Saud bin Saqr opens AIM Investment Summit 2026 in Dubai

His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi inaugurated the 15th AIM Investment Summit 2026 in Dubai on Sept. 7, drawing 25,000 participants from 191 countries. The summit is focused on new investment pathways, with the UAE highlighting trade, foreign direct investment and future sectors such as AI, clean energy and logistics.

Why it matters: - The AIM Investment Summit 2026 is positioning Dubai and the UAE as a meeting point for global capital, policymakers and business leaders at a time of economic realignment. - The summit is designed to connect institutional investors with emerging opportunities and translate those meetings into partnerships, investment flows and growth. - The UAE used the opening to reinforce its pitch as a stable, open economy with strong infrastructure and a regulatory environment built for business.

What happened: - His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi inaugurated the 15th AIM Investment Summit 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Sept. 7 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. - The summit runs through Sept. 9. - The event brought together 25,000 participants from 191 countries and 540 global speakers across 103 keynote, interactive and dialogue sessions. - His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi opened the summit with a keynote address as chairman of the summit. - His Excellency Taye Atsuki Selassie Amedi, president of Ethiopia, delivered the guest-of-honour address. - Attendees included leaders from Tatarstan, Uganda, Mongolia, Madhya Pradesh, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Kingdom of Warri in Nigeria.

The details: - Sheikh Saud bin Saqr said the global economy is being reshaped by geopolitical shifts, emerging technologies, changing trade patterns and the energy transition. - Sheikh Saud bin Saqr said the summit matters because it brings together leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and innovators from about 191 countries and international organisations. - Sheikh Saud bin Saqr said the UAE’s development model rests on openness, infrastructure, human capital and entrepreneurship. - Sheikh Saud bin Saqr said Ras Al Khaimah has diversified into manufacturing, tourism, logistics, real estate and emerging industries. - Ras Al Khaimah’s business ecosystem includes more than 73,000 companies from more than 100 countries. - Ras Al Khaimah aims to triple visitor numbers by 2030. - Dr. Al Zeyoudi said the UAE has become a global hub for trade and investment, supported by advanced infrastructure and business-friendly laws and regulation. - The UAE’s non-oil foreign trade exceeded AED 1.9 trillion in the first half of 2026. - The UAE attracted US$48.3 billion in foreign direct investment in 2025 and ranked ninth globally among FDI destinations. - The country’s cumulative FDI stock exceeded AED 1.17 trillion. - Dr. Al Zeyoudi highlighted investment opportunities in artificial intelligence, clean energy, climate technology, food and water security, and sustainable infrastructure. - Dr. Al Zeyoudi said long-term partnerships should drive knowledge and technology transfer, jobs and sustainable, inclusive growth. - Ethiopia’s president thanked the UAE leadership and government for their hospitality. - Ethiopia and Africa were presented as investment destinations across clean energy, agriculture, critical minerals, infrastructure, strategic corridors and human capital. - Ethiopia has about 60,000 megawatts of renewable energy potential and aims for 13,000 megawatts of installed capacity by 2030. - Ethiopia is allocating about 1,000 megawatts to data centres and mining projects. - The African Continental Free Trade Area covers about 1.3 billion people and more than US$3.4 trillion in combined GDP. - Ethiopia is developing a new international airport valued at US$12.5 billion with a target capacity of 110 million passengers and about 4 million tonnes of cargo a year. - Ethiopia’s president expressed appreciation for the UAE’s support for human development in Ethiopia, including the ‘5 Million Coders’ initiative.

Between the lines: - The summit’s message is that investors are chasing stability, scale and policy certainty, and the UAE is trying to present itself as a trusted platform for all three. - Ras Al Khaimah’s pitch reflects a broader UAE strategy: use differentiated emirate-level strengths while tying them to national ambitions in trade, technology and diversification. - Ethiopia’s presence signals how the summit is also being used to spotlight investment opportunities in Africa, where infrastructure, energy and talent needs remain large. - The focus on AI, clean energy and digital infrastructure shows where Gulf economies expect the next wave of growth to come from.

What's next: - AIM Investment Summit 2026 continues through Sept. 9 with more sessions, meetings and exhibition activity. - Organizers expect the three-day event to produce measurable outcomes through capital matching, strategic partnerships and cross-border investment discussions. - The summit will keep highlighting sectors and markets seen as the next global growth zones.

The bottom line: - Dubai is using AIM 2026 to reinforce the UAE’s role as a global investment hub and to funnel attention toward future-facing sectors and emerging markets.