This study examines the impact of global and domestic uncertainty on foreign direct investment (FDI) for 21 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) over the period from 1990 to 2023, using dynamic panel data(DPD) techniques to consider potential endogeneity of uncertainty and utilized the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). The findings of the paper reveal an inverted U-shaped relationship between global uncertainty and FDI inflows. We find that global uncertainty plays a central role in shaping foreign investment decisions. Investors tend to increase FDI inflows at moderate levels of uncertainty, but they withdraw or hesitate when global uncertainty levels rise. Additionally, the study finds that increasing the levels of domestic uncertainty, and inflation rate discourages foreign investors from investing in the host country, whereas trade openness and growth rate increase investors’ confidence in increasing FDI inflow in the host country.