His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), underscored that the GCC member states are advancing at an accelerated pace towards consolidating their position on the global economic and investment map, underpinned by robust economies, growing Gulf integration, broad openness to the world, and sustained investment in sectors of the future.
His Excellency’s remarks came during his participation in the 15th edition of the AIM Congress (AIM Investment Summit), held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and in the presence of His Highness Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, themed "Reshaping Global Prosperity: Unlocking New Investment Pathways Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Future."
At the outset of his address, His Excellency the GCC Secretary General extended his highest expressions of thanks and appreciation to His Highness Shaikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for the UAE's continuous efforts in promoting international economic and investment dialogue, as well as contributing to consolidating the GCC's presence and standing on the regional and international stages.
"The global economy is undergoing a phase of dynamic transformations amid the restructuring of supply chains, rapid advancements in emerging technologies, in addition to the increasing weight of geopolitical considerations in investment decisions," His Excellency said, adding: "Opportunities alone are no longer sufficient to attract capital, as economic resilience, institutional efficiency, strategic clarity, and the capacity for growth and adaptation have become decisive factors guiding investment decisions."
Moreover, His Excellency explained that the GCC states possess solid economic fundamentals, substantial financial and investment capabilities, well-established institutions, clear development visions, and economies advancing rapidly towards greater diversification and integration. He underscored that exceptional regional developments over the past period have demonstrated the resilience of GCC economies and their capacity to maintain market and infrastructure stability while pressing ahead with development plans and strategic projects.
"The progress witnessed across the GCC states today is the fruit of an enduring journey of joint Gulf action since the Council’s establishment in 1981, encompassing the Free Trade Area, the Customs Union, and the GCC Common Market, alongside joint strategic projects in energy, transport, and infrastructure, reaching advanced levels of macroeconomic and investment policy coordination," His Excellency highlighted.
Furthermore, His Excellency pointed out that the GCC member states now constitute an interconnected economic and investment bloc, with the Gulf economy ranking among the top ten economies globally, boasting a GDP of approximately USD 2.4 trillion, sovereign wealth fund assets exceeding USD 5 trillion, and total commercial bank assets reaching around USD 3.9 trillion in 2025.
"The ambitious national visions of the GCC states have reshaped the regional economic landscape, expanded the role of the private sector, elevated the legislative and regulatory framework, and unlocked vast horizons for investment in future sectors—foremost among them artificial intelligence, advanced technologies, renewable energy, future industries, transport and logistics, tourism, financial services, and the knowledge economy," His Excellency noted.
In addition, His Excellency emphasised that investment flows represent one of the clearest indicators of the deepening interconnection among GCC economies. He indicated that the total inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stock in the GCC reached approximately USD 792.7 billion in 2025, of which around USD 171.4 billion constituted intra-GCC investments, accounting for nearly 22% of the total FDI stock.
"These indicators reflect an advanced degree of economic cohesion, demonstrating that Gulf integration has itself become a powerful catalyst for investment, with Gulf capital increasingly circulating across member states to build cross-border projects, business networks, and supply chains, in tandem with the GCC economies' expanding integration into global markets," His Excellency underlined.
In conclusion, His Excellency said that the future of investment in the GCC states rests on an equation comprising robust economies, deeper integration, global openness, and forward-looking investments, reaffirming that the GCC remains open to the world and aspires to forge long-term investment partnerships that deliver shared benefits.
His Excellency called upon global investors and partners to view the GCC states not merely as an investment destination, but as a strategic partner in shaping the future of global investment—rooted in trust, partnership, knowledge, and innovation—to achieve sustainable development and shared prosperity.