Kuwait city: The Arab Investment and Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (Dhaman) reported that the food and beverage sector in the Arab region has successfully attracted 516 foreign direct investment projects, amassing a total value of nearly $22 billion between 2003 and 2024. These investments have contributed to the creation of approximately 93,000 jobs.
According to Jordan News Agency, Dhaman's third sectoral report for 2025 on the food and beverage sector in Arab countries, released on Sunday, highlighted that Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Qatar accounted for 421 projects, or 82 percent of the total. These investments exceeded $17 billion, representing 79 percent of total capital inflows, and generated about 71,000 jobs.
The report, which includes projections through 2029 and an analysis of Arab foreign trade and investment risks in 2024, revealed that the United States emerged as the leading foreign investor in the sector over the past 22 years. US companies implemented 74 projects, representing 14 percent of the total, with investments nearing $4 billion, accounting for 18 percent of overall investment value, and generating around 14,000 jobs.
The top ten foreign companies investing in the sector accounted for approximately 15 percent of total foreign projects, 32 percent of investment value, and 29 percent of newly created jobs, as detailed in the report.
On the intra-Arab investment front, Dhaman noted that 12 Arab countries participated in 108 joint projects, constituting about 21 percent of all foreign projects in the sector during the same period. These projects were spearheaded by 65 companies with investments exceeding $6.5 billion, or roughly 30 percent of total foreign investment in the sector, and created approximately 28,000 jobs. The United Arab Emirates led intra-Arab investment, accounting for 45 percent of joint projects and 58 percent of their total investment value.
Regarding foreign trade, the report stated that Arab trade in food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by more than 10 percent in 2024, reaching about $195 billion. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, and Morocco accounted for 70 percent of the total. The growth was attributed to an 18 percent rise in exports to approximately $56 billion and a 14 percent increase in imports to around $139 billion during the year.
Dhaman, established in 1974 and headquartered in Kuwait City, is a joint Arab institution owned by Arab countries and four Arab financial institutions. It is recognized as the world's first multilateral organization specializing in investment insurance.