fdi trends 22
fDi Markets recorded a total of 1,766 FDI projects into the UAE,
which represented a combined investment of US$116.9 billion,
and the creation of an estimated 281,423 jobs
Although 206 FDI projects in the financial services sector from South Korea occurred in May 2008, when South Korean
were set up in Dubai, together this only accounted for an property developer D’SECO and Dubai-based real estate firm
average investment of US$19.17 million and 40 jobs per project. Property House, jointly launched the Al Helio development,
Compared to the real estate sector, although only 66 real estate a US$4 billion mixed-use venture in the heart of Ajman. The
FDI projects were established in Dubai between January 2003 project is currently in the design stage and will cover just under
and April 2009, the average project investment figure was 500,000 square metres with 72 residential and commercial
US$295 million, with 979 jobs created. towers. D’SECO announced that they will cover 70 percent of
the investment.
Most FDI into Dubai is by US companies
Of all FDI into Dubai since January 2003, 25 percent of these The UAE has invested US$133 billion in neighbouring countries
projects were set up by US companies such as the collaboration Despite South Korea ranking as the largest source country within
between Trump International and Nakheel who, in October the targeted region in terms of project numbers, companies
2005, announced they would invest U$400 million in the from the UAE have invested US$133 billion in FDI projects in
Trump International Hotel & Tower on the Palm Jumeirah, which neighbouring countries, representing US$47 billion more than
is currently on hold. In May 2009, hospitality giant Marriott South Korea. This is primarily due to a group of announced mega
International (USA) announced plans to invest in Dubai with projects including the US$12 billion Al Wasl urban community
its news headquarters project which is expected to become development in Saudi Arabia being developed by Limitless, the
operational in January 2010. Although the UK is ranked second in global master development arm of Dubai World.
terms of source country for FDI into Dubai, London is the top source
city globally for FDI into Dubai. Bahrain responsible for most ‘valuable’ FDI
Despite South Korea and the UAE creating the most projects
South Korean companies emerge as the top source country and CAPEX respectively, Bahrain is actually responsible for the
When analysing the patterns of investment taking place within generation of the largest CAPEX per project in the region. While
the targeted region, South Korea emerges as the top source Bahraini companies created less than one tenth of the number
country for setting up FDI in the neighbouring regions. A total of FDI projects released by South Korea, and only a fifth of the
of 616 projects were set up by South Korean companies in this overall CAPEX by UAE companies, it has 48 projects with a
region, with an average CAPEX of US$139.6 million, and 567 CAPEX of US$29 billion, resulting in an average of US$612 million
jobs created per project. The largest of these projects sourced investment per project.
Global FDI into UAE by city, Project No.’s (Jan 2003 - Apr 2009) FDI within Cityscape countries by sector
(Jan 2003 - Mar 2009)
1,400
5%
1,326
5%
1,200
6%
59%
1,000
800 11%
c
t
s
r
o
j
e
600
I

P
D
400
Financial Services
266
b
e
r

o
f

F
Real Estate
200
u
m
14% Software and IT services
N 50
110
36
Business Services
Metals
Dubai Abu Dhabi Sharjah Ras Al Khaimah Other Cities Other
PREVIEW Cityscape Dubai
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