Investopia and Deutsche Bank Spotlight UAE’s Investment Strategy and FDI Growth
Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: Investopia, in collaboration with Deutsche Bank, convened an exclusive conference in Abu Dhabi to spotlight recent developments in the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) dynamic business environment and to explore emerging investment opportunities across strategic sectors. These sectors include retail, manufacturing, tourism, technology, and other vital areas of the new economy.
The high-level gathering brought together nearly 30 senior officials and prominent figures from the UAE’s public and private sectors. Notable attendees included H.E. Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, UAE Minister of Investment; H.E. Mohammed Al Hawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Investment; and H.E. Omar Suwaina Alsuwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, alongside representatives from various key national entities.
Joining them was a senior delegation from Deutsche Bank, headed by Claudio de Sanctis, Member of the Management Board and Head of the Private Bank at Deutsche Bank AG. The conference was further enriched by the presence of 50 international investors and entrepreneurs.
In his keynote address, Minister Alsuwaidi reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to fostering a globally competitive investment ecosystem, shaped by innovative national strategies and visionary leadership. “The UAE continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for the new economy, in line with the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision,” he said. “We are enabling investments in priority sectors such as financial technology, the circular economy, smart transportation, and advanced manufacturing.”
The Minister highlighted that the UAE’s investment-friendly policies have played a significant role in attracting foreign capital. The country recorded more than $30.6 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2023—an increase of 35 percent from 2022—securing its place as the world’s second-largest recipient of new project investments.
Alsuwaidi encouraged participants to take advantage of the UAE’s strategic location, robust infrastructure, and wide-ranging incentives. These include 100 percent foreign ownership across over 2,000 economic activities, reduced tax burdens, long-term residency options, and access to numerous free economic zones. He also emphasized the nation’s comprehensive legislative framework, designed to support the expansion of enterprises in new economy sectors.
Commenting on the occasion, Saad Osseiran, Head of Private Bank Middle East at Deutsche Bank, said, “As we mark 26 years of Deutsche Bank’s presence in the UAE, beginning in Abu Dhabi, we are proud to co-host this important platform with Investopia. The conference underscored the UAE’s ongoing efforts to position itself as a destination for forward-looking investment and economic partnership.”
The event featured an in-depth presentation on the UAE’s National Investment Strategy 2031, a blueprint designed to enhance the country’s attractiveness to FDI across priority sectors. The strategy aims to double FDI inflows between 2025 and 2031—raising their share from 15 percent to 30 percent of total investment—and boost total FDI inflows to AED1.3 trillion. It also seeks to triple the FDI balance to AED2.2 trillion by 2031, propelling long-term and sustainable economic growth.
By convening global investors, business leaders, and policymakers, the conference reaffirmed the UAE’s position as a beacon of economic innovation, and highlighted the pivotal role of platforms like Investopia in accelerating investment momentum across the region and beyond.
