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UAE and World Bank expand investment partnership. The focus is on attracting global FDI
The partnership aims to boost transparency, competitiveness, and long-term investment growth as the UAE targets doubling annual FDI by 2031.
The UAE Ministry of Investment and the World Bank have signed a new partnership framework to strengthen the country’s investment climate and reinforce its position as a global hub for foreign direct investment (FDI).
The agreement reflects a shared commitment to ensuring the UAE’s investment environment remains transparent, predictable, and globally competitive, while aligning with the country’s long-term economic ambitions.
The partnership falls under the broader framework agreement signed between the World Bank and the UAE Ministry of Finance in 2019. It was signed by Mohammad Abdulrahman Alhawi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Investment, and Boutheina Guermazi, World Bank Director for Strategy and Operations for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan region.
Under the collaboration, the World Bank will support the UAE’s investment reform agenda by leveraging its global expertise to strengthen institutional frameworks to attract and retain high-quality investments.
Mohammad Abdulrahman Alhawi said the partnership builds on the longstanding relationship between the UAE and the World Bank, while supporting the country’s ambitions to become a strategic gateway for global investment.
He noted that the UAE’s entry into the world’s top 10 FDI destinations in 2024 marked a significant milestone, adding that the country aims to double annual FDI inflows to $65 billion by 2031.
Boutheina Guermazi said the partnership reflects the World Bank’s commitment to supporting the UAE in developing a world-class investment ecosystem through globally informed and locally tailored solutions.
She added that the collaboration is intended to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth by attracting transformative investments across key sectors.
The partnership also aligns with the UAE’s National Investment Strategy, which focuses on accelerating economic diversification, deepening international collaboration, and strengthening the country’s position as one of the world’s most connected investment destinations.
