The Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI), the investment promotion agency of Dubai Economy, continued its virtual outreach to investors in the second quarter of 2021 through a series of six webinars focused on opportunities in the strategic sectors of food and agribusiness, healthcare, and technology.

The webinars connected with investors from various regions of the world, including Europe, South Asia, Asia Pacific, and the Far East, were supported by the participation of key government and private sector partners, making them effective platforms for stakeholders to discuss foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities and the Dubai Advantage in strategic sectors.

Ibrahim Ahli, Director of Investment Promotion Department, Dubai FDI, said: “The UAE has strengthened its geographic advantage to build strong trade and investment partnerships with multiple countries across the world. Our leadership has ensured continuity and evolution of the strategic vision in a way that responds to public health needs while ensuring not just continuity but growth of business despite a challenging global climate. The Dubai Advantage webinars provide a platform for focused discussions between potential investors, the Dubai FDI team, and key public and private sector partners. We work together as a team to continue to present the Dubai Advantage globally to maintain the positioning as one of the world’s top FDI destinations.”

Investment partners from China, India, Italy, and Australia engaged with government and organizational presenters to expand trade and investment opportunities during Q22021.

The Dubai Advantage webinar with Chinese investors, organized by Dubai FDI’s strategic partner ICBC Bank Dubai (DIFC) Branch and supported by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Dubai Science Park (DSP)took place on the 6^th of April2021 with focus on the healthcare sector.

Indian investors participated in a webinar on the 12^th of April 2021 on opportunities in Dubai’s technology sector. The webinar was organized by Dubai FDI strategic partner Musthafa & Almana and supported by TECOM entities such as Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, and Dubai Production City.

The Dubai Advantage in the healthcare sector was communicated to investors from Italy on the 19^th of May 2021 in a webinar organized by Dubai FDI strategic partner MESCO Group and supported by Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA),and Dubai Science Park (DSP).

Italian investors also zeroed in on the technology sector in a webinar held on the 9^th of June 2021 organized by Dubai FDI strategic partner MESCO Group and supported by Smart Dubai, Dubai Future Foundation (DFF),and Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC).

The healthcare sector was in focus again on the 16^th of June 2021 to investors in Australia. The webinar was organized by Dubai FDI strategic partners Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce & Industry (AACCI) and Australian Business Council Dubai (ABCD), and supported by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA), and Dubai Science Park (DSP).

Financial technologies (fintech) was the focus of the webinar with Indian investors on the 22^nd of June 2021, organized by Dubai FDI strategic partner Musthafa&Almana and supported by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), and DIFC Courts.

Dubai has positioned itself as the ‘City of the Future’ that has the happiness of its resident population at the core of its mission. Within the region, Dubai remains an important gateway to emerging markets, even as its advanced infrastructure positions it as a global hub for trade and investment.

Each of the sectors in focus during the Q2-2021 webinars are of strategic interest for Dubai to develop mutually beneficial business partnerships. In the healthcare sector, centres of excellence in specialisations such as cardiology, neurology,and rehabilitation, along with the production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices are attractive investment opportunities. A steadily increasing population demographic and a strategic focus on medical tourism make Dubai an attractive proposition for healthcare investment.

In the technology sector, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, cybersecurity, fintech, and healthIT are positioned as strategically important for Dubai, with accelerated adoption during 2020-21. Dubai has the early-mover advantage of being one of the world’s prime locations where testing and implementation of the emerging technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) are facilitated and high-technology startups are incubated.

The expanding population in Dubai make food and agriculture businesses crucial to future economic growth. The dynamic ecosystem for food production and exports in the sity, along with re-export capabilities, enhances the investment potential in agribusiness. Dubai maintains excellent facilities for fresh produce and continues to focus on strategically targeted investments and policies to strengthen the sector. Research and development, with innovation in agricultural technologies to support a variety of crops and yields, continues to be an area of focus.

Dubai continues to record high rankings in indices related to foreign trade competitiveness and the ease of starting and doing business. These advantages were conveyed to participants through presentations by the Dubai Government agencies as well as the Dubai FDI team in the interactive webinars and investors had the opportunity to ask questions and connect with the presenters on a one-on-one level.

The UAE is on a growth trajectory in attracting investments and increasing trade. The country has unveiled plans to widen its foreign trade reach by entering 25 new international markets as part of a drive to boost exports by 50 percent in the next few years. Already, the UAE’s annual non-oil trade exceeds AED 1.5 trillion. Its logistics network spans 400 global cities. Counted as the Arab world’s second-largest economy, the UAE spends 1.3 percent of its GDP on research and development.

Dubai underscored its FDI location fundamentals as well as its economic resilience, sectoral diversity, and FDI future-readiness with a strong performance in attracting investments in 2020,ranking fourth globally with 455 projects valued at AED 24.7 billion.