SANTO DOMINGO – Looking at the map of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Dominican Republic, the first thing that stands out is no mystery: the country continues to attract capital both in volume and consistency. In 2025, FDI reached US$5,032.3 million, US$509.1 million more than in 2024 (+11.3%), in a year in which tourism and energy captured a significant portion of the flows.
But when the analysis narrows down to the origin of the funds, patterns emerge that are important for tourism real estate and the hotel industry. Questions about who is investing, how they are investing, and what type of project is being considered are often key to deciding whether or not to invest in the country. In the most recent annual data broken down by country, the United States (US$1,161.9 million) and Spain (US$1,126.0 million) led almost simultaneously, while Canada contributed US$207.4 million.
The triad that sets the pace: United States, European Union and Canada
United States: scale, speed and macro vision
The United States remains the leading single source of foreign capital to the Dominican Republic. In 2024, it contributed US$1,161.9 million, equivalent to 25.7% of the annual total, and between January and September 2025, it accumulated US$362.3 million, nearly 30.5% of the flow recorded during that period.
Beyond sheer volume, US capital is typically characterized by thinking big and thinking fast. It favors macro-scale projects, clear financial structures, and a strong focus on performance. In tourism and tourist residential developments, this translates into large-capacity resorts, branded residences, mixed-use developments, and schemes where real estate assets are integrated into an intensive operation geared toward volume, occupancy, and sustained returns.
European Union: design, concept and long-term value
Within the European bloc, Spain holds the largest share and serves as a gateway for European Union capital. In 2024, Spanish investment reached US$1,126.0 million, approximately 24.9% of the annual total, and in the first nine months of 2025 it totaled US$275.0 million (23.1% of the period).
The European profile is typically distinguished by a more conceptual and long-term perspective. Design, architectural coherence, user experience, and integration with the environment are prioritized, especially in the hotel, residential tourism, and urban development sectors. In practice, this approach fosters branded hotels with a clear identity, high-standard tourist residences, and understated, well-curated projects where value is built more on concept and longevity than on rapid turnover.
Canada: stability, permanence and asset profile
Canada appears with a smaller volume, but with a constant presence. In 2024 it contributed US$207.4 million (4.6% of the annual total) and between January and September 2025 it accumulated US$110.2 million, close to 9.3% of the flow for that period.
Canadian capital typically operates with a more asset-oriented than speculative approach. It seeks stability, legal security, and sustained returns over time. In residential tourism, this translates into second homes, long-term condominiums, low-turnover projects, and established destinations, where the priority is not a quick sale, but rather preserving value and ensuring predictable income.
And how much do they contribute to GDP? The correct reading
Measuring the contribution of FDI to GDP by country is not a straightforward process. Investment translates into construction, hotel operations, employment, local consumption, and tax revenue. What is clear, however, is that net FDI represented approximately 3.6% of GDP in 2024, a high proportion compared to the rest of the region.
This impact materializes in concrete assets such as new hotel rooms, renovation of existing inventory, tourist residences, support infrastructure, and local value chains. In this sense, the origin of the capital matters as much as its sectoral destination.
The China case: influence without prominence in FDI
China occupies a distinct place in the Dominican ecosystem. In official FDI statistics by country, it does not appear among the main sources of direct investment, falling short of the top three, which are dominated by the United States, Europe, and Canada.
However, its presence manifests itself in other ways. China is a significant trading partner, a supplier of machinery, equipment, and intermediate goods, and an actor with growing geopolitical influence in the region. Its capital is not usually invested in tourism or hotel real estate developments as the owner of the asset, but rather as a supplier, contractor, or indirect financier, especially in infrastructure and trade.
For the Dominican real estate market, China's influence is more on the context than on property ownership. It doesn't lead investment in land, hotels, or tourist residences, but it does impact costs, supply chains, and the strategic landscape where long-term decisions are made.
Stability and projection
There are figures that seem abstract until they become tangible. For example, a crane that never stops, a hotel that expands, a tower that is sold in stages, a destination that ceases to be seasonal. And behind this movement, the same patterns clearly emerge. The United States drives scale, Europe refines the concept, Canada provides stability, while China observes and shapes the environment through trade and geopolitics. Understanding this combination will be key to grasping the direction el inmobiliario in 2026.
Recommended readings:
- Foreign direct investment reached US$5,032.3 million at the end of 2025, reports the Central Bank; it grew 11.3%
- Public finances and human capital: the two challenges limiting investment in the Dominican Republic in 2026
- Global Property Guide confirms the strength of the housing sector in the Dominican Republic
