The United Arab Emirates has exported almost $55.5 billion to markets abroad, according to figures announced in by UNICAD (the UN Conference on Trade and Development) and IAIGC (the Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation). The country spent this massive sum in a little over 30 years. This makes the UAE the biggest exporter of capital in the Gulf region.
The sum makes up about 31% of the entire outflow of Arab FDI (foreign direct investment) which amount to nearly $175 billion for a period of 31 years.
Right after the UAE is Saudi Arabia with $26.5 billion of foreign direct investment outflow. The third spot in the Arab region is occupied by Kuwait. The country has exported a capital equal to $22.5 billion. The top five of the largest capital exporters in the Gulf is completed by Qatar and Libya which exported $18.5 billion and $16.8 billion, respectively.
Among the leading Arab exporters of capital are also Bahrain ($7.8), Lebanon ($7.55), Egypt ($6.07) and Morocco ($2.09). However, what is interesting to note here is that their combined FDI outflow is not even close to that of the United Arab Emirates. Countries like Iraq, Syria and Sudan are also present on the list, but their exported capital amounts only to millions of dollars.
The UAE, on the other hand, was not only the biggest capital exporter in the Gulf, but it also outstripped many developing countries. The United Arab Emirates was only surpassed by some developed nations.
Also, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNICAD) found that Saudi Arabia was the largest receiver of foreign direct investments. For the last 30 years, the country witnessed a capital inflow of $186.8 billion. The United Arab Emirates ranks second in this category with $85.4 billion of FDI. The third and the forth positions are taken by Egypt with $72.6 billion and Morocco with $46.3 billion.
Here are the complete lists of FDI inflow and outflow for the Gulf region:
FDI Outflow
UAE $55.5 billion
Saudi Arabia $26.5 billion
Kuwait $22.5 billion
Qatar $18.5 billion
Libya $6.8 billion
Bahrain $7.8 billion
Lebanon $7.55 billion
Egypt $6.07 billion
Morocco $2.09 billion
FID Inflow
Saudi Arabia $186.8 billion
UAE $85.4 billion
Egypt $72.6 billion
Morocco $46.3 billion
Tunisia $31.4 billion
Qatar $30.4 billion
Jordan $23.3 billion
Sudan $22 billion
Algeria $21.7 billion
Libya $16.3 billion
