The 15th edition of AIM Congress opens in Dubai this week, bringing together global leaders, policymakers, institutional investors, and innovators at the Dubai World Trade Centre from September 7-9, 2026.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the congress arrives at a moment of historic investment momentum for the Emirates. According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s World Investment Report 2026, foreign direct investment inflows into the UAE reached AED 177.3 billion in 2025, placing the country ninth globally.

The UAE has now recorded four consecutive years of record FDI, with cumulative FDI stock reaching AED 1.171 trillion by the end of 2025. The country also retained its position as the world’s second-largest destination for new greenfield FDI projects for a third consecutive year, attracting 1,562 projects that accounted for 38% of greenfield capital expenditure across the Middle East.

‘The record momentum behind this year’s Congress reflects a broader shift in how global capital views the UAE, not simply as a destination for investment, but as a partner in shaping where the next generation of growth will come from,’ said Dawood Al Shezawi, Chairman of AIM Global Foundation.

The investment momentum is accompanied by strong non-oil trade figures. The UAE’s non-oil foreign trade reached AED 1.937 trillion in the first half of 2026, up 13.1% from the same period a year earlier. Non-oil exports hit a record AED 452.8 billion, an increase of 23.9%.

This year’s congress, themed ‘Reshaping Global Prosperity: Unlocking New Investment Pathways Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Future,’ is structured around three pillars: Global Markets, Future Economies, and NexGen. The agenda includes investment destination forums, roundtables, exhibitions, workshops, pitch competitions, and networking sessions.

The 2025 edition drew 15,831 participants from 181 countries and featured 1,385 speakers across 431 sessions, generating hundreds of memoranda of understanding. Organizers expect similar scale this year, with discussions covering global capital flows, emerging market strategy, technological innovation, and sustainability frameworks.

Sources: Entrepreneur Middle East, Gulf News