With a strong, open economy, strategic location and unrivalled tax incentives, it’s no wonder that investment in Dublin is strong. Find out why thousands of companies invest in Dublin each year.

1. FDI continues to exceed €1 trillion

In 2019, foreign direct investment (FDI) throughout Ireland exceeded more than €1 trillion for the first time. In 2023, the country attracted 100 FDI projects, securing the 11th position on the European league table of the most attractive investment destinations.

According to the “European Cities and Regions of the Future 2024” report by FDI Intelligence, Dublin ranked third among major European cities for overall attractiveness to foreign direct investment (FDI). This shows how highly globalised the Dublin’s economy is and how attractive it is for investors.

2. Thousands of multinational companies invest in Dublin

Thousands of leading businesses from around the world invest in Dublin.

It is a hub for many of the world’s most successful companies including:  ServiceNow, Workday, Salesforce, Amazon and Meta. Many of the city’s multinationals are in sectors like tech, life sciences and financial services.

3. Growing Investment opportunities

In 2023, Ireland secured 248 new foreign direct investments, marking a 2.5% increase from 2022. This influx led to the creation of 19,000 new jobs, bringing the total employment by IDA client companies to over 300,583

The EY Attractiveness Survey Ireland 2024 revealed that 79% of foreign direct investment decision-makers plan to establish or expand operations in Ireland over the next 12 months, a significant increase from 53% in the previous year. Investment signals are particularly strong in the Financial Services sector (95%) and the Pharmaceuticals & Chemicals sector (90%).

4. R&D business expenditure exceeds €3 billion

Thanks to Dublin’s strong startup ecosystem, its accelerators, research centres and innovation supports, R&D activities are on the rise.

In 2023, Ireland’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) was estimated to surpass €5 billion, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s commitment to innovation.

The Irish government’s ongoing dedication to investment in R&D means it’s reaching record-level highs, with this year’s spend alone expected to surpass €1 billion in the coming months.

5. 33% of Ireland’s multinationals are invested long-term

Since the 1950s, the Irish government has welcomed and encouraged foreign investment in Dublin.

Back in November 1956, IBM was the first US tech company to set up a base in the city. It is still here today, along with many other tech companies that followed in the footsteps of the Silicon Valley pioneer, with 76% of Ireland’s FDI now coming from the US.

Over a third of multinationals have had operations here for more than 20 years. This demonstrates the long-term value that Dublin offers to its investors.

Join a thriving business ecosystem.

These facts and figures clearly demonstrate Dublin’s role as a great location for investors. If you want to move or start a business here, you’ll find everything you need to know about investments in Ireland below.

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Why invest in Dublin?

Exceptionally well-educated workers, four of Forbes's top Most Innovative Companies and all the vibrancy of a European capital city: Dublin is where you want to be.

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Move your business

Dublin is a favoured base for many international businesses and it is home to the European headquarters of hundreds more. In fact, moving operations to Dublin has become a growing trend. Recently, an unprecedented number of global companies have set up headquarters in Europe. In 2019, for example, a record-breaking 912 companies set up shop. This means Europe is the world’s leading region for investment in headquarters. Within Europe, Dublin is the top destination. According to fDi Intelligence’s ranking, Dublin has more HQs per capita than any other country in Europe. On top o

landscape shot of dublin skyline featuring the glass skyscrapers in the finance industry sector around the docklands

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Key industry sectors

Dublin has a vibrant and diverse economy, which supports thriving clusters of Irish and international players. Any kind of company coming to Dublin can benefit from support and the business-friendly environment. But there are some key industry sectors which tend to attract FDI to the city. These include tech, financial services, professional services,

three people with laptops sit around a table in a modern office and brainstorm about starting a business

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Starting a business in Ireland

An introduction to the startup scene Ireland has a reputation internationally as a welcoming country for startups. As the capital city and a hub for financial services, tech companies and a range of other multinationals, foreign investment in Dublin is particularly strong. The city’s small size and open attitud

Aerial view of new docklands Dublin

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Smart Dublin

Cities are buzzing with data. Traffic ebbs and flows, card readers ping and security cameras monitor footpaths. Every one of us is shedding reams of GPS signals, tweets and likes too. Most of this data is simply shelved on distant servers and forgotten. But properly aggregated and anonymised, this kind of data can help city authorities develop policies that create greener, safer and more enjoyable places to live. That’s exactly what Smart Dublin is designed to do.

man pointing at presentation on screen which features bar charts and graphs about investment opportunities

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Investment opportunities

Two very popular areas of investment in the city are startups and real estate. If you’re looking for investment opportunities in Dublin, this is probably the best place to start. If you’re still unsure if investing in Ireland is right for you, check out our informative facts and figures about investments in Dublin. Dublin’s startups Whatever your interests, budget and appetite for risk are, Dublin’s capital ecosystem has an investment opportunity to match what you’re looking for. The city’s startups cover a wide range of industries, but they all have one thing in common. TheyR

the convention centre is Dublin's largest conference venue - it has a cylindrical glass front leans to one side

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Conventions and conferences

It’s no surprise that a city as welcoming and entrepreneurial as Dublin has a thriving convention scene. It offers world-class conference venues and great value for money for both organisers and delegates. The Convention Centre Dublin The Convention Centre is the largest conference venue in Dublin with room for up to 8,000 people throughout its auditorium, meeting rooms and exhibition spaces. Based in the Docklands overlooking the River Liffey, it is right at the heart of Dublin’s Irish Financial Ser

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The Dublin Economic Monitor

The Dublin Economic Monitor reports on emerging trends and performance within Dublin’s economy. Every quarter, it publishes new data and showcases the most important information on its user-friendly dashboard. It features statistics on consumer sentiment, employment trends, passenger and freight information, property trends and other informative performance data. There’s useful insights into how much tourists and locals are spending in the city too.

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Business Stories

Dublin is Ireland's economic powerhouse and the place to be for the best talent in the EU. We profile some of businesses who call it home.