This year’s edition hosted 51 panel discussions and saw the signing of 31 partnership agreements and memorandums of understanding
The UAE’s status as a global investment hub and a key player in the economic world was once again in the spotlight, thanks to the recently concluded Investopia. The event’s fourth edition was held from February 26 to 27, 2025.
Under the overarching theme “Harnessing MegaForces,” Investopia 2025 attracted a diverse group of global investors, industry leaders, government officials, and entrepreneurs — with the attendance surpassing 3,000 participants. This figure includes over 100 high-profile speakers representing 20 countries. Inaugurating the event was H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and chairman of Investopia.
“The hosting of the fourth edition of Investopia under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court underscores our wise leadership’s dedication to solidifying the UAE’s position as a global partner and attractive and influential economic hub in the sectors of the new economy,” he noted during his opening remarks.
Read: Fifth edition of Investopia to take place in Abu Dhabi from March 31 to April 2, 2026
Insightful discussions
Over two days, Investopia hosted a total of 51 panel discussions and 15 roundtable meetings. These discussions served as an avenue where key figures and decision-makers examined major economic and financial matters.
The topics included the need for greater venture capital investments, the role of financial resources in bridging investment gaps, strategies for economic resilience, and the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship and SME development, among others. One of the key highlights of the event was the third edition of the Future100 Initiative.
Jointly spearheaded by the UAE Ministry of Economy and the UAE Government Development and the Future Office, this serves as a pivotal platform for recognizing and supporting the most promising startups in the UAE. During Investopia 2025, the initiative unveiled the Future100 companies of 2024.
H.E. Alia bint Abdullah Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, emphasized the country’s efforts to support entrepreneurs. She said: “The UAE has been proactive in launching pioneering initiatives that create a competitive environment for entrepreneurs, enabling them to attract investments, promote their products and services, and secure the necessary funding. This also contributes to nurturing an entrepreneurial culture in our society.”
SMEs currently make up 94 percent of all businesses in the UAE, with Emirati youth establishing 25,000 new enterprises in 2024 alone. The country is also home to over 50 government and private business incubators and accelerators. Additionally, the UAE secured the top spot in the GEM Entrepreneurship Index for 2023-2024 for the third consecutive year.
Strengthening ties
Investopia 2025 was also all about strengthening ties with other countries. In its newest installment, Investopia saw the inaugural Business and Investors Conference between Arab Countries, Central Asia, and Azerbaijan. This high-level gathering, held under the theme “Towards Sustainable Cooperation and Partnership,” aimed to boost trade, investment, and technological collaboration between the concerned fast-growing economies.
The gathering also builds upon the robust non-oil trade between Arab nations and Asia, which surpassed $10 billion in 2023. During the conference, H.E. Al Marri highlighted four key areas for future cooperation, including the development of green energy and sustainability projects, the adoption of artificial intelligence to drive industrial innovation, advancements in trade logistics and infrastructure investments, and collaborative efforts to ensure long-term food security.
Meanwhile, the China-Arab Entrepreneurs Summit, held as part of Investopia 2025, aspired to deepen the collaboration between Chinese and Arab investors. Featuring 18 distinguished speakers and over 100 participants, the summit offered a platform for discussing new business opportunities and reinforcing trade and investment ties.
H.E. Al Marri reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to strengthening its economic partnership with China, noting that the country continues to be China’s largest trading partner in the Middle East and North Africa region. Currently, there are over 15,500 Chinese companies operating in the UAE.
Major agreements and initiatives
Another major highlight of Investopia 2025 was the signing of 31 partnership agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs). These deals encompassed key areas such as the new economy, circular economy, advanced technologies, and entrepreneurship. Among the deals, 14 were new partnerships, and they were formed to boost Investopia’s cooperation with leading local, regional, and global companies.
There were also six agreements under the Future100 initiative, all dedicated to supporting startup growth. The MoU between the UAE Ministry of Economy and the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) was one of the most notable partnerships. This partnership aims to advance the circular economy by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship through the UICCA Launchpad Program’s Circular Economy Cycle.
Under this agreement, MOEC will promote the initiative, facilitating investor engagement and aligning regulatory frameworks to enhance market accessibility for green technologies. Investopia 2025 also witnessed the launch of the Sustainable Impact Challenge. Introduced by the National Fund for Corporate Social Responsibility (Majra), this first-of-its-kind initiative in the UAE is designed to accelerate national development in key sectors while showcasing sustainability and corporate social responsibility projects.
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