India Rises to the Top of Dubai’s Investment Chart
India Becomes Dubai’s Largest FDI Contributor in 2024: India claimed the top spot as the largest foreign investor in Dubai in 2024, outpacing traditional investment giants like the United States, United Kingdom, and France. This milestone underscores the deepening strategic and economic ties between India and the UAE. The figures were published by fDi Markets (2025), a global Greenfield investment tracking service by Financial Times Ltd.
Investment and Employment Surge in Dubai
Dubai achieved a record-breaking FDI inflow of AED 52.3 billion (USD 14.24 billion) in 2024, marking a 33.2% increase over the previous year’s AED 39.26 billion. The number of Greenfield FDI projects reached an all-time high of 1,117, while the total FDI project announcements stood at 1,826, reflecting 11% annual growth. As a result, job creation soared by 31%, with 58,680 new roles, significantly up from 44,745 in 2023.
India Leads with 21.5% FDI Share
India’s FDI share stood at an impressive 21.5%, clearly ahead of the USA (13.7%), France (11%), UK (10%), and Switzerland (6.9%). Indian investments were largely directed toward software services, IT, AI, consulting, and real estate, reflecting a strategic push toward Dubai’s technology and innovation sectors. This also illustrates India’s growing clout in global digital business ecosystems.
Dubai’s Consistent Global Investment Leadership
For the fourth consecutive year, Dubai held the No.1 global position in Greenfield FDI project attraction. In terms of total FDI capital, it moved up one place to No.4 globally, improving from its 5th place rank in 2023. Within the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, Dubai remained the undisputed leader in attracting projects, capital, and employment. The emirate also secured 50 headquarters (HQ) projects, maintaining its global leadership in HQ FDI attraction.
Growth Aligned with Visionary Economic Policies
The surge in FDI is closely linked to sectors like business services, financial technology, industrial goods, IT, real estate, and artificial intelligence. Notably, Dubai’s share in Advanced Information Technology (AIT) FDI rose from 7.3% in 2023 to 8% in 2024, emphasizing the city’s transformation into a digital and innovation-driven economy. This progress is powered by the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who continues to champion startups, smart infrastructure, and sustainable growth.
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India Becomes Dubai’s Largest FDI Contributor in 2024:
| Feature | Details |
| Why in News | India became the top source of FDI into Dubai |
| India’s FDI Share | 21.5% (highest among all countries in 2024) |
| Total FDI to Dubai | AED 52.3 billion (USD 14.24 billion) |
| Project Growth | 1,826 FDI projects; 1,117 Greenfield projects |
| Employment Impact | 58,680 new jobs (31% increase over 2023) |
| Global Rank | No.1 in Greenfield FDI; No.4 in FDI capital |
| HQ Project Rank | No.1 globally (50 projects) |
| Major Sectors | IT, AI, business services, real estate, finance |
| Strategic Framework | Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) |
| AIT FDI Share | Grew from 7.3% in 2023 to 8% in 2024 |
