The UAE Council for Foreign Investors held its inaugural meeting for 2026, chaired by His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade and Chairman of the Council. The meeting focused on discussing the strategic priorities shaping the country’s investment agenda and the mechanisms to solidify the UAE’s position as one of the largest investors globally, thereby enhancing its international standing in the global economy.
During the meeting, a variety of new initiatives aimed at supporting the nation’s long-term investment strategy were discussed. Council members exchanged insights and ideas on how these initiatives could help achieve the national economic priorities and the strategic goals of the nation.
Al-Zeyoudi emphasized that the UAE Council for Foreign Investors serves as a vital platform for connecting with leading Emirati investors, whose perspectives contribute to the development of initiatives that align with national investment and trade objectives.
He stated that the council’s initiatives for execution in 2026 aim to ensure the UAE’s continuing status as a global hub for trade and investment while also protecting Emirati investments abroad, which are established in over 90 countries. This will be achieved by expanding the country’s network of investment partners and fostering partnerships with nations in key economic growth regions around the world.
In October, the UAE Council for Foreign Investors adopted a new strategic vision that includes a revised governance framework and updated institutional identity, enhancing the council’s mission to guide and support Emirati investments abroad in alignment with the UAE’s economic agenda.
Established in 2009, the UAE Council for Foreign Investors has emerged as a dynamic platform to unify efforts between the government and private sectors in the UAE. The council’s recently expanded roles involve building a comprehensive membership base representing the Emirati investment community, safeguarding Emirati investments overseas through proactive support, facilitating foreign investment by strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors, and providing a central hub for knowledge and information exchange, including sharing best practices and identifying risks in countries receiving Emirati investments.