The UAE is heading into the 15th edition of the AIM Congress with foreign investment and non-oil trade at record levels. The three-day event will take place from September 7 to 9 at Dubai World Trade Centre. Investors, policymakers, financial institutions and technology companies will come together to discuss emerging investment opportunities.
Foreign direct investment into the UAE reached AED 177.3 billion in 2025, placing the country ninth globally, according to figures from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) cited by AIM Congress. The UAE has now posted four consecutive years of record FDI, while its cumulative FDI stock stood at AED 1.171 trillion at the end of 2025.
The UAE maintained its position as the world’s second-largest destination for new greenfield FDI projects for a third straight year. It attracted 1,562 such projects, accounting for 38% of greenfield project capital expenditure across the Middle East.
Investment growth is paired with a sharp rise in non-oil trade. During the first half of 2026, the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade reached AED 1.937 trillion, marking a 13.1% increase from the same period in 2025.
Non-oil exports reached a record AED 452.8 billion, up 23.9% year on year. The figures point to the UAE’s continued effort to broaden economic activity beyond oil and strengthen its position as a regional centre for trade and international capital.
AIM Congress 2026 is expected to attract government representatives, sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, investment promotion agencies, development finance institutions and technology leaders from different markets.
The program will feature investment destination forums, roundtables, exhibitions, workshops, pitch competitions and networking sessions. The event follows a strong turnout in 2025, when AIM Congress recorded 15,831 participants from 181 countries and featured 1,385 speakers across 431 sessions.
This year’s program will focus on “Reshaping Global Prosperity: Unlocking New Investment Pathways Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Future,” with discussions organized around Global Markets, Future Economies and NexGen.
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Discussions at the Dubai gathering will cover global capital movements, emerging markets, technology, sustainability and cross-border investment. Dawood Al Shezawi, Chairman of AIM Global Foundation, said the UAE’s investment momentum reflected a broader change in how international capital views the country.
“The record momentum behind this year’s Congress reflects a broader shift in how global capital views the UAE, not simply as a destination for investment, but as a partner in shaping where the next generation of growth will come from,” he said.
“With FDI inflows and non-oil trade both reaching historic highs, the opportunity in front of us is significant,” Al Shezawi added.
With FDI and non-oil trade both at record levels, AIM Congress will provide a platform for the UAE to showcase its investment environment while allowing global capital allocators to explore emerging markets and sectors.