$62.45 billion in energy, industry, and digital infrastructure investments in Gulf countries by 2030
Data released by the Global Investment Summit 2026, scheduled to take place in Paris on September 1 next year, forecasts that total investments in the renewable energy, hydrogen, advanced industries, and digital infrastructure sectors in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will rise from $32.87 billion in 2023 to $62.45 billion by 2030, an increase of $29.58 billion representing growth of nearly 90%.
The data shows that the renewable energy and hydrogen sector leads the three sectors in terms of growth rate, with investments expected to rise from $10.37 billion in 2023 to $22.77 billion by 2030, an increase of $12.4 billion and growth of nearly 120%. This growth is linked to the GCC’s expansion in clean energy projects, increased reliance on renewable energy sources, development of hydrogen projects, and rising demand for emission reduction solutions and energy efficiency improvements, all of which enhance the sector’s attractiveness to local and international capital.
Investments in digital infrastructure are also expected to rise from $9.45 billion in 2023 to $18.36 billion by 2030, an increase of $8.91 billion and growth exceeding 94%, driven by expansion in data centers, cloud services, telecommunications networks, and rapid growth in artificial intelligence applications and digital transformation.
This sectoral growth reflects the increasing need for more robust technological infrastructure capable of accommodating the expansion of data and digital services, alongside the accelerating digitalization of government, financial, industrial, and service sectors, and increased investments related to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
In advanced industries, estimates indicate that investments will rise from $13.05 billion in 2023 to $21.32 billion by 2030, an increase of $8.27 billion and growth exceeding 63%. This expected growth is driven by the GCC’s expansion in localizing value-added industries, developing supply chains, increasing reliance on automation and modern industrial technologies, and growing investments in industries linked to energy, technology, and advanced manufacturing.
Collectively, these indicators reflect the growing interconnection among the three sectors, as the expansion of digital infrastructure supports industrial transformation, while clean energy and hydrogen provide more sustainable sources for industrial projects, thereby opening new investment pathways that integrate technology, manufacturing, and sustainability.
The Summit aims to direct 25% of investments toward modern technologies and adopt environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sustainability standards in 55% of targeted projects, thereby enhancing the development of more efficient and sustainable projects capable of achieving long-term economic impact.
Summit data points to expected European investment flows to GCC countries valued at $28.59 billion, alongside the development of 15 joint projects and the establishment of 8 strategic partnerships during the first year, opening new pathways for investment in clean energy, infrastructure, and sustainability-related technologies.
The two-day Summit will feature participation by more than 2,000 attendees and 100 speakers across 10 main sessions and 16 workshops, along with more than 40 bilateral meetings. The program aims to connect capital with promising opportunities, support international partnerships, and transform initiatives into executable projects in the key investment sectors of the Gulf countries.
