From September 7 to 9, 2026, Dubai is set to host the fifteenth edition of the AIM Investment Summit, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. This year, a distinguished group of global leaders, policymakers, institutional investors, and innovators will gather to explore new investment avenues. The summit takes place as the UAE experiences unprecedented levels of foreign direct investment (FDI) and a significant rise in non-oil trade, reinforcing its status as a leading global destination for cross-border capital.
A Path to Sustainable Growth
This year’s summit, themed “Reshaping Global Prosperity: Opening New Investment Pathways Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Future,” focuses on three strategic pillars: “Global Markets,” “Future Economies,” and “The Next Generation.” These frameworks allow investors, government delegations, and financial institutions to investigate collaborative opportunities, establish cross-border business networks, and engage in strategic dialogues surrounding the sectors and investment routes essential for sustaining economic growth.
The summit convenes against a backdrop of remarkable investment momentum, as highlighted in the “World Investment Report 2026” released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The report indicates that FDI inflows to the UAE reached AED 177.3 billion in 2025, securing the nation’s position as the ninth largest recipient of FDI globally. This achievement marks four consecutive years of record performance in attracting foreign direct investment.
As of the end of 2025, the UAE’s total FDI stock stood at AED 1.171 trillion, and the country remains the second largest global destination for new FDI projects, having attracted 1,562 new initiatives. Notably, the UAE also accounted for 38% of the total capital expenditure on new projects across the Middle East.
The continuous growth in non-oil trade is further expanding the investment opportunities within the UAE. During the first half of 2026, the country’s non-oil external trade reached AED 1.937 trillion, reflecting a substantial annual growth rate of 13.1%. Non-oil exports alone achieved a historic level of AED 452.8 billion, marking an impressive growth of 23.9% compared to the same period the previous year.
The summit promises a comprehensive agenda, featuring keynote conferences, investment destination forums, specialised round tables, international exhibitions, workshops, project and idea pitching competitions, awards ceremonies, and supplementary events aimed at fostering organised networking. Discussions will cover global capital flows, emerging market strategies, technological innovations reshaping investment ecosystems, sustainability frameworks, and cross-border economic opportunities.
The UAE: An Investment Hub
According to Dawood Al Shezawi, Chairman of the summit, “The record momentum witnessed at this year’s summit reflects a broader shift in the perspective of global capital towards the UAE, which is no longer just an investment destination, but a proactive partner in shaping the next generation of growth.” He added, “With FDI inflows and non-oil trade reaching record highs, we face an exceptional opportunity. This growth explains the evolution of the summit into one of the world’s foremost platforms today. Over the next three days, we are focused on translating this momentum into tangible pathways that connect capital allocators, policymakers, and innovators around strategies that will define sustainable and inclusive economic growth for the coming decade.”
The summit will bring together development finance institutions, investment promotion agencies, sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, technology sector leaders, and government representatives from diverse regional and international markets.