UAE Ministry of Investment, UNCTAD partner to boost global investment, advance sustainable development
The partnership underscores the Emirates' commitment to harbouring an investment-friendly environment and reinforcing its role as a global business hub.
It also aligns with UNCTAD's commitments to support countries to effectively access the benefits of a globalized economy.
UAE's investment ecosystem growth
Through the collaboration with UNCTAD, the UAE is advancing the vision outlined in the National Investment Strategy 2031, strengthening its position as a premier global investment hub by capitalising on its world-class infrastructure, ease of doing business, progressive regulatory frameworks and strategic geographical location.
The two will establish a framework for cooperation to enhance investment policymaking, facilitate capacity-building initiatives, and promote sustainable economic growth.
Key areas of collaboration include knowledge sharing, joint research, event participation, advisory support, and aligning efforts with sustainable development goals.
Mohammad Abdulrahman Alhawi, Undersecretary at the UAE Ministry of Investment, said the MoU is in clear alignment with the ambition to position the UAE as a premier global investment destination by cultivating an investment-friendly ecosystem that delivers tangible opportunities and outcomes.
'Through our collaboration with UNCTAD, we will further advance our broader National Investment Strategy and attract high-impact investments that drive long-term economic growth,' he said.
Nan Li Collins, Senior Director of Investment and Enterprise at UNCTAD, said the partnership will support UNCTAD's mission to create a more inclusive and sustainable global investment landscape.
'By working with the UAE Ministry of Investment, we can strengthen capacity-building initiatives and advance economic policies that benefit global investors and developing economies alike,' Li Collins said.
With significant investments and partnerships in high-growth areas such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and digital transformation, the Emirates continues to position itself at the forefront of innovation and economic diversification.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
25-07-2025
- Zawya
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Champions Women-Led Digital Trade in West Africa
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and with the support of the Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP) funded by World Bank, convened an eTrade for Women Joint Workshop in Lagos, on Friday July 17th, 2025, to spotlight and strengthen the role of women-led digital businesses in regional trade. This event was held as part of a broader regional agenda to build a more inclusive, connected, and digitally enabled West Africa. In his statement on behalf of Madame Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mr. Kolawole SOFOLA, Director of Trade at the ECOWAS Commission, welcomed participants and noted the event's importance in advancing inclusive digital transformation. He highlighted that the ECOWAS E-Commerce Strategy, adopted by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in July 2023, places women, youth, and small-scale producers at the centre of digital trade reforms to promote regional integration and inclusive development. Through platforms and dialogues such as the workshop, ECOWAS reaffirms its commitment to gender-responsive policymaking and sustainable digital trade development in West Africa. In her opening remarks, Madam Sonia NNAGOZIE, the representative of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) highlighted the role of digital trade in unlocking new opportunities for women entrepreneurs across West Africa. She echoed the importance of the workshop in delivering actionable recommendations to improve women's participation in digital trade. She went on to commend ECOWAS for leading the way in building an enabling digital ecosystem that supports women and appreciated the ongoing partnership between UNCTAD and ECOWAS. The workshop served as a platform for dialogue, policy coordination, and knowledge sharing. Participants discussed the structural and policy barriers women face in participating in the digital economy, and shared practical solutions and good practices that promote women's digital empowerment. The event also showcased ECOWAS-led initiatives such as the ECOWAS Trade and Gender Action Plan, export readiness trainings, and platforms like the 50 Million African Women Speak (50MAWS) and the Business-to-Business matchmaking platform of the West Africa Competitiveness Observatory. The Workshop was attended by a cross-section of stakeholders including women entrepreneurs, representatives of Ministries responsible for trade in ECOWAS, and development partners. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Khaleej Times
20-07-2025
- Khaleej Times
Led by UAE, GCC poised for boom in foreign direct investment
The outlook for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the GCC and broader Mena region is becoming increasingly optimistic despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and global economic uncertainties. A series of new studies from Bloomberg, S&P Global Market Intelligence, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) highlights how the UAE and Saudi Arabia are emerging as global frontrunners in attracting foreign capital, positioning the region as a hub for international investors in search of resilience, innovation, and strategic diversification. According to the Unctad World Investment Report 2025, the UAE surged to 10th place among the world's top FDI destinations in 2024, recording an inflow of $45.6 billion—an increase of nearly 49 per cent from $30.68 billion in 2023. The UAE accounted for 55.6 per cent of total FDI inflows into the Middle East, which collectively stood at $82.08 billion. Other major regional recipients included Saudi Arabia with $15.73 billion, Turkiye with $10.59 billion, and Oman with $8.68 billion. The UAE's rise reflects its aggressive economic reforms, investor-friendly regulations, world-class infrastructure, and robust commitment to future-focused sectors like artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. As noted by Unctad, this trend cements the country's growing importance in global capital flows, outpacing many mature economies. The Bloomberg Media's seventh Global FDI Outlook report, Rebalancing in Real Time, further underscores this shift. Based on a survey of 2,600 global executives — including 227 from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Morocco — the study finds that the Mena region leads the world in FDI ambition, with 90 per cent of decision-makers expressing intent to expand internationally. This compares to a global average of 76 per cent. The average investment plan in the region was $239 million, well above the global average of $194 million. FDI interest in the region is no longer solely driven by traditional sectors like oil and real estate. There is growing investor focus on cost efficiency, supply chain reliability, and emerging technologies. Compared to 2023, FDI project interest grew by 10 percentage points in manufacturing, four points in supply chains, and three points in new market expansion. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are investing heavily in AI, with 53 per cent of Mena-based respondents planning to allocate capital to the sector in the next one to three years—making it the top emerging area for investment. Junaid Ansari, head of Investment Strategy and Research at Kamco Invest, said: 'The competition between the US and China to deepen investment linkages in Mena has opened a window of opportunity for the region. GCC countries, led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are skillfully leveraging this geopolitical dynamic to attract long-term, strategic capital.' S&P's report has cautioned that after a decade of strong FDI growth across both GCC states and North Africa, 2025 may see a brief moderation due to investor caution over changing US trade policies, volatile oil prices, and the slower-than-expected pace of some GCC economic diversification plans. However, a weakening US dollar could play in the region's favour, reducing the cost of capital for European, Chinese, and Indian investors while enhancing the external competitiveness of GCC economies with currencies pegged to the dollar. Mohamed Ali Omar, associate at S&P Global, said the current weakness of the dollar served as a competitive advantage for GCC nations. 'This dynamic, combined with proactive structural reforms, enhances the region's attractiveness even in a complex global environment.' The conflict in the Middle East, cybersecurity threats, and increased trade barriers remain top concerns for investors, particularly in the wake of recent geopolitical developments and tariff hikes by the US. Despite these challenges, the region is maintaining a pragmatic and resilient approach to growth, particularly through sustainability and ESG integration. The Bloomberg report highlights that 69 per cent of Mena decision-makers have already integrated ESG criteria into their FDI strategies, compared to a global average of 56 per cent while 29 per cent plan to do so in the near future. This strong regional focus on sustainable investment is positioning the GCC not just as a financial hub, but also as a leader in green transformation. The report also reveals that optimism in the Mena region is largely tied to the easing of US-China trade tensions, with 76 per cent of regional respondents citing this as the most encouraging global economic development. It's a sentiment that reflects growing confidence in the region's ability to navigate and benefit from shifting global alignments. FDI experts believe that as the world reconfigures investment priorities in the post-pandemic, post-globalisation era, the GCC—particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia—is emerging as a sought-after destination for FDI capital, driven by its strong macroeconomic fundamentals, forward-looking governance, and unwavering commitment to technological and sustainable advancement.
Zawya
08-07-2025
- Zawya
Oman ranked 4th among developing economies in digital FDI
Muscat – Oman ranked fourth globally among developing economies in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) for greenfield projects in information and communications technology infrastructure between 2020 and 2024, according to the World Investment Report 2025 released by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. The report highlights Oman's growing role as a regional hub for digital infrastructure, innovation and emerging technologies. The sultanate's ranking reflects its success in attracting substantial digital-related investment, surpassing several advanced economies. Government Communication Centre stated that Oman attracted foreign investment worth US$1.7bn in digital infrastructure projects during this period. The volume of new investments in the digital economy nearly tripled, driven by implementation of the National Digital Economy Programme and broader national efforts to transform Oman into a knowledge-based economy. Mexico tops the list in the category with US$5.2bn in investment, followed by Nigeria (US$4.3bn), Malaysia (US$2.2bn), and Brazil (US$1.6bn) ranked fifth. The achievement underscores the sultanate's strategic vision under Oman Vision 2040 to diversify the economy and enhance its attractiveness as a destination for technology-driven investment. It also reflects the effectiveness of national policies aimed at improving digital readiness and fostering a competitive, innovation-led investment environment. In 2024, Oman launched the National Programme for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Digital Technologies, which will run through to 2026. The programme aims to boost the ICT sector's role in the economy and align national capabilities with global advancements in AI. Key components of the programme include introduction of AI and data analysis in school curricula to build essential digital skills among youth, and development of a national open data platform to support entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers. A national research centre for AI will also be established to advance academic and scientific research, while an AI studio will offer sector-specific solutions for professionals and institutions. The programme targets a rise in Oman's position in the global Government Readiness Index for AI and aims to increase the digital economy's contribution to GDP from 2% in 2021 to 10% by 2040. These efforts underline Oman's commitment to building a resilient, tech-driven economy. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
