The UAE’s next phase of economic strategy is turning inward — in the best possible way. At the Make it in the Emirates 2026 summit in Abu Dhabi, Foreign Trade Minister Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi signalled that the country is preparing to unveil a major round of domestic investment projects targeting infrastructure, strategic industries, and public-private partnerships.
This pivot toward domestic investment comes off the back of remarkable trade performance. Despite global supply chain disruption, the UAE’s Q1 2026 trade growth outpaced last year’s pace, and the country surpassed $1 trillion in trade in 2025 with roughly 27% growth — driven by its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements and a world-class logistics network connecting to over 250 ports worldwide.
Al Zeyoudi stressed that trade resilience is about more than headline numbers. Decades of investment in ports, railways, roads, and bridges have given the UAE the agility to reroute supply chains under pressure. During recent regional disruptions, airlines absorbed demand surges with some routes recording growth of over 30%.
The upcoming domestic investment wave will be driven directly by federal and local government entities, with sovereign wealth funds potentially playing a key role. Businesses and investors watching the UAE market should expect significant opportunities in infrastructure, logistics, manufacturing, and strategically critical sectors in the months ahead.
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