Malaga has consolidated its position in 2025 as one of the most attractive cities in Spain and Europe for those looking to invest, open a company or relocate part of their activity. And this is not only Certus’ view: figures from the 7th Barometer of the Foreign Business and Investment Climate and the Investor’s Office of the City Council confirm it.
In 2023, foreign investment in Malaga grew by 37%, and according to the Barometer, almost eight out of ten foreign-owned companies based in the city intended to continue increasing their investment in 2024. Today, Malaga has around 453 foreign companies, generating approximately 40,000 jobs and contributing more than €1.7 billion to local GDP.
Simply put, Malaga is no longer a promise for investment – it is a consolidated economic reality.
A city that turns investment into jobs and growth
As previously mentioned, Malaga has gone from competing to leading several indicators of capital attraction in Andalusia:
- It hosts more than 450 foreign-owned companies, mainly from the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and the Nordic countries.
- Between 2019 and 2024, more than one hundred new companies were established, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
- These companies’ contribution to local GDP is estimated at more than 16% of the city’s economy.
Malaga also concentrates over half of all foreign companies in Andalusia, making it the main gateway for international capital in southern Spain.
In addition, according to the reference Barometer, most of the foreign companies and institutions consulted believe that Malaga will grow above the Spanish and Andalusian average in the coming years.
Technology and innovation: the core of Malaga’s new investment model
If a few years ago the story revolved almost exclusively around tourism, today the key driver is the combination of technology and innovation.
The Málaga TechPark (formerly PTA) is the clearest example:
- It brings together more than 700 innovative companies.
- It employs almost 28,000 people, several thousand dedicated specifically to R&D.
- It is home to both local companies and large multinationals that use Malaga as a base for global projects.
Added to this is the arrival of technology centres and innovation hubs of multinationals such as Google, Vodafone, Dekra, Capgemini and Mercedes-Benz Group Services, alongside the IMEC semiconductor project, which positions Malaga on Europe’s microelectronics map.
For investors or international companies, this combination is crucial: a technological ecosystem, qualified talent and a local administration that has made innovation a strategic priority.
Malaga for living, working and investing: international talent and digital nomads
Another major asset of the city is that Malaga is not only a good place to invest, but also an attractive place to live and work.
In international rankings such as the Executive Nomad Index, Malaga appears as the number one city in Europe and third worldwide for executives and digital nomads. Behind this position are several factors:
- Climate and quality of life well above the European average.
- Connectivity: international airport, high-speed AVE trains and strong links with Spain and Europe.
- Digital infrastructure and flexible workspaces, coworkings and modern offices.
- A more reasonable cost of living than other major Spanish and European capitals.
Sector studies estimate that thousands of international professionals already work remotely from Malaga and the Costa del Sol, with monthly expenditure clearly higher than that of traditional tourism. For companies, this means something very concrete: it is easier to attract and retain talent when the city hosting the project is also a desirable place to live.
What investors see in Malaga – and what they ask for to continue growing
According to the Business Climate Barometer, the factors most valued by foreign companies when choosing Malaga for investment are:
- Its geographical location and connections.
- The attractions of the territory: environment, culture, tourism, services.
- The ease of adaptation for people arriving from abroad.
- The quality of life and high level of infrastructure (transport, communications, internet).
However, alongside these strengths, companies and institutions clearly highlight the challenges to be addressed in order to maintain leadership:
- Reduce bureaucracy
- Streamline company incorporation.
- Simplify and accelerate licences and permits, especially for real estate, technology and office projects.
- Increase office space and support for startups
- Continue expanding the supply of land and buildings for economic activity.
- Promote coworking initiatives and business incubators, both public and private.
- Improve the housing supply
- Manage rising residential demand so that housing access does not hinder talent attraction.
- Promote incentives and investment support
- Design clear and stable incentive schemes.
- Strengthen soft landing services so that implementation is fast, orderly and secure from a legal and tax perspective.
This is precisely where firms specialising in business, taxation and new technologies, such as Certus, play a decisive role, helping foreign companies establish themselves with legal certainty, tax planning and regulatory compliance from day one.
Malaga for Investment: a commitment to the present
Malaga is no longer just a major tourist destination. It has become one of the most dynamic economic ecosystems in southern Europe. The combination of growing international companies, a consolidated technological environment and a strong capacity to attract local and international talent places the city in a differentiated position compared to other investment hubs.
For investors, funds, startups and established companies, choosing Malaga for investment means entering a market with proven growth, a favourable environment for developing high value-added projects and a city that has successfully aligned quality of life, innovation and openness to foreign capital.
The challenge now is not to reinvent the model, but to manage success well: to continue reducing bureaucratic barriers, expand space for new companies and strengthen the housing supply without losing competitiveness. If these pieces come together, everything indicates that Malaga will not only maintain its position, but will continue to establish itself as one of the smartest and most profitable destinations for investment in Spain and Europe.
