Egypt retained its position as Africa’s largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025, attracting $15 billion in inflows, according to the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Report 2026.
The report said Egypt’s performance helped North Africa remain the continent’s leading sub-region for FDI, despite an overall decline in investment flows to Africa following an exceptional 2024 marked by a limited number of mega-deals.
FDI inflows to Africa totalled $70 billion in 2025, down from $94 billion a year earlier. However, the 2025 figure remains the continent’s third-highest annual total since 1990 and is around one-third above the long-term historical average.
According to the UNCTAD, Egypt’s continued leadership reflects its ability to attract investment in strategic sectors amid growing global investor interest in energy, infrastructure, technology, logistics and manufacturing as the global economy undergoes structural shifts.
The report also noted that international competition for investment is increasingly centred on energy, critical minerals and infrastructure projects, driving stronger interest from Gulf countries and several Asian economies in expanding investments across Africa, particularly in the energy, real estate and logistics sectors.
