Breaking news

UAE Embarks On 2031 National Investment Strategy To Boost Annual Foreign Inflows

The UAE has set a bold vision with its National Investment Strategy 2031, targeting an elevation in annual foreign investment inflows from AED112 billion ($30.5 billion) in 2023 to AED240 billion ($65.4 billion) by 2031. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum highlighted the strategy’s goal to transform the UAE into a premier global investment hub. Aiming to swell the foreign direct investment stock from AED800 billion to AED2.2 trillion, this strategy focuses on key sectors: industry, financial services, transport and logistics, renewable energy, and telecommunications.

Key Initiatives And Economic Contributions

The approved strategy includes 12 new programs and 30 distinct initiatives, such as the Financial Sector Development and the Investment Offices Promotion Incubator. Currently, foreign direct investment contributes significantly to the GDP, with predictions to increase its share to over 30% of the total investments by 2031.

Dive deeper into the global market shifts in Wall Street Tumbles Amid Trade Tensions.

Technological And Digital Advancements

The strategy outlines the UAE’s vision to become a digital economy powerhouse by 2031, intending to enhance the digital economy’s current contribution to GDP from 9.7% to 19.4%. The Industrial Technology Transformation Index (ITTI) will also play a pivotal role in gauging technological advances and sustainability practices.

The introduction of a remote work system and the launch of the National Green Certificates Program further highlight the UAE’s efforts to harness global talent and promote sustainable development.

Bank of Cyprus And Wealthyhood Open Access To Cypriot And Greek Stocks

Bank of Cyprus has endorsed a significant expansion in digital investing, as Wealthyhood x BoC launches trading in Cypriot and Greek stocks for retail investors across Cyprus, Greece and Europe.

A Wider Gateway To Local Equities

Through a single mobile application, users can now invest in companies listed on the Cyprus Stock Exchange and Euronext Athens, with access starting from as little as €1. The platform says it is offering some of the lowest fees in the market, while making blue-chip Cypriot and Greek companies more accessible to everyday investors.

The move is designed to lower a long-standing barrier to participation in local capital markets. Historically, retail investors have faced high minimum ticket sizes, complex trading interfaces and substantial brokerage, clearing and exchange fees. Wealthyhood x BoC says it is addressing those constraints through fractional investing and market-leading trade execution.

A Strategic Partnership Moves Forward

The launch marks another step in the growing partnership between the Bank of Cyprus and Wealthyhood, with the local lender integrating access to both the Cyprus Stock Exchange and the Athens market into the investment platform.

For the Bank of Cyprus, the expansion is part of a broader push to improve digital investment access for clients and to widen the range of instruments available through modern wealth-management channels. The platform is positioned not only as a convenience tool, but as an on-ramp to investing for a younger and more digitally native audience.

Lowering The Cost Of Market Access

Wealthyhood co-founder and chief executive Alexandros Christodoulakis said the launch is intended to remove what he described as artificial barriers between ordinary investors and the domestic economy.

“For too long, investing in leading Cypriot and Greek companies has felt unnecessarily expensive and beyond the reach of a younger generation of investors,” Christodoulakis said. “High minimum investment limits and burdensome exchange fees created an artificial barrier between everyday people and our domestic economy.”

He said the new offering “democratises investing” by bringing the Cyprus Stock Exchange and Euronext Athens onto the platform on equal terms. According to Christodoulakis, fractional shares from €1 and the absorption of stock exchange fees through Smart Execution are designed to make local market investing simpler, cheaper and more intuitive.

“Our users have been asking for it, and we were determined to deliver,” he added.

Designed For Broader Portfolio Building

Wealthyhood co-founder and chief technology officer Konstantinos Faliagkas said the new feature expands portfolio construction options for users in Greece and Cyprus.

“We are very excited that, through the Wealthyhood x BoC app, users can now add Cypriot and Greek stocks to their portfolios with the lowest fees in the market and the option of fractional investing,” Faliagkas said.

The platform also offers curated investment collections focused on Cypriot and Greek companies, alongside thematic portfolios spanning areas such as high-dividend equities, artificial intelligence and biotechnology. The company says this helps investors identify opportunities more easily while building diversified portfolios aligned with their interests and risk preferences.

Bank Of Cyprus Sees A Meaningful Step Forward

Christos M. Ioannou, head of Private & Affluent Banking at the Bank of Cyprus, described the launch as an important milestone in the collaboration between the two organisations.

“The launch of trading in Greek and Cypriot equities through the Wealthyhood x BoC platform, with the addition of the Athens Exchange and Cyprus Stock Exchange markets, marks a vital expansion in the strategic partnership between the Bank of Cyprus and Wealthyhood,” Ioannou said.

He added that the bank expects strong interest from clients seeking broader access to major exchanges through a digital investment platform.

“We are confident that the Bank’s clients, as well as any client, will welcome this innovative offering, which provides access to the Athens Exchange and Cyprus Stock Exchange, among other major exchanges, through a digital investment platform, further expanding their investment choices,” he said.

Technology, Transparency And Scale

The platform says investors in Greece and Cyprus can now buy fractional holdings in local shares from €1, eliminating the need to commit hundreds of euros to purchase higher-priced stocks.

It also highlights its Smart Execution feature, which processes orders at 3:00 p.m. every weekday and absorbs 100 per cent of the underlying stock exchange costs. Wealthyhood x BoC says this allows users to eliminate stock exchange clearing fees while benefiting from a more transparent pricing structure.

In addition to local shares, users can access more than 5,000 stocks and exchange-traded funds, supported by automated investment tools, financial education and institutional-grade security. Wealthyhood describes the application as a wealth-building platform aimed at helping younger investors learn, save, invest and build wealth regardless of experience or starting capital.

Early Traction In Greece And Cyprus

Operating across the United Kingdom and Europe, Wealthyhood says the platform has already attracted more than 30,000 users in Greece and Cyprus within months of launch. That early traction suggests demand for low-cost, mobile-first investing is extending well beyond the largest international markets.

For Bank of Cyprus, the partnership offers a way to deepen customer engagement through digital wealth services. For Wealthyhood, it provides credibility and distribution in two markets where retail participation has traditionally lagged behind demand.

As local investors increasingly seek simpler, cheaper and more flexible access to markets, the Wealthyhood x BoC model may prove to be more than a product launch. It could be a sign of how regional investing habits are beginning to change.

eCredo
Aretilaw firm
Uol
The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Become a Speaker

Become a Speaker

Become a Partner

Subscribe for our weekly newsletter