The 15th edition of AIM Congress is set to bring together global leaders, policymakers, institutional investors and innovators from September 7 to 9 at Dubai World Trade Centre, as the UAE continues to record strong growth in foreign investment and non-oil trade.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, AIM Congress 2026 will focus on strengthening investment cooperation, developing cross-border economic partnerships and identifying new pathways for sustainable growth.
Congress Focuses on New Global Investment Pathways
Themed “Reshaping Global Prosperity: Unlocking New Investment Pathways Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Future,” the three-day Congress will be structured around three strategic pillars: Global Markets, Future Economies and NexGen.
The programme will provide investors, government delegations and financial institutions with opportunities to explore investment prospects, establish international business networks and discuss emerging sectors shaping global economic growth.
The agenda includes mainstage conferences, investment destination forums, specialised roundtables, international exhibitions, workshops, pitch competitions, awards ceremonies, side events and structured networking sessions.
Discussions will cover global capital flows, emerging market strategies, technological developments transforming investment ecosystems, sustainability frameworks and cross-border economic opportunities.
UAE Records Historic FDI Inflows
AIM Congress 2026 comes against the backdrop of what organisers describe as unprecedented investment momentum in the UAE.
According to the World Investment Report 2026 issued by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), FDI inflows into the UAE reached AED 177.3 billion in 2025, placing the country ninth globally and marking four consecutive years of record FDI performance.
The UAE’s cumulative FDI stock stood at AED 1.171 trillion at the end of 2025. The country also maintained its position as the world’s second-ranked destination for new greenfield FDI projects for the third consecutive year.
The UAE attracted 1,562 greenfield projects, accounting for 38% of greenfield project capital expenditure across the Middle East, according to the figures cited by AIM Congress.
Non-Oil Trade Adds to Investment Momentum
The UAE’s expanding non-oil trade sector is also reinforcing the country’s investment proposition.
Non-oil foreign trade reached AED 1.937 trillion during the first half of 2026, representing year-on-year growth of 13.1%.
Non-oil exports reached a record AED 452.8 billion, an increase of 23.9%, further highlighting the expansion of the UAE’s non-oil economy and its growing role in international trade.
AIM Congress Seeks to Convert Momentum into Partnerships
Dawood Al Shezawi, Chairman of AIM Global Foundation, said the investment momentum reflected a broader change in how international capital views the UAE.
“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,” Al Shezawi said.
He added that the Congress would focus on converting the UAE’s investment momentum into tangible opportunities by connecting capital allocators, policymakers and innovators around strategies for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Global Investors and Policymakers to Participate
AIM Congress 2026 will bring together development finance institutions, investment promotion agencies, sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, technology companies and government representatives from regional and international markets.
The platform is designed to facilitate dialogue between capital providers and investment destinations while creating opportunities for institutional partnerships and cross-border cooperation.
AIM Congress Builds on 2025 Edition
The 2026 edition builds on the momentum generated by last year’s Congress, which attracted 15,831 participants from 181 countries.
The 2025 edition featured 1,385 speakers across 431 sessions and generated hundreds of memoranda of understanding, according to the organisers.
With its 2026 programme, AIM Congress aims to further strengthen its role as an international investment platform connecting capital allocators with investment destinations and supporting partnerships at institutional scale.
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