A report issued by the Arab Economic Unity indicates that the Arab countries have attracted a total of $8.7 billion of 1% of total foreign investments, out of $865.5 billion, and only 4% of the foreign investments, out of $207.6 billion, in developing countries [most likely the figures are for 2009. See below.]

Despite attractive investment opportunities in the Arab countries, as a group, they have attracted $89 billion, or 6.2%, of the total foreign investments of $4.6 trillion in 1980-1999.

Saudi Arabia has attracted the largest amount of foreign investments in the amount of $33.4 billion, or 37.6%, of total investments in the Arab countries. Egypt came second, with $18.2 billion (20.4%) and Tunisia, third with $12.1 billion (13.7%). In other words, these three countries have attracted $63.7 billion or 71.6% of total investments in the Arab countries during a period extending over 20 years.

Source: Al-Sabah, Iraq, October 23, 2010