Energy and tourism were key sectors driving growth, while the real estate sector maintained its importance, linked to the expansion of tourism projects
SANTO DOMINGO. – The Dominican Republic attracted US$3,276.5 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) during the first half of 2026, according to preliminary figures from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD).
The figure represents an increase of US$233.4 million, equivalent to 7.7%, compared to the same period in 2025, and confirms a sustained growth trend: FDI in the first half of the year has risen steadily from the US$1,727.5 million recorded in the same period of 2021, according to the historical series published by the institution itself.
Of the total received, approximately US$2,194.6 million, roughly two-thirds of the inflows, corresponded to new capital contributions from investors. Between April and June alone, US$1,604.6 million entered the country for this purpose.
Tourism, a driver of foreign exchange and real estate investment
According to the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD), half of the FDI inflows for the first half of the year went to the energy (27.8%) and tourism (20.1%) sectors, which continue to be the main drivers of foreign capital inflows. Beyond direct investment, tourism generated US$6,716.0 million in foreign exchange during the first six months of the year, some US$891.2 million more than the same period in 2015, representing a 15.3% increase, driven primarily by a 7.9% rise in visitor arrivals, which exceeded 6.5 million people.
Real estate development, identified in the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic's (BCRD) sector breakdown as "real estate," contributed 12.4% of total foreign direct investment (FDI) for the first half of the year, the same proportion as mining. The institution directly attributed this performance to the expansion of tourism and the launch of new projects associated with that sector.
The remaining sectoral distribution was comprised of the commercial sector (10.6%), free trade zones (6.6%), transportation (4.3%), and other sectors (5.9%). The Central Bank reiterated that foreign investment continues to be supported by the country's economic and political stability, legal certainty, tax incentives, modern infrastructure, and advancements in telecommunications—factors that directly influence investor confidence in tourism and real estate projects.
A robust semester in foreign exchange earnings
The Central Bank highlighted that the combined income generated by foreign direct investment, remittances, tourism, exports of goods and other services exceeded US$26.5 billion between January and June 2026, some US$2.8 billion above the same period in 2025, which contributed to the relative stability of the exchange rate and the accumulation of international reserves.
The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) maintains its projection that foreign direct investment will exceed US$5.3 billion by the end of 2026, despite the competition and challenges identified by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in its World Investment Report this year. According to the BCRD, tourism and real estate continue to be two of the sectors with the greatest relative weight within this flow.
Recommended readings:
- How much did foreign direct investment grow during the first quarter of 2026?
- ProDominicana will highlight companies' contributions to foreign investment during an international forum
- Spain is projected to become the leading foreign investor in the Dominican Republic by 2025, displacing the United States, according to a study
