UAE’s Ministry of Investment Joins WAIPA to Strengthen Global FDI Ties

The UAE Ministry of Investment has officially joined the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), a Geneva-based organization dedicated to enhancing global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows through knowledge exchange, capacity building, and policy advocacy.

The accession protocol was signed by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Investment, Mohammad Abdulrahman Alhawi, and WAIPA’s Executive Director and CEO, Ismail Ersahin, with membership confirmed on March 13, 2025.

Minister of Investment Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi emphasized the significance of this membership, stating,

“This milestone reinforces our commitment to fostering international investment partnerships and aligns with the National Investment Strategy 2031. Through WAIPA, we aim to collaborate with global entities on investment strategies, best practices, and joint sectoral opportunities.”

WAIPA, established in 1995 by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), includes notable members such as the UK’s Department for International Trade, Oman’s Ministry of Commerce, and China’s Investment Promotion Agency. While other UAE entities such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Dubai FDI, and Invest in Sharjah are members, the Ministry of Investment is the first federal-level entity to join.

The UAE’s National Investment Strategy, launched in 2024, targets FDI stock growth to AED1.3 trillion and aims to triple the cumulative FDI balance to AED2.2 trillion by 2031. The country ranked second globally in greenfield FDI project announcements in 2023, with 1,323 projects, marking a 33% increase from 2022, according to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2024.

News Source: Emirates News Agency