9.0% |
| 2023 | 4.3% | -12.1% |
| 2024 | 14.0% | +227.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | -0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2% | -0.1% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 0.2% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | 0.6% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.7% | 4.3% | 14.0% | 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, net outflows in United Arab Emirates?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in United Arab Emirates was 14.0% in 2024, according to Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 14.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.1% in 1990.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 5th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 405.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net outflows (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in an economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. This series shows net outflows of investment from the reporting economy to the rest of the world, and is divided by GDP.