Hadi Al Bedoor, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Economic Development, stated that foreign direct investment is a key factor in Dubai's success. He noted that Dubai has topped the list of global cities in attracting foreign direct investment for four consecutive years, with foreign investment capital growing by 50% last year.During the Semaphore Global Economy Conference in Washington, he clarified that the United States is the largest investor in Dubai, and 60% of their investments are related to mergers and acquisitions. He also mentioned that he held a series of meetings with investors this week.He confirmed that investors remain steadfast in their positions, continue to trust the Dubai government, and maintain their enthusiasm for the available opportunities, whether in real estate development projects, the stock market, or mergers and acquisitions deals.He announced that Dubai is in the process of signing several deals with the US in the current quarter, explaining that he had a fruitful discussion with his team to finalize one of these deals.He emphasized that investors are committed, and any hesitation from some is understandable. However, the commitment to inject funds during 2026 and 2027 remains strong.He added that if some deals are not executed in April, they may be implemented in June, and if not in June, then in September, confirming that all indicators point to investors' commitment to the path and their belief that better results are likely to come.Regarding the population, Al Bedoor said: "The good news is that people have stayed, unlike what some foreign yellow press have reported." He clarified that if one person out of eight from a certain nationality leaves, seven out of eight remain.He added that it's not just about staying; everyone continued to work. The government continued to operate daily for forty days, as did the private sector and individuals, who continued to go to work and kept building."Dubai is a city of construction, and we are skilled builders," Al Bedoor stressed, pointing to the city's skyline as the best testament to that.Al Bedoor also explained that about half a million Iranians still live in Dubai, participate in the economy, and are safe.He added: "For us as an economy, it is to ensure the safety of people, whether they are residents or tourists, and this is our top priority. We will continue to communicate and support our residents."He stressed that our leadership recently affirmed that we do not distinguish between a resident and a citizen, noting that Emirati citizens constitute only about 10% of the population.He confirmed: "'We are all Emiratis' is the phrase we use when talking about citizens. Our leadership says this because we want the 200 nationalities living in Dubai, who have lived in harmony and contributed to achieving the dream, to feel secure, comfortable, and happy."
