The United Arab Emirates maintained its position as the ninth most attractive destination for foreign direct investment in the world in 2026, remaining among the top 10 economies globally for attracting foreign investment.

According to the Foreign Investment Confidence Index report by Kearney, the UAE recorded the highest level of 'economic optimism' among all global markets during this period, with its optimism index reaching 42 percent, surpassing countries like Japan, Canada, Germany, and Thailand.

In the emerging economies category, the UAE has secured the second position in the world for the third consecutive year, following China and ahead of Saudi Arabia, while Brazil and Mexico are ranked next.

Globally, the United States remains at the top of the list, followed by Canada, Japan, China, and Germany.

This report explains that the strong performance of the UAE is due to several key factors: a 5.5 percent economic growth in 2025, a reduction in legal barriers for investors, and the launch of a $10 billion national investment fund as part of the 2031 investment strategy.

Developing infrastructure, advancements in technology, and stability in the regulatory environment are also other factors that have strengthened global investor confidence.

This survey was conducted in January 2026 and includes the views of 507 senior executives from international companies with annual revenues exceeding $500 million.

At the same time, investors still consider geopolitical tensions to be the biggest risk to the global economy in the coming year, even more so than rising commodity prices and political instability in developed economies.

Overall, the report presents a clear picture: the UAE remains one of the most reliable and attractive destinations for global investment, where trust, growth, and stability coexist.

Source: Gulf News