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The third edition of Investopia Europe commenced today at Palazzo Mezzanotte, the historic headquarters of the Italian Stock Exchange in Milan, marking a significant step in strengthening economic cooperation between the UAE, Italy, and broader European markets.

The high-profile economic event attracted over 600 participants, including senior government officials, business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs from the UAE, Italy, and across Europe. Hosted by Investopia, the forum spotlighted investment opportunities in high-growth sectors such as the new economy, tourism, entrepreneurship, SMEs, creative industries, technology, and artificial intelligence.

Strengthening UAE–Italy Economic Ties

Opening the forum, H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Chairman of Investopia, emphasized the deep strategic partnership between the UAE and Italy. He referenced the February 2025 visit by UAE President H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Rome, which resulted in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding and UAE investments worth USD 40 billion across sectors like AI, energy, and digital transformation.

Bin Touq affirmed the role of Investopia in facilitating capital flow to emerging markets, stating:

“Since its inception in 2021, Investopia has connected capital with future-focused investment opportunities, bringing together global leaders to turn challenges into sustainable opportunities.”

Showcasing the UAE Investment Landscape

The event showcased the UAE's competitive investment environment, highlighting incentives such as 100% foreign ownership, tax exemptions, long-term residency for investors, and an extensive network of free zones. The UAE currently hosts nearly 11,000 Italian brands, with bilateral trade witnessing a 50% surge in 2024 to reach USD 1.2 billion.

UAE investments in Italy between 2019–2023 totaled USD 81 million, primarily in tourism and logistics, while Italian FDI into the UAE reached approximately USD 519 million in the same period.

Entrepreneurship and SME Collaboration

H.E. Alia Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, highlighted the shared vision between the two nations for SME development. She noted that SMEs comprise 95% of businesses in the UAE, while Italy boasts a strong base of small and family-owned enterprises.

Al Mazrouei also spotlighted the UAE’s global leadership in entrepreneurship, citing its first-place ranking in the 2024/2025 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report for the fourth consecutive year. The UAE supports entrepreneurs with over 50 incubators and accelerators nationwide.

Strategic AI Partnership Announced

One of the key announcements during the event was a USD 600 million strategic partnership between UAE-based G42 and Italian AI firm iGenius. The MoU, signed in the presence of UAE ministers, aims to drive collaboration in AI, innovation, and digital transformation. The partnership will include key players such as Nvidia, Leonardo S.p.A., and Santander.

14 Dialogue Sessions and Roundtables

The Investopia Europe edition featured 14 high-level panel sessions and four roundtable meetings, covering topics like:

• Economic diversification and digital transformation in the UAE

• Italian tourism as a pillar of national growth

• Localization of technology in creative industries

• Development of economic clusters and cross-border innovation

• Trends in energy sector investment and transition to green energy

Key UAE entities, including ADIO, RAKEZ, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, and Invest in Sharjah, participated in discussions with their Italian counterparts to advance joint investment strategies.

Dignitaries and Global Participation

The event was attended by a high-level delegation of UAE and Italian officials, including:

• H.E. Adolfo Urso, Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy

• H.E. Daniela Santanchè, Italy’s Minister of Tourism

• Claudia Parzani, Chairwoman of Borsa Italiana

• H.E. Attilio Fontana, President of the Lombardy Region

• Senior leaders from the UAE’s Ministry of Investment, G42, ADQ, BEEAH Group, Chalhoub Group, and more

The participation of key European stakeholders and private sector leaders underlined Investopia’s growing stature as a global platform for economic and investment dialogue.

Since its launch, Investopia has expanded its footprint with dialogues in New York, Geneva, Milan, London, Singapore, Tokyo, and other global cities. The platform remains committed to unlocking future-focused economic opportunities through dynamic partnerships and policy innovation.

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