UAE Investment Enablers At Davos 2026 Spotlight Global Capital Shifts And Investopia Role

Investopia joined the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos for the first time through "Investopia-Davos", hosting a high-level panel titled: "Where Will Global Capital Move Next? Platforms, Policies, and Partnerships Shaping the New Economy." The session gathered Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of Investopia, alongside global policymakers, senior executives, and international investors to assess shifting capital flows.

The Davos meeting runs from 19 to 23 January 2026, during a period of complex economic and geopolitical pressures on the global system. More than 65 heads of state and government, within a group of over 3,000 leaders and decision-makers, are attending. Organisers expect the discussions to help advance responses to multiple interconnected global challenges.

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During the session, H.E. Bin Touq underlined the UAE’s performance as an investment destination. Bin Touq said: "The UAE presents an exceptional model in attracting capital, investments, and wealth from across the globe. Under the guidance of its wise leadership, the UAE has built an integrated and competitive economic and legislative ecosystem. Notably, non-oil sectors constitute 77.5 per cent of our national GDP as of the end of H1 2025. Over 1.4 million companies operate in the UAE’s markets, and FDIs inflows reached approximately USD 45.6 billion in 2024, positioning the UAE among the top ten FDI recipients globally."

Bin Touq added that the UAE hosts more than 200 nationalities and tens of thousands of multinational corporations. This demographic and corporate diversity supports the country’s role as a platform for international business. The UAE links Asian, African, Middle Eastern, and European markets, and offers access to these regions through a single, integrated economic and logistics hub.

Addressing wider investment patterns, Bin Touq stated: "We are witnessing significant shifts in global capital movement. International reports indicate that global foreign direct investment flows declined by 11 per cent in 2024, reaching USD 1.5 trillion compared to $1.67 trillion in 2023. This is driven by ongoing economic and geopolitical changes, as well as the impact of volatile financial transactions across intermediary European economies, with expectations of a continued slowdown in productive capital flows globally."

Bin Touq also highlighted a change in investor behaviour. Bin Touq said: "Investors today are prioritising macroeconomic stability, policy clarity, and cross‑regional accessibility rather than relying on a single market. Returns alone are no longer sufficient; policy frameworks have become a decisive factor. According to the World Bank’s 2024 Global Investment Competitiveness Report, uncertainty is among the top three barriers to cross‑border investment, alongside financing costs and geopolitical risks."

Investopia role in global capital and new economy

Explaining Investopia’s mandate, Bin Touq emphasised: "Investopia plays a strategic and central role in shaping the future of the global investment landscape. It goes beyond traditional individual deals by developing integrated, actionable investment pathways characterised by diversity and flexibility across new economy sectors. Investopia aims to effectively align sovereign priorities with private sector capital, ensuring that investments are directed toward projects that deliver tangible and sustainable economic impact, while reducing risks arising from misalignment between policies, projects, and financing."

According to Bin Touq, this integrated approach helps Investopia create a more connected and trusted investment environment. It supports the UAE’s strategy to attract global capital and high-quality investments. It also speeds up execution of projects that carry major economic and strategic importance for the country and its partners in priority sectors.

Policy, regulation, and global capital and new economy trends

The Minister of Economy and Tourism outlined recent amendments to the Commercial Companies Law, designed to strengthen the UAE’s investment climate. The updated provisions seek to provide a stable, transparent legal setting that protects investor rights. They also streamline company formation in all legal forms, while supporting growth, expansion, and corporate restructuring across different activities.

The changes reduce investment risk by capping shareholders’ financial exposure and clarifying rules for capital increases and share trading. These mechanisms are intended to open new funding channels, support both domestic and foreign investment, and encourage wider participation in strategic projects. Priority areas include sectors seen as central to long-term economic resilience and diversification.

Bin Touq invited participants in Davos to use the UAE as a global economic base, pointing to its legislative framework, competitive economy, and stability. Bin Touq noted that global capital is increasingly attracted to economies that integrate trade, logistics, digital infrastructure, and finance. Energy transition, advanced manufacturing, and digital trade were highlighted as core focus areas for long-term investors.

Bin Touq added that sustainability has become a basic requirement in risk management, especially for sovereign wealth funds and large financial institutions. Integrating environmental and social considerations is now seen as central to investment decisions. This shift shapes capital allocation strategies, particularly in new economy sectors where technology and low-carbon solutions are critical.

The panel examined how global capital is currently allocated within the new economy phase, amid geopolitical changes, fast technological progress, the energy transition, and realignment of global value chains. Participants discussed what investors expect from business ecosystems and policy frameworks. Stability, scalability, and visibility of long-term growth paths in key markets were identified as central concerns.

Speakers also considered how partnerships between sovereign entities, private investors, and multilateral organisations can support the next stage of global growth. The dialogue covered ways to turn investment prospects into bankable projects and match policies and finance with real opportunities in new economy sectors in the UAE. These discussions reinforced the country’s position as a leading global hub for business and investment.

With inputs from WAM