The Nation Presents a Comprehensive Investment Story and Advanced Financial Infrastructure for the Future
Mohammed Al-Fahim, the General Manager and Head of BlackRock in the UAE, emphasized that the year 2026 will mark a pivotal transformation in the UAE’s economy, driven by structural changes in the global economic landscape, including accelerated technological innovation, shifts in capital flows, and the evolution of investment and financing models.
In this context, the UAE emerges as one of the most prepared economies to adapt to international changes, thanks to its progress in economic diversification, deepening of capital markets, and the adoption of digital innovation as a cornerstone for future growth, aligned with a vision that aims to build a sustainable and globally competitive economy.
He stated in comments to a local publication: As the global economy enters a new phase characterized by rapid technological advancement and changing capital flows, the Middle East is poised to continue its transformation journey, carrying this growing momentum into 2026.
The UAE is rapidly establishing itself as a leading center for economic diversification, digital innovation, capital market development, and talent attraction.
Economic Diversification
Al-Fahim explained that Gulf Cooperation Council countries are intensifying efforts to reduce reliance on hydrocarbons through regulatory and legislative reforms, including labor market reforms and ownership rules, aimed at stimulating private sector growth and attracting foreign investments.
This transformation relies on a more advanced approach to public financial management, alongside introducing new financing instruments, such as market-based financing, which facilitates the mobilization of domestic savings for long-term investments and enhances the region’s integration into the global capital flow system.
In this context, the UAE is leveraging its advanced financial infrastructure and regulatory reforms to diversify funding sources and deepen capital markets.
With stable oil prices within a certain range and bank lending growth reaching its natural limits, there is a growing emphasis on private and market-based financing to support sustainable long-term investments, according to Al-Fahim.
The General Manager and Head of BlackRock noted that nurturing institutional savings will be a crucial step in the upcoming phase. In the UAE, pension system reforms and employee savings programs are contributing to creating new capital sources that can serve as a significant foundation for local bond and sukuk markets, providing long-term financing and enhancing the stability of valuations.
As Dubai and Abu Dhabi cement their status as regional hubs for high-net-worth individuals and family office networks grow, the diversity of local investor bases is enhanced, opening new avenues for entrepreneurial activities.
Greater Integration
Al-Fahim indicated that the region’s developed financial system is attracting significant international investments, particularly in energy infrastructure and digital assets. In recent years, global investors, including BlackRock, have committed billions of dollars to the region, where extensive partnerships have been established to create sustainable capital flow models based on long-term licensing and asset monetization.
He added that particularly in the UAE, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure are amplifying this momentum, contributing to the nation’s shift towards digital transformation, AI technologies, and a low-carbon economy, thereby enhancing viable investment opportunities in infrastructure, energy systems, and digital assets.
He continued that our investment strategy in the UAE, which focuses on private markets, technology, and building local partnerships, reflects the global shift towards capital-intensive growth and a more active and effective investment approach.
Al-Fahim affirmed that the UAE will continue to solidify its status as a regional leader in economic diversification, digital innovation, and capital market development throughout 2026. By keeping pace with major global transformations and leveraging a growing network of strategic partnerships, the UAE presents a compelling and comprehensive investment narrative that extends beyond traditional energy sectors to the development of advanced financial infrastructure for the future.