In the first half of 2025, the volume of investments amounted to $23.9 billion. The UAE is the largest investor among Gulf countries, accounting for 68% of all investments, which is about $16.1 billion in foreign direct investment.
According to forecasts, Central Asia will remain a key area for investments, accounting for approximately 96% of the entire investment portfolio of the UAE in the Eurasian region.
The authors of the report note that Uzbekistan has been the main driver of growth in recent years: over a year and a half, the volume of accumulated investments in this country has more than tripled, reaching $3.8 billion by mid-2025. This indicates a strategic shift in the direction of Emirati investments towards the rapidly developing economies of the region.
In the context of the EDB study, Gulf countries include Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
