UAE-Based Bangladeshis Eye Tk 1,000cr Investment in Bangladesh Across 7 Sectors

Dhaka, August 17, 2026 — Bangladeshi businesspeople and entrepreneurs living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are interested in investing around Tk 1,000 crore in Bangladesh, provided the government facilitates approvals, land or lease arrangements, infrastructure, and investment protection. Members of the Bangladesh Commercially Important Person (CIP)-Business Association disclosed the plan at a press conference at the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) auditorium on Monday.

💰 The Tk 1,000 Crore Investment Plan

Association Member Secretary Mohammad Selim Uddin said the proposed investment would cover seven key sectors:

• 📱 Digital and AI-based Islamic banking — leveraging Bangladesh's growing fintech ecosystem
• 🍚 Dry food processing and packaging — value addition for agricultural exports
• 📱 E-rental services — digital platform-based business models
• ☀️ Solar panels and renewable energy — green energy infrastructure
• 🏝️ Tourism — hospitality and travel sector investment
• 🎓 Education — educational institutions and training centres
• 💚 Healthcare — hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic services

The sector selection reflects the diverse business interests of the UAE-based Bangladeshi diaspora — ranging from technology-driven services (Islamic banking, e-rental) to traditional productive sectors (food processing, solar, healthcare). The Tk 1,000 crore (approximately $90 million) commitment represents a meaningful contribution to Bangladesh's domestic investment pipeline.

🚧 Conditions for Investment

The CIP-Business Association outlined several conditions that would need to be met for the investment to materialise:

• 📜 Government facilitation of approvals — streamlined regulatory processes
• 🏢 Land or lease arrangements — access to industrial land at reasonable cost
• ⚡ Infrastructure provision — utilities, roads, connectivity
• 🔒 Investment protection — legal safeguards for diaspora investors

These conditions reflect common challenges faced by expatriate investors — who often struggle with bureaucratic delays, land acquisition difficulties, and lack of legal protection when investing from abroad.

🚧 UAE Visa Problems: 12-Year Employer Lock

At the press conference, the business representatives also raised concerns over longstanding visa problems faced by Bangladeshi workers in the UAE:

• 🚧 12-year employer lock — Bangladeshi workers unable to change employers within UAE
• 👥 Job uncertainty — workers left uncertain about jobs and livelihoods
• 🌐 High-level talks needed — association called for bilateral government dialogue
• 🚧 Stranded expatriates — thousands stranded in Bangladesh after visa cancellations
• 👥 Still have UAE jobs — many stranded workers still have jobs, businesses, families in UAE

The representatives urged the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare a list of those affected and engage with UAE authorities to facilitate their return.

📜 15 Proposals Presented

The association presented 15 proposals at the press conference covering a wide range of expatriate welfare issues:

• 📜 Visa problem resolution — restore employer-change facility
• 💼 Language and skills training — before departure to UAE
• 🆔 Expatriate cards — official identification for overseas workers
• 📜 Local law education — educate workers about UAE laws
• 🚧 Repatriation of deceased — government expense for bringing bodies home
• 💚 Healthcare access — improved medical services for expatriates
• 💰 Remittance incentives — increase incentives for formal channel remittances
• ✈️ Reduce airfares — lower cost of Dhaka-UAE travel
• 🔒 Asset and investment protection — safeguard expatriate properties in Bangladesh
• 💰 Easier loan and insurance access — financial services for expatriates
• 🚧 Emergency assistance — for Bangladeshis in Middle East during crises

🏢 Janata Bank UAE Branches Support

The association also offered support, if sought by the government, to help keep four UAE branches of Janata Bank operating amid capital shortages. This reflects the diaspora's concern about the banking infrastructure that facilitates remittance flows and trade finance between Bangladesh and the UAE.

🏛️ Government Response

Association Convener Mohammad Rubel said they had met the State Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Expatriates' Welfare Minister over the proposals. “The government has agreed with us on these problems and assured us that they will be resolved very soon,” he said.

The association also proposed:

• 👥 Skilled officials at embassy and consulate — in UAE
• 🕑 24-hour emergency helpline — and digital complaint system
• 🏢 Expatriate support cells — in coordination with local authorities

👥 Expatriates as Economic Partners

The representatives said expatriates should be viewed not only as a source of remittances, but also as partners in the economy, investors, and contributors to development. This framing reflects a growing recognition among the diaspora community that their role extends beyond sending money home — they want to actively invest, build businesses, and contribute to Bangladesh's economic transformation.

🌐 Strategic Context: UAE-Bangladesh Economic Relationship

The Tk 1,000 crore investment interest comes amid a broader Bangladesh-UAE economic engagement:

• 🇧🇩 Remittance source — UAE is a major source of Bangladesh's remittance inflows
• 👥 2+ million Bangladeshis — estimated to live and work in UAE
• 🚢 Trade gateway — UAE serves as gateway for Bangladesh-Gulf trade
• 🌐 Bangla QR expansion — Bangladeshi payment systems expanding to UAE
• 💰 Sovereign investment — UAE sovereign funds exploring Bangladesh opportunities

For Bangladesh's export economy, UAE-based diaspora investment could help bridge the domestic investment gap — particularly in sectors like Islamic banking, food processing, and renewable energy that align with the country's diversification priorities. The Tk 1,000 crore commitment, if realised with proper government facilitation, would demonstrate that the diaspora is ready to move beyond remittances toward productive investment — a critical step for Bangladesh's post-LDC economic strategy.