AIM Congress 2026 Capitalises On UAE’s Record Investment Momentum
Under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the 15th edition of AIM Congress will convene global leaders, policymakers, institutional investors, and innovators from 7 to 9 September 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre.
The event takes place as the UAE reaches historic levels of foreign direct investment and non–oil trade expansion, reinforcing the country’s position as the world’s leading destination for cross–border capital and economic opportunity.
The platform operates under the central theme “Reshaping Global Prosperity: Unlocking New Investment Pathways Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Future,” structured around three strategic pillars – Global Markets, Future Economies, and NexGen – enabling investors, government delegations, and financial institutions to identify cooperation opportunities, build cross–border business networks, and engage in strategic dialogue on the sectors and investment pathways shaping sustained economic expansion.
The 2026 Congress is positioned against unprecedented investment momentum. According to the World Investment Report 2026 issued by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), foreign direct investment inflows into the UAE reached AED 177.3 billion in 2025, advancing the country to 9th place globally and marking four consecutive years of record FDI performance.
The UAE’s cumulative FDI stock reached AED 1.171 trillion by year–end 2025, whilst maintaining its position as the world’s second-ranked destination for new greenfield FDI projects for the third consecutive year, attracting 1,562 projects and accounting for 38% of greenfield project capital expenditure across the Middle East.
Non–oil trade expansion further underscores investment opportunity. The UAE’s non–oil foreign trade reached AED 1.937 trillion during the first half of 2026, recording 13.1% year–on–year growth, whilst non–oil exports reached a historic high of AED 452.8 billion, up 23.9%.
The comprehensive agenda spans mainstage conferences, investment destination forums, specialised roundtables, international exhibitions, dedicated workshops, pitch competitions, awards ceremonies, side events, and structured networking platforms. Sessions will address global capital flows, emerging market strategy, technological innovation reshaping investment ecosystems, sustainability frameworks, and cross–border economic opportunity.
Dawood Al Shezawi, Chairman of AIM Global Foundation, said: “The record momentum behind this year’s Congress reflects a broader shift in how global capital views the UAE, not simply as a destination for investment, but as a partner in shaping where the next generation of growth will come from. With FDI inflows and non-oil trade both reaching historic highs, the opportunity in front of us is significant, and it is why AIM Congress has grown into the scale of platform it is today. Over the coming three days, our focus is on translating that momentum into tangible pathways, connecting capital allocators, policymakers, and innovators around the strategies that will define sustainable and inclusive economic growth for the decade ahead.”
The programme brings together development finance institutions, investment promotion agencies, sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, technology leaders, and government representatives from across regional and international markets.
Building on 2025’s momentum – which attracted 15,831 participants from 181 countries, featured 1,385 speakers across 431 sessions, and generated hundreds of memoranda of understanding – AIM Congress 2026 continues as the world’s leading investment platform, bridging capital allocators with investment destinations and forging international partnerships at institutional scale.
