13 November 2026
Between 2019 and 2023, every USD 1 billion (about AED 3.67 billion) of greenfield foreign direct investment in the UAE created about 2,816 jobs, against an OECD average of 2,318. That is 498 more jobs per USD 1 billion, roughly 21% higher, according to the study “Beyond the Numbers: The Transformative Intangible Impact of FDI” by White Paper Media Consulting (WPM), reported by Gulf News on 13 November 2026. In 2014-2018 the UAE created 2,265 jobs per USD 1 billion. The findings come after a record year: in 2025 the UAE attracted USD 48.3 billion (AED 177.3 billion) of FDI, ranking 9th in the world and 2nd by the number of new greenfield projects, 1,562.
What the study measured
White Paper Media Consulting is a UAE-based strategic research house. Its paper argues that countries can no longer judge foreign investment only by volume: the real return is the intangible value that FDI leaves in the host economy, such as jobs, skills, technology, patents and data ecosystems. The UAE is not a member of the OECD, so the authors benchmark it against the OECD FDI Qualities framework and compare it with Ireland, Singapore, Israel, Costa Rica and Malaysia.
The central indicator is jobs intensity: how many jobs each USD 1 billion of greenfield FDI creates. Greenfield investment means a foreign company building a new operation, such as a factory, office or data centre, rather than buying an existing business.
Jobs per USD 1 billion: the UAE against the OECD
| Period | UAE, jobs per USD 1 billion of greenfield FDI | OECD average |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-2018 | 2,265 | 1,880 |
| 2019-2023 | 2,816 | 2,318 |
| Change between the periods | +24% | +23% |
In 2019-2023 the UAE was 498 jobs, or about 21%, ahead of the OECD average. Jobs intensity grew in both cases, by 24% in the UAE and by 23% across the OECD, so in absolute terms the gap grew from 385 to 498 jobs. The study traces the path of the country from a Foundation Phase in 1985-2005, built on market liberalisation and infrastructure, to its current role as a global capital and technology hub.
The 2025 investment record in figures
The study builds on the 2025 FDI data published in the World Investment Report 2026 of UNCTAD and announced by the Dubai Media Office on 8 July 2026:
- Inflows. USD 48.3 billion (AED 177.3 billion), up 6% year on year and the fourth record year in a row. Gulf News puts this at 3.1% of global FDI flows.
- Rankings. 9th in the world for FDI inflows and first in the Middle East.
- Greenfield projects. 1,562 announced projects with USD 34.1 billion (AED 125.2 billion) of capital expenditure, 1.8% of the global total, and 2nd place worldwide by project count for the third year running.
- FDI stock. AED 1.17 trillion at the end of 2025.
- Outward investment. UAE investment abroad fell to USD 63 billion (about AED 231 billion) in 2025 from USD 77 billion (about AED 283 billion).
The National Investment Strategy 2031 sets the targets: AED 240 billion (USD 65 billion) of FDI inflows a year and a cumulative FDI stock of AED 2.2 trillion (USD 600 billion) by 2031. The 2025 inflows reached about 74% of the annual target. Where an AED amount in this article is marked “about”, it is our conversion at the fixed rate of AED 3.6725 per US dollar.
Which policies the study credits
The authors attribute much of the result to government measures:
- Ownership. A 2021 amendment to the Commercial Companies Law made 100% foreign ownership standard for most mainland activities.
- Residency. The Golden Visa gives investors, entrepreneurs and specialists long-term residency.
- Tax. A federal corporate tax of 9% took effect on 1 June 2023, with a 0% rate on taxable profits up to AED 375,000.
The paper also lists projects that bring technology and skills into the country. Space42 and ICEYE are building satellites in the UAE. Microsoft has committed USD 15.2 billion (about AED 55.8 billion) and pledged to train one million people. The UAE has pledged USD 30 billion (about AED 110 billion) to the Alterra climate fund.
Seven policy shifts for the next phase
According to the authors, the next phase of FDI will be measured in patents, skills transferred, data ecosystems and clean technologies brought to market, not only in volumes. The paper proposes seven policy shifts. Among those named in the coverage:
- extending the spillovers of free zones to the mainland economy;
- prioritising research-intensive investment;
- embedding skills transfer requirements in major projects;
- leading on intellectual property and data governance.
These are recommendations of the study, not rules in force. Yazad Darasha, co-founder and director of WPM, described the aim of the paper as mapping the harder contest of converting investment into skills, technology and economic velocity, after the country had positioned itself at the front of the race for capital.
Risks named alongside the findings
UNCTAD warns that geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic uncertainty could weigh on capital-intensive sectors such as infrastructure and energy. The drop in outward investment, from USD 77 billion to USD 63 billion, is the other figure that runs against the record inflows.
What this means for companies setting up in the UAE
For a foreign company, the study is a reminder of the rules that apply today: most mainland activities can be 100% foreign owned, a 9% corporate tax applies, with no tax on profits up to AED 375,000, and long-term residency is available through the Golden Visa. Each new operation also brings hiring, which in the UAE means employment visas, work permits and registration of the staff with the authorities. A practical checklist before investing:
- choose between a mainland licence and a free zone for the planned activity and customers;
- confirm whether the activity allows 100% foreign ownership on the mainland;
- register for corporate tax and plan for the AED 375,000 threshold;
- plan the visa quota and the hiring timeline for the first employees;
- open a corporate bank account early, as banks review the source of funds.
How Atlant Capital can help
We help foreign investors move from a decision to a working company in the UAE. Our guide to company formation in the UAE covers the choice of jurisdiction, licence and costs, and our earlier report on the UAE FDI record of 2025 gives the background to the AED 177.3 billion figure.
- Company formation on the mainland or in a free zone, including the choice of activity and ownership structure.
- Work visas and residency for founders and employees, including the Golden Visa.
The bottom line
The White Paper Media Consulting study puts a number on the return from foreign investment in the UAE: 2,816 jobs per USD 1 billion of greenfield FDI in 2019-2023, 21% above the OECD average of 2,318 and up from 2,265 in 2014-2018. This comes on top of record 2025 inflows of USD 48.3 billion and 1,562 new greenfield projects. The authors argue that the next phase should be measured in skills, patents and technology, and they propose seven policy shifts to get there.
Source: Gulf News, Dubai Media Office.
FAQ
How many jobs does foreign investment create in the UAE?
According to the study “Beyond the Numbers” by White Paper Media Consulting, every USD 1 billion of greenfield FDI created about 2,816 jobs in the UAE in 2019-2023. That is 498 jobs, or about 21%, more than the OECD average of 2,318. In 2014-2018 the figure for the UAE was 2,265.
How much foreign direct investment did the UAE attract in 2025?
USD 48.3 billion, or AED 177.3 billion, up 6% on 2024 and a fourth record year in a row, according to the UNCTAD World Investment Report 2026. The UAE ranked 9th in the world for FDI inflows and 2nd by the number of new greenfield projects, with 1,562 projects worth USD 34.1 billion.
What is the FDI target of the UAE National Investment Strategy 2031?
The strategy targets AED 240 billion (USD 65 billion) of FDI inflows a year and a cumulative FDI stock of AED 2.2 trillion (USD 600 billion) by 2031. The 2025 inflows of AED 177.3 billion reached about 74% of the annual target, and the FDI stock stood at AED 1.17 trillion at the end of 2025.
Can a foreign investor own 100% of a mainland company in the UAE?
Yes, for most activities. A 2021 amendment to the Commercial Companies Law made 100% foreign ownership standard for most mainland activities, so a local partner is no longer required in those cases. Since 1 June 2023 the UAE has applied a federal corporate tax of 9%, with no tax on profits up to AED 375,000.
