In the first half of 2025, this figure reached $23.9 billion. The UAE is the largest investor among Gulf states, accounting for 68% of the total investment volume, which amounts to approximately $16.1 billion in accumulated foreign direct investments.
According to available data, Central Asia remains the primary destination for investments, accounting for about 96% of the UAE's investment portfolio in this region.
“Uzbekistan has become the main driver of growth in recent years: over one and a half years, the volume of accumulated investments has more than tripled, reaching $3.8 billion by mid-2025. This indicates a strategic shift in Emirati investments towards the rapidly developing economies of the region,” the authors of the study emphasize.
In the context of this report, Gulf countries include Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
