ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Invest Kurdistan, the Kurdistan Region’s foreign direct investment unit, will participate in the Alternative Investment Summit (AIM) Congress 2026 in Dubai, the Kurdistan Region Investment Board said Sunday, aiming to promote investment opportunities and attract foreign investors.
The congress will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from Monday to Wednesday under the theme “Reimagining Global Prosperity: Unlocking New Investment Pathways Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Future.”
The spokesperson for the investment board, Bargasht Akreyi, told Rudaw’s Nyaz Mustafa that the event brings together government officials, investors, policymakers and business leaders from around the world.
Invest Kurdistan has been nominated for the AIM Investment Awards 2026, which Akreyi said represents international recognition of the unit’s efforts to promote investment and connect the Kurdistan Region with the global investment community.
The nomination coincides with ongoing efforts by the Kurdistan Region to attract foreign direct investment and diversify its economy beyond the oil sector.
Six Kurdistan Region companies, namely Dutch Flower, Empire World, Jihan Group, Galiava Group, Fabiab Company and Aram Towers, will accompany Invest Kurdistan to the congress.
The spokesperson said their participation will showcase the diversity of the region’s private sector and provide an opportunity to present local businesses, projects and investment opportunities to international investors. He also stressed the importance of coordination between the public-private sector to bolster economic growth and attract investment.
Investment Board Chairman Dr. Muhammad Shukri said the nomination and participation at AIM 2026 reflects the tangible gains made in developing an environment conducive to foreign investment.
“We are proud to stand alongside leading companies from our private sector to demonstrate that Kurdistan is open for business and ready for global partnerships,” remarked Shukri.
The AIM Congress provides a platform for governments, investors, companies and investment promotion agencies to establish connections, exchange ideas and explore new investment opportunities.
Invest Kurdistan is the investment attraction and promotion brand for the Kurdistan Region. It is managed by the Foreign Direct Investment Unit of the Kurdistan Region Investment Board, the main point of contact for foreign investors and provides business advisory and investment facilitation services.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) established the Board of Investment in 2006 to license investment projects, promote investment across different sectors and facilitate cooperation between investors and government institutions.
The board says it aims to diversify the region’s economy by encouraging investment in sectors beyond upstream oil production. Since its establishment in 2006, the board has licensed 1,124 investment projects with a total capital of $67 billion, according to figures provided by the board. The projects are mainly in manufacturing, real estate, tourism, trade and agriculture.
Foreign investment accounts for $12 billion of the total licensed capital, with major sources including the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Lebanon, the United States, Germany and Saudi Arabia, as well as other countries in the Middle East and Europe.
