Milan is hosting today the third Italian edition of Investopia, the international forum that brings together investors, institutions and companies to explore new opportunities for growth and collaboration. Created in the United Arab Emirates with the aim of connecting the global investment community with emerging markets, the event arrives in Italy thanks to the partnership between the Emirati Ministry of Economy and EFG Consulting, a company specialized in internationalization strategies with a focus on Gulf countries.
The Italian government and institutions will be represented by Senate President Ignazio La Russa, Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso, Minister of Tourism Gianmarco Mazzi, Deputy Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Valentino Valentini, and President of the Lombardy Region Attilio Fontana. Important figures from the world of finance and industry are also expected to attend.
We discussed this with Mohammad Alhawi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates and Undersecretary at the Ministry of Investment, in an interview with Formiche.net.
Q: In recent years, economic relations between Italy and the United Arab Emirates have recorded significant growth. What are the priority sectors in which the United Arab Emirates are currently investing in Italy, and what opportunities do you see for Italian companies wishing to enter the Emirati market?
A: We are deeply proud of the relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Italy, which in recent years has grown significantly both in depth and scope. The year 2025 marked a pivotal moment in our bilateral journey, when our President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, carried out the first-ever State Visit by a Head of State of the United Arab Emirates to Italy and announced a historic investment commitment of 40 billion dollars in the Italian economy. On that occasion, more than 40 bilateral agreements were signed in sectors as diverse as energy, artificial intelligence, advanced technologies, space and critical minerals: a clear demonstration of the confidence we place in the opportunities Italy offers.
This commitment is already translating into concrete projects on the ground. From the partnership between MGX and G42 with Eni for the development of 1-gigawatt data centers in Italy, to the collaboration between Edge and Fincantieri in underwater technologies, these partnerships illustrate the diversity and maturity of our economic partnership. Italy is one of our most important trade partners in Europe and Emirati companies are expanding their presence in the Italian economy. A similar trend can also be observed in the opposite direction: Italian investments in the United Arab Emirates have grown by 50% over the last five years and Italy is now the third-largest foreign direct investor in the UAE.
Attracting foreign investment is a fundamental pillar of the United Arab Emirates’ economic vision and we have created an investment ecosystem specifically designed for this purpose: a platform that enables companies to grow and develop, anchored to a long-term vision that offers clarity, predictability and stability. Everything is supported by forward-looking policies and regulations that allow businesses to prosper while remaining aligned with global standards. Thanks to their strategic position at the crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa, the United Arab Emirates combine world-class infrastructure with a solid network of international partnerships, offering unparalleled global connectivity.
We are actively diversifying our economy — today more than 75% of our GDP comes from non-oil sectors — and opportunities range from services and manufacturing to technology, logistics and beyond. The system is ready and the opportunities are here. Our invitation to Italian companies is simple: come and discover them.
Q: Investopia has established itself as a global reference platform for attracting capital and connecting economic ecosystems. How does this initiative contribute to strengthening the strategic partnership with European countries such as Italy and what concrete results have been achieved so far?
A: Investopia was launched in 2021 with a clear objective: to create not only a platform for the United Arab Emirates, but a global framework capable of bringing together the world investment community and acting as a reference point and driver of dialogue for the partnerships and cross-border investments that will define the economies of tomorrow.
This ambition explains why, beyond our annual flagship edition in Abu Dhabi, the vast majority of Investopia events take place outside the United Arab Emirates. We meet investors and companies where they are. Europe — and Italy in particular — is at the center of this approach. Investopia returns to Milan, consolidating the relationships and dialogues established during previous editions, and our presence in Davos earlier this year represented another important step. These meetings are not isolated moments; these events are part of a continuous dialogue that strengthens the bilateral momentum between our two countries, offering a context in which Italian and Emirati investors, business leaders and policymakers can meet, exchange views and translate political alignment into concrete partnerships.
We are proud of the path achieved so far. Through 22 global editions in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia, Investopia has brought together more than 13,000 participants, including over 5,000 senior executives, in addition to the four flagship editions hosted in Abu Dhabi. In 2026, we continue this journey with renewed ambition. Investopia is now a joint initiative between the UAE Ministry of Investment and the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, and our complementary mandates will allow us to achieve greater impact, broader reach and more significant investment opportunities for our partners. It is an honor to assume the role of Chairman of Investopia and a real responsibility to carry this vision forward, building on the foundations that have been laid and projecting the platform toward its next chapter.
Q: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent the backbone of the Italian productive system, from manufacturing to fashion, from agri-food to design. What tools and incentives does the Ministry of Investment offer to facilitate the entry of Italian SMEs into the United Arab Emirates and how can bureaucratic complexity be overcome?
A: SMEs are fundamental actors in any dynamic economy: they promote innovation, contribute to diversification and cultivate talent. Today, around 600,000 SMEs operate in the United Arab Emirates and our ambition is to reach 1 million by 2030. This shared belief in the importance of SMEs is, in many ways, one of the foundations of our bilateral relationship with Italy, a country whose productive fabric is shaped by the strength, creativity and resilience of its SMEs.
The Ministry of Investment was established in 2023 to promote the UAE investment agenda and facilitate foreign direct investment into our domestic economy. We position ourselves as a partner for every investor, entrepreneur and company wishing to expand into the United Arab Emirates, and Italian SMEs are an integral part of this objective. Our team offers a complete range of tailored support services: we help companies identify the opportunities best suited to their sector, guide them through licensing procedures and regulatory requirements, connect them with partners and distributors, and support them during the launch phase of their operations on the ground. Whether it is an Italian company operating in manufacturing, logistics, technology or any other sector, we are able to accompany it at every stage, from initial exploration to the closing of the deal.
The environment they enter is designed to make this process as smooth as possible. The United Arab Emirates are globally recognized for offering one of the most investor-friendly regulatory environments in the world. Streamlined licensing procedures, 100% foreign ownership in most sectors, competitive taxation, a world-class legal system and a network of more than 45 sector-specific free economic zones create a context in which businesses can focus on what truly matters: success and sustainable growth. For Italian SMEs, this means a clear, predictable and accessible path toward an open, dynamic market connected to the rest of the world.
Q: Within the framework of the United Arab Emirates’ long-term economic vision and the transition toward a diversified economy, what are the emerging sectors — such as technology, clean energy, artificial intelligence or the creative economy — in which Italy and the Emirates could develop deeper cooperation in the coming years?
A: Our leadership has defined a clear and ambitious vision for the economic development and diversification of the United Arab Emirates. In every sector, we have precisely defined the objectives we intend to achieve. On the energy front, we have committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. In the industrial sector, we aim to increase the contribution of manufacturing to 69 billion euros by 2031. And on the investment front, our direction is equally clear: through the National Investment Strategy 2031, we aim to double our annual foreign direct investment inflows compared to the 2023 baseline, reaching 55 billion euros, and to triple our total FDI stock, reaching 510 billion euros.
In line with our diversification agenda, we welcome investments across all sectors of our economy. That said, our National Investment Strategy identifies five priority sectors in which we see the greatest untapped potential and the strongest growth prospects: industry and manufacturing, financial services, transport and logistics, renewable energy and water, and information and communication technologies. The Ministry also pays particular attention to life sciences and healthcare as key areas for long-term resilience.
Looking ahead, there are areas where Italian strengths and Emirati ambitions align particularly well and where we see the greatest potential for deeper cooperation. The first is advanced manufacturing: Italy is Europe’s second-largest manufacturer, with industrial excellence ranging from precision machinery to automation and high-value-added production — capabilities that align perfectly with our industrial development agenda. The second is renewable energy: while the United Arab Emirates pursue their net-zero pathway and continue to expand clean energy domestically and internationally, Italian expertise across the entire renewable energy value chain offers fertile ground for partnership, building on what Masdar and Italian counterparts are already doing together. The third area is artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, where the data center projects already underway between our companies represent only the beginning of what is possible to achieve. Finally, the agri-food sector: an area in which Italian know-how, quality and brand strength are widely recognized, and where the UAE’s focus on food security and sustainable agriculture opens a clear horizon for cooperation. Across all these sectors, the convergence between Italian expertise and Emirati priorities offers fertile ground for a new generation of partnerships.
What to know about Investopia. More than 600 participants are expected, including entrepreneurs, investors and institutional representatives, ready to discuss new business opportunities and investment strategies in light of current economic and geopolitical dynamics. The previous edition featured more than 60 prominent speakers, including Italian ministers and senior Emirati officials.
- Particular importance is attached to the presence of the United Arab Emirates delegation, composed of high-level institutional representatives and more than 50 entrepreneurs and investors. It is the first official mission to Italy since the beginning of the ongoing international conflict.
- Among the confirmed participants are H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism; H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; and H.E. Mohammad Alhawi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Investment.
- Numerous strategic themes will be addressed throughout the morning through dedicated panels. At the center of the discussion will be the development of dual-use technologies and the strengthening of sovereign industrial capabilities, the impact of geopolitics and sustainability on global investment flows, the evolution of the luxury economy, the energy transition, and the new balance between security, technology and capital.
- There will also be space for the future of real estate and the growing role of artificial intelligence in transforming infrastructure and the geography of computing. For the first time, moreover, Investopia will dedicate a specific panel to the Italy–United Arab Emirates–Africa axis, with the aim of exploring new forms of cooperation, co-investment and development in support of the African continent.
