Kearney’s 2024 Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index (FDICI), now in its 26th edition, has placed the United Arab Emirates at eighth position, up from 18th place in 2023. The country now ranks second on the Emerging Market Index after China.
Kearney shared that as a result of the nation’s diversification policies, the country’s economy has witnessed significant growth. Here, it highlighted the increase in FDI inflows from $20.7 billion in 2021 to $22.7 billion in 2022, representing 60 per cent of the total FDI attracted to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
According to the report, the UAE’s technology environment is fuelling investment in sectors a number of sectors, including, fintech, e-commerce, agritech, logistics, ICT, and renewable energy.
The report shared that the UAE’s infrastructure is further driving its investment appeal.
Elsewhere in the Middle East, Saudia Arabia climbed ten positions from 24th to 14th, and has a GDP growth rate of 5.0 per cent.
Read the full report here.