AIM Congress 2026 rides UAE record FDI momentum

AIM Congress 2026 opens in Dubai from Sept. 7-9 as the UAE posts record foreign investment and non-oil trade growth. Organizers say the forum will connect global capital with investment destinations and shape cross-border economic cooperation.

Why it matters: - The UAE is using a record run in foreign direct investment and non-oil trade to strengthen its pitch as a global capital hub. - AIM Congress 2026 is meant to turn that momentum into deals, partnerships and policy dialogue across borders. - The scale of the event signals how central the UAE has become to investment flows in the region and beyond.

What happened: - AIM Congress 2026 is scheduled for Sept. 7-9 at Dubai World Trade Centre. - The 15th edition is held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. - The congress brings together global leaders, policymakers, institutional investors and innovators. - The event is organized around the theme “Reshaping Global Prosperity: Unlocking New Investment Pathways Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Future.” - The program is built around three pillars: Global Markets, Future Economies and NexGen.

The details: - UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2026 said foreign direct investment inflows into the UAE reached AED 177.3 billion in 2025. - The UAE ranked 9th globally for FDI inflows in 2025 and posted four straight years of record FDI performance. - The UAE’s cumulative FDI stock reached AED 1.171 trillion at the end of 2025. - The UAE kept its position as the world’s second-ranked destination for new greenfield FDI projects for the third consecutive year. - The country attracted 1,562 greenfield projects and accounted for 38% of greenfield project capital expenditure across the Middle East. - UAE non-oil foreign trade reached AED 1.937 trillion in the first half of 2026. - Non-oil trade grew 13.1% year over year in the first half of 2026. - Non-oil exports hit AED 452.8 billion, a historic high, and rose 23.9%. - The agenda includes mainstage conferences, investment destination forums, specialized roundtables, international exhibitions, workshops, pitch competitions, awards ceremonies, side events and networking platforms. - Sessions will focus on global capital flows, emerging market strategy, technological innovation, sustainability frameworks and cross-border investment opportunities. - The program includes development finance institutions, investment promotion agencies, sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, technology leaders and government representatives from regional and international markets.

Between the lines: - The congress is being positioned as more than a conference; it is a venue for translating the UAE’s investment gains into longer-term influence over how capital moves. - The emphasis on sustainability, inclusion and future economies shows the UAE is linking growth with broader policy and technology themes. - The strong 2025 attendance and deal activity give AIM Congress a built-in credibility boost as it tries to extend its global reach. - Dawood Al Shezawi, chairman of AIM Global Foundation, said the current momentum reflects a broader shift in how global capital views the UAE and that the event aims to connect capital allocators, policymakers and innovators around long-term growth strategies.

What's next: - Over the three-day congress, participants are expected to use forums and networking sessions to pursue partnerships and investment pathways. - Organizers are aiming to convert the UAE’s record capital inflows into new cross-border economic cooperation. - AIM Congress will build on its 2025 edition, which drew 15,831 participants from 181 countries, featured 1,385 speakers across 431 sessions and produced hundreds of memoranda of understanding.

The bottom line: - AIM Congress 2026 is betting that the UAE’s record investment performance can help deepen its role as a global convening point for capital, policy and growth.