In Abu Dhabi, the World Bank and the United Arab Emirates signed a new partnership framework to advance investment climate reforms and strengthen the UAE’s position as a global destination for foreign direct investment. The agreement focuses on enhancing predictability, transparency, and competitiveness in the investment environment, aligning with the country’s strategic priorities.
Under the framework with the UAE Ministry of Investment, the World Bank will provide global expertise to support a comprehensive reform agenda. This includes strengthening institutional foundations to attract and sustain high‑quality investment while positioning the UAE to capture emerging opportunities in the evolving global landscape.
World Bank Director Boutheina Guermazi emphasized the institution’s commitment to helping the UAE build a world‑class investment environment by combining global knowledge with locally tailored solutions. She noted that the goal is to attract and retain investment that drives inclusive and sustainable growth.
UAE Undersecretary Mohammad Abdulrahman Alhawi highlighted that the partnership builds on longstanding collaboration, including the 2019 framework agreement with the Ministry of Finance. He pointed to the milestone of the UAE entering the world’s top 10 FDI destinations in 2024 and reaffirmed the ambition to double annual FDI by 2031 to reach US$65 billion.
The partnership directly supports the UAE’s National Investment Strategy, reinforcing its broader objective to position the country as a global hub for investment, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.
