Abu Dhabi targets Dh235 billion in investments, 130,000 jobs by 2045

Abu Dhabi: As part of Abu Dhabi’s strategy to strengthen its global competitiveness through quality investments, talent attraction, strong private partnerships, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has announced that the emirate aims to attract Dh235 billion in investments across four specialized economic clusters.

The clusters are expected to create 130,000 specialized jobs for highly skilled talent in the innovation economy and aims to contribute more than Dh284 billion to Abu Dhabi’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2045.

Hamid Saiah Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, said the emirate was strengthening its global competitiveness through quality investments, talent attraction, forward-looking strategies, trusted regulatory frameworks, strong partnerships with the private sector and the community, and an innovation-driven economy.

Abu Dhabi aims to attract Dh235 billion in investments across four specialised economic clusters by 2045, he said.

The four clusters are:

• Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI)

• Agriculture and Water Abundance (AGWA)

• Health, Endurance, Longevity and Medicine (HELM)

• Finance, Insurance, Digital and Alternative Assets (FIDA)

Commenting on the progress achieved so far in attracting talent and investors, he said Abu Dhabi’s performance reflected clear advances along two complementary tracks: attracting global talent and strengthening investor confidence and the business environment.

In line with LivEx 2026

On cooperation between ADDED and other government entities to enhance quality of life in Abu Dhabi, in line with the integrated government approach highlighted by LivEx 2026, Al Mazrouei said the emirate’s operating model was built on seamless government coordination and strong partnerships with the private sector and the community.

“To develop initiatives that enhance quality of life and build a sustainable economy that meets global standards, we focus on monitoring international competitiveness indicators covering several dimensions, including talent, regulatory frameworks, infrastructure and digital development,” Al Mazrouei said.

HELM: Advancing healthcare and life sciences

As an example of this collaborative approach, Al Mazrouei cited the launch of the Health, Endurance, Longevity and Medicine (HELM) cluster.

HELM was launched through cooperation between ADDED, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.

The cluster encourages the adoption of advanced artificial intelligence-enabled biotechnology to develop innovative solutions that improve quality of life for members of the community, he said.

SAVI: Shaping the future of smart mobility

Al Mazrouei also highlighted collaboration under the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office is working with the General Civil Aviation Authority, the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), which operates under the Department of Municipalities and Transport, Abu Dhabi Maritime, Tawazun Industrial Park, Miral and the digital cluster of AD Ports Group.

The work is being undertaken under the direct supervision of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council to shape the future of smart mobility in the emirate.

The initiative aims to advance transport systems through the use of autonomous technologies across land, sea and air, he said.

An integrated vision to make Abu Dhabi the world’s best city to live in

Al Mazrouei said this integrated approach to government operations had helped consolidate Abu Dhabi’s position as the best city to live in the Middle East and North Africa for the eighth consecutive year, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in 2026.

On talent competitiveness, Abu Dhabi ranked first globally in three key indicators in the 2025 World Competitiveness Ranking issued by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD): talent readiness, growth of the labor force and attraction of international students.

The emirate also ranked sixth globally in the human capital pillar of the Global Cities Index 2026, published by Oxford Economics. And ranked first globally in gross domestic savings as a share of GDP, the trade balance as a share of GDP, and growth in commercial services exports.

New economic licenses grow 21% in Q1 2026

On business and investment, Al Mazrouei said the number of new economic licenses continued to grow during the first quarter of 2026, rising by 21 per cent compared with the same period in 2025.

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) also recorded strong growth in the first half of 2026, with assets under management increasing by 54 per cent compared with 2025.

A forward-looking economic vision

In its annual reports, ADDED emphasizes that Abu Dhabi’s vision and strategy are centred on building a sustainable economy that meets global standards by attracting investment through forward-looking strategies, reliable services and trusted regulatory frameworks.

Abu Dhabi’s real GDP has recorded robust growth for more than 18 consecutive quarters, with non-oil sectors contributing more than half of the emirate’s economic output.

ADDED is also working to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position in global competitiveness rankings. The emirate is currently among the world’s top 10 economies in terms of GDP per capita.

Hospitality sector benefits from rising demand

Al Mazrouei attributed the growth in Abu Dhabi’s hospitality investment to genuine expansion and diversification in demand, the emirate’s growing international appeal, rising visitor numbers and the expansion of business tourism and events.

“In 2025, Abu Dhabi welcomed 26.6 million visitors, reflecting its growing standing as a global tourism and cultural destination,” he said.

The meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector attracted 2.2 million participants during the year, representing growth of 40 per cent.

Investment Opportunities Backed by Sovereign Wealth Funds with More Than $1.9 Trillion in Assets

Highlighting the opportunities available to investors, Al Mazrouei said Abu Dhabi offered a diversified economy, a supportive legislative and regulatory environment, advanced infrastructure, and an integrated ecosystem that enables businesses to establish operations, access markets, grow and expand.

“Abu Dhabi’s position as a capital of capital is underpinned by the strength of its investment institutions, with the combined assets managed by its sovereign wealth funds estimated at more than $1.9 trillion,” he said.

The emirate also holds a sovereign credit rating of AA with a stable outlook

Al Mazrouei pointed to strong investment inflows into Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector, which attracted Dh13.8 billion in foreign direct investment during the first half of 2026, an increase of 309 per cent compared with the same period last year. “These are important indicators because they reflect the expanding international investor base and growing confidence in the market,” he added.

Quality of life as a driver of economic competitiveness

The Abu Dhabi Government places considerable emphasis on enhancing quality of life as part of its development strategy.

Government reports underline that quality of life is a fundamental component of economic competitiveness, as capital flows towards locations where opportunities and talent are concentrated.

Artificial intelligence at the heart of government transformation

Reports also highlight Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become the world’s first government to operate an integrated, AI-powered model by 2027.

Al Mazrouei said ADDED was intensifying its efforts to deliver solutions and services that leverage advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to provide investors with a seamless experience through the Abu Dhabi Government’s TAMM application.

The department is also using advanced data and analytical capabilities to support the continuous development of regulatory frameworks and ensure they keep pace with the evolving needs and priorities of investors and the business community.