UAE’s new-economy firms surge 37% to nearly 125,000 in H1

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, October 8, 2026

The number of companies in the UAE’s new-economy sectors grew by 37 percent to nearly 125,000 by mid-2026, reflecting rapid expansion driven by the national "We the UAE 2031" economic strategy. This surge supports the country’s goals of boosting trade, tourism, and global competitiveness, while Investopia is actively fostering international partnerships, particularly in Africa, to enhance infrastructure and investment collaboration.

The number of companies operating within new-economy sectors in the United Arab Emirates reached nearly 125,000 by mid-2026, marking an increase of approximately 37 percent compared to the same period last year, Economy and Tourism Minister Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri announced.

Al Marri shared the data during an interview at Investopia Bridge 2026 in Abu Dhabi. As co-chair of the board of trustees of Investopia, a government-supported investment platform, he emphasized the role of these new sectors within the UAE’s broader economic strategy.

This growth aligns with the objectives of the "We the UAE 2031" initiative, a comprehensive 10-year national plan launched in 2022. The strategy focuses on enhancing the country’s economic resilience and competitiveness, aiming to position the UAE as a leading global hub by 2031. Key targets include increasing foreign trade to 4 trillion dirhams and boosting tourism’s contribution to GDP to 450 billion dirhams. The plan also seeks to elevate the UAE into the top 10 global destinations for attracting international talent.

In terms of international investment and engagement, Al Marri highlighted Investopia’s intensified focus on Africa this year. The platform is shifting from identifying opportunities toward establishing concrete partnerships in areas such as infrastructure development, financing, industrial capacity building, and the creation of investment corridors. Discussions at Investopia have also concentrated on enhancing logistics and infrastructure as foundational elements for more resilient trade routes between the regions.

Since its inception, Investopia has facilitated over 32 partnership agreements and memorandums of understanding, reflecting a growing network of collaboration.

Al Marri noted that Emirati investments in Africa exceeded $110 billion (approximately 404 billion dirhams) from 2019 to 2023, positioning the UAE as the fourth-largest global investor in the continent after the United States, China, and the European Union. Within this investment portfolio, more than $70 billion (257 billion dirhams) has been allocated to projects focused on green energy and renewables. Other leading sectors attracting Emirati capital in Africa include tourism, energy, infrastructure, logistics, and real estate.

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