Dubai:The UAE's advanced infrastructure, flexible regulatory environment, and economic integration across its emirates are significantly enhancing its attractiveness to international investors, with expanding opportunities in industry, energy, transport, and logistics sectors. This was the consensus among participants at the RISE Summit 2026 held at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
According to Emirates News Agency, participants highlighted the UAE's diversified economy and its resilience to economic and geopolitical challenges as key factors bolstering investor confidence and attracting long-term capital. Ludovic Subran, Chief Investment Officer of Allianz and Co-Managing Director of Allianz Investment Management, noted the Gulf region's economic resilience amid geopolitical tensions, which renews international investor interest in regional markets.
Subran pointed out that global capital flows have become more selective in light of elevated interest rates, inflation, and trade challenges, leading investors to favor markets with clear economic strategies, strong local partnerships, and diversified investment opportunities. He emphasized the economic integration among the UAE's emirates as a significant advantage, with Dubai positioned as a global trade and logistics hub, Abu Dhabi as a central player in attracting international capital, and other emirates like Sharjah contributing complementary economic strengths.
Infrastructure, particularly in energy, transport, and social services, was identified as a promising investment sector due to its potential to yield stable long-term returns and provide inflation protection. Subran also mentioned opportunities in office, logistics, and retail properties, despite potential rebalancing in regional real estate markets, and anticipated increased debt issuance across the Gulf for development and infrastructure projects.
On the technological front, Subran observed that rising investments in artificial intelligence and data centers are creating productivity improvement opportunities but advised caution regarding some technology assets' elevated valuations.
Mohammed Saeed Al Raqbani, General Manager of Dubai Investments Industries, stated that his company is investigating new investment opportunities across several emirates to expand its industrial activities. The company’s portfolio includes industry, education, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals, with investments in Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.
Al Raqbani highlighted the Emirates Float Glass as an example of the company's commitment to value-added manufacturing and mentioned international education investments in Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco. He remarked that Dubai's advanced infrastructure, efficient government procedures, and flexible legislation are major attractions for foreign investors, with continuous enhancements in transport and logistics fostering new international projects in the emirate.
He further noted that UAE manufacturers are increasingly competing on a global scale, driving innovation and higher quality standards. Citing Globalpharma, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, Al Raqbani illustrated how UAE industries meet global manufacturing standards through international partnerships.
Participants at the summit stressed that infrastructure development, economic diversification, and international partnerships would continue to be central to reinforcing the UAE's status as a global investment hub.