Advanced technologies a key sector for FDI investors in UAE
A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)Investments in advanced technologies remain the top priority for foreign direct investors considering the UAE, with 62% of them identifying it as a key sector, according to the seventh wave of Bloomberg Media's Global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Outlook.The comprehensive study, conducted between May 21 and June 11, 2025, surveyed 2,600 senior decision-makers from 31 countries, including 83 respondents from the UAE and 227 from the entire MENA region.Despite ongoing geopolitical challenges and economic uncertainties, the UAE emerged as a standout destination, with the MENA region as a whole displaying the largest appetite for global expansion.According to the study, 90% of MENA-based executives expressed a desire to grow their international operations, surpassing the global average of 76%. These investors also revealed higher-than-average investment plans, reporting an average FDI value of $239 million, well above the global mean of $194 million.While advanced technology led the list of sectors attracting investment interest, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) considerations are also gaining traction.The report found that 60% of foreign direct investors considering the UAE already integrate ESG criteria into their strategies, with a further 36% planning to do so.Across the broader MENA region, 69% of decision-makers confirmed they currently incorporate ESG principles, reflecting a regional leadership in sustainable investment practices. This compares with a global average of 56%.Political and security concerns, however, remain at the forefront of investor considerations. The conflict in the Middle East, cybersecurity threats, and trade barriers were identified as the top three challenges when allocating investment capital.Yet, despite these pressures, investor interest in projects across manufacturing, supply chains, and new market expansion rose notably from 2023 levels—by 10 percentage points in manufacturing, four in supply chains, and three in new market exploration.The report, titled 'Rebalancing in Real Time: How Shocks Are Shaping the Global Investment Landscape,' underscores a growing shift in how global investors assess risk and opportunity. For MENA investors, cost incentives and long-term productivity now rank higher than traditional metrics such as location and lifestyle.The easing of US–China trade tensions was cited as the single most important positive development for economic optimism in the MENA region, with 76% of respondents viewing it favourably—more than any other global region.While the study highlighted a near-even balance between optimism and caution among global FDI decision-makers for the first time in five years, the outlook for the UAE remained broadly positive. The country's emphasis on stability, innovation, and forward-thinking economic reforms continues to make it a highly attractive hub for investment, particularly in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
The Global FDI Outlook is part of Bloomberg's Industry Accelerator suite of proprietary research, providing valuable insights into investment patterns, sector preferences, and global business sentiment across multiple industries.
Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
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