Al Hilal exit Club World Cup after narrow defeat to Fluminense    Saudi leadership congratulates President Trump on U.S. Independence Day    Saudi Arabia tops global ICT Development Index for 2025    Hamas says it is consulting other Palestinian groups on Gaza ceasefire plan    Germany seeks agreement with Taliban to take back convicted Afghan migrants    Saudi Crown Prince, Abu Dhabi deputy ruler discuss regional stability, strategic ties in Jeddah    Hotel occupancy in Saudi Arabia rises to 63% as tourism workforce tops 983,000 in Q1 2025    Saudi e-commerce sales jump to SR69 billion during 1Q 2025    German Chancellor calls Saudi Crown Prince to discuss regional developments    SFDA to penalize 996 erring establishments    'Morally repugnant': US Cardinal hits out at Trump's immigration policy    At 90, the Dalai Lama braces for final showdown with Beijing Reincarnation    Alkhorayef Commercial Company partners with XSQUARE Technologies to elevate logistics automation in Saudi Arabia    Portugal and Liverpool FC winger Diogo Jota dies in car accident in Spain    Michael Madsen, actor of 'Kill Bill' and 'Reservoir Dogs' fame, dead at 67    Al Hilal sign Abderrazak Hamdallah on loan for Club World Cup push    Lacazette joins NEOM SC as Saudi Pro League newcomers boost attack with French star    BTS are back: K-pop band confirm new album and tour    Michelin Guide launches in Saudi Arabia with phased rollout in 2025    'How fragile we are': Roskilde Festival tragedy remembered 25 years on    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



FDIs into UAE grow by 44.2 percent in 2020
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 17 - 05 - 2021

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) grew by 44.2 percent in 2020 compared to 2019 and reached to a total of $19.88 billion. The positive results come amidst the reeling impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the volume of global investment and trade and on the world economy in general.
The increase brought the cumulative balance of FDI inflows to about $174 billion, achieving a growth of 12.9 percent compared to the same period in the previous year.
The investments included all sectors and economic activities, with majority of the activities led by the oil and gas sector. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) concluded huge investment deals and partnerships with several foreign companies which contributed to achieving this growth.
Investments have also been robust on modern technologies which underpin the digital economy, such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, blockchain, innovative medical technologies, high-speed transportation, augmented virtual reality, robotics, autonomous cars, renewable energy, innovation, technology, agriculture, among others.
Meanwhile, the UAE's outward investments flow reached up to $9.2 billion in 2020, which showed to be highly performing in regional and international markets. Various vital economic sectors with major strategic investments have revealed sustainable results.
These UAE companies have contributed to improving the competitiveness of the country especially in advanced industries and services, such as aviation, air transport services, transportation, and mining. In addition, these companies also made major progress in their investments in renewable energy, real estate and construction, communications and information technology, oil and natural gas, conventional energy and renewable energy, logistics, ports and infrastructure, tourism and hospitality as well as entertainment and aviation sectors, banking and the agricultural sector.
Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE minister of economy, said: "The UAE's economic and investment market has further advanced its ranking globally and has kept its leading position across the region. Thanks to the directives of our wise leaders, the UAE continues to improve its ranks in global indicators for foreign investment inflow and ease of doing business, confirming the success of the government's strategies towards making the country an attractive investment destination."
"This is being done through an integrated system of policies and procedures, including the updating of economic legislations and regulatory frameworks. Government continues to launch support initiatives aimed at improving the performance of different sectors to stimulate growth of the national economy and accelerate the pace of its recovery.
"We will continue to develop initiatives that will raise the efficiency of the investment environment, increase opportunities, especially in priority sectors, enhance the confidence of investors and businessmen, and work to unify efforts at both federal and local levels to consolidate the country's position and competitiveness regionally and globally."
Bin Touq reiterated the UAE's progress in global indices for attracting foreign investments, reflects the positive outlook and confidence of investors, which stem from the government's strong commitment to economic diversity, innovation, infrastructure, and ease of doing business. He added that these factors have been proven to be the source of resilience and stability of the country's economy and its ability to overcome today's global economic challenges, as well as its efficiency and speed in coping with and tackling emergencies, crises and global changes.
Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, minister of state for foreign trade, said: "The UAE's leading position in global indicators to attract foreign direct investment was not a coincidence, but rather the product of a clear vision of our wise leadership to make the UAE the most preferred investment destination.
"These are visible in the policies adopted by the UAE for developing foreign direct investment and in its strategies, which enhance its leadership in attracting significant investments. These investments are directed at supporting our development plans focused on innovation, knowledge, technology and the digital economy, in accordance with the National Agenda 2021 and the UAE Centennial 2071."
Al Zeyoudi further emphasized that the country's success in attracting FDIs is testament to the confidence of the international investment community in the country's business environment. It also confirms the UAE's sound policies and openness to enhance trade and investments, such as the recent amendments to the Commercial Companies Law.
These changes are expected to bring about positive long-term impact on the flow and quality of foreign and domestic investments and the overall economic growth process of the country. He added that the new amendments further boost its competitiveness in attracting more foreign investments in new economic sectors, while also contributing to diversifying and developing businesses in the non-oil segments.
It will also enhance the development of market movement, create new job opportunities, develop skills of professionals, as well as strengthen the confidence of foreign investors, and thereby providing greater opportunities for national and foreign investors to establish strong partnerships, he remarked.
The UAE has climbed up by three ranks in attracting FDIs in 2018 and made it to the 24th ranking globally in 2019. It ranked first in the Western Asian region in attracting FDI, gaining 49.4 percent of the total inflow of foreign investment across West Asia in 2019. The country has maintained its 19th position in the world for outflows of FDI to other countries, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development's (UNCTAD) World Investment Report 2020.
The balance of FDI coming into the UAE until the beginning of 2020 is distributed according to continents and their relative importance as follows: Asia, Europe, followed by North America, and then Africa. In terms of countries, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland comes in first, followed by India, China, and British Virgin Islands. Saudi Arabia comes at fifth, followed by Switzerland, France, Netherlands, the United States of America, and Japan.
In terms of sectors, the balance of direct investments into the UAE were distributed in the following: wholesale and retail trade as well as repair of vehicles and motorcycles were the leading among the sectors while real estate activities ranked second. Financial and insurance activities ranked third, followed by mining and quarrying.
The manufacturing industry ranked fifth, followed by the construction sector at sixth and then the professional, scientific and technical activities. Other sectors followed accordingly such as electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, followed by transportation and storage, and lastly, information and communications technologies.
The UAE currently ranks first in the Arab world and in the region and 15th globally in the Kearney FDI Confidence Index for 2021. It advanced by four ranks compared to 2020, surpassing several major global economies such as Singapore, Australia, Portugal, Denmark, Ireland, Brazil and Finland in the general ranking of the index. — SG


Clic here to read the story from its source.