Dubai Hits 7th Spot Globally as UAE FDI Reaches AED 177.3 Billion
Dubai climbed four places to rank seventh globally in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 39) published by Z/Yen Group in partnership with the China Development Institute. The climb follows a record AED 177.3 billion ($48.3 billion) in foreign direct investment into the UAE during 2025, accelerating growth among international investment banks, asset managers, hedge funds, and financial technology firms operating across the country.
DIFC Active Firms Surpass 10,000 as Regulated Financial Entities Reach 1,134
Dubai International Financial Centre registered 10,018 active companies in the first half of 2026, marking a 30 per cent year-on-year expansion. Regulated financial firms based in the district rose 16 per cent to 1,134 entities, while specialized technology, fintech, and artificial intelligence companies expanded 39 per cent to reach 1,933 firms. Total employment within the financial zone has now passed 50,000 professionals.
Data from the UN Trade and Development World Investment Report 2026 shows foreign direct investment inflows into the UAE grew 6 per cent last year, positioning the nation as the world’s ninth-largest recipient of foreign capital. The UAE also retained its standing as the second-largest global destination for greenfield investment projects for a third consecutive year, recording 1,562 announced developments.
His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stated that the seventh-place index result confirms international institutional trust in Dubai’s regulatory framework and financial infrastructure.
The achievement marks the highest ranking ever attained by a financial centre in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. The progress advances the emirate toward its target under the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to secure a position among the top four financial hubs worldwide by 2033.
