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UN Trade and Development will feature peace and space on the agenda of the World Investment Forum for the first time when the event opens in Doha on October 25, according to the agency. More than 5,000 participants including heads of government, ministers, chief executives and sovereign wealth fund leaders are expected to attend the three-day gathering hosted by Qatar. The forum aims to channel investment toward development priorities amid geopolitical tensions and technological change. Four prime ministers are scheduled to participate in high-level sessions.
A dedicated track on investing in peace will examine how to shift capital from humanitarian relief toward reconstruction in fragile states, UNCTAD’s October 20 assessment found. Reconstruction needs have grown while foreign direct investment in conflict-affected economies has declined, the assessment noted. Sessions will draw on experiences from Europe, the Middle East and Africa to identify policy frameworks and de-risking tools that support recovery without undermining fiscal stability. UNDP Assistant Administrator Abdallah Al Dardari is among those slated to speak on the topic.
The space economy will receive its first dedicated platform at the forum through a session co-organized with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, according to the programme. Falling launch costs have broadened access to the sector, enabling developing countries to explore participation in satellite services, Earth observation and data applications, UNCTAD materials stated. Ministers, space agencies and investors will discuss supply chain positioning, regulatory needs and partnerships that link Gulf capital with demand in emerging markets. OECD figures place global space-related revenues at between 550 and 600 billion dollars in 2025.
Global foreign direct investment flows rose 6 percent to 1.6 trillion dollars in 2025 but remained highly concentrated, with more than 80 percent directed to just 20 economies, UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2026 showed. The report highlighted uneven recovery following two years of decline and elevated geopolitical risks that have increased by more than 50 percent this year. The forum will address how to broaden investment reach through sessions on artificial intelligence, critical minerals, sustainable finance and infrastructure. Qatar’s role as host underscores the Gulf’s position as an investment bridge across regions.
Countries with higher levels of peacefulness attract significantly larger foreign direct investment inflows, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace. Very high peace countries have received nearly three times the average FDI of very low peace countries since 1980, with inflows growing at almost twice the rate, the institute’s data indicated. A 10 percent rise in conflict fatalities correlates with reductions of up to 30 percent in greenfield investment projects, a World Bank analysis found. The forum will explore risk-sharing mechanisms such as guarantees and blended finance that could help close these gaps.
Sustainable stock exchanges, ministerial roundtables and an investment promotion conference will run alongside the thematic tracks, UNCTAD said in its preview. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Telecommunication Union and UN Tourism are among agencies co-hosting sessions that connect investment to culture, digital infrastructure and trade. Organizers expect the gathering to produce concrete partnerships rather than solely policy declarations.
