Dubai, a leading hub of the Middle East, boasts a strong international cultural exchange between locals, tourists and sojourners seeking an alternative, near-futuristic lifestyle in a glimmering city which strives to be the biggest and best. The city’s multiculturalism attracts a diverse population, and its commitment to hosting major international events like Expo 2020 and COP28 reinforces its global standing.
But how do leading rankings and indices assess Dubai’s city brand appeal to international investors and talent, its economic and sustainable development, soft power and reputation?
Let’s take a closer look at:
- Dubai’s economic competitiveness and financial performance
- Livability: Its appeal for digital nomads and locals
- Its city brand strength and reputation
Economic competitiveness and financial performance
How attractive as a place to work and do business?
The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks Dubai 21st, an increase of one position from the previous ranking. It is currently sitting between Tokyo (20th) and Sydney (22nd). Moreover, it holds a strong standing in the following industry sectors: FinTech (11th), Investment Management (13th) and Professional Services (15th). Indeed, Dubai is the best performer in the Middle East and African region, followed by Abu Dhabi (35th) and Casablanca (54th).
According to 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023 Dubai ranks 14th, an impressive jump of 14 positions from the previous ranking. The city now sits between Stockholm (13th) and Toronto (15th).
City brand strength and global attractiveness
Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks Dubai 6th, scoring the following in the Place Power Score subfactors: 4th in Prosperity, 5th in Lovability, and 35th in Livability. It currently sits in between Singapore (5th) and San Francisco (7th). The city also ranks 8th in the Attractions subcategory.
Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report ranks Dubai 23rd, falling one position compared to last years’ publication. Moreover, it fares 38th in the Global Cities Outlook, a drop of 27 positions.
The Global Power City Index ranks Dubai 8th, joining the top 10 for the first time. In terms of function-specific rankings, the city ranks 24th in terms of Economy, 39th in R&D, 4th in Cultural Interaction, 19th in Livability, 44th in Environment, and 6th in Accessibility. Moreover, Dubai ranks 5th in the Highly-skilled Workers section, this positioning is presumed to be directly correlated to the city’s Workstyle Flexibility ranking (1st) and overall improvement of its work environment. Lastly, ranks 15th in the Corporate executive, 29th in the Resident and 4th in the Tourism categories.
According to Brand Finance’s City Index 2023, Dubai ranks 9th in the global ranking with a score of 75.8/100, sitting in between San Francisco (8th) and Amsterdam (10th). The city positioned 1st for future growth potential, 2nd in strong and stable economy, and 3rd as a city of global significance, sitting right behind London and New York City.
Livability: Appeal for digital nomads and locals
The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places Dubai 79th, just ahead of Budapest (80th), Seoul (81st), but below Hong Kong (77th). The Mercer Cost of Living Ranking ranks it 18th, behind Seoul (16th) and London (17th). The cost of living survey reports that factors such as currency fluctuations, cost inflation for goods and services, and instability of accommodation prices are key to determine the cost of expat packages for employees on international assignment.
According to the Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads ranking by Spot a Home, Dubai only ranks 52nd out of 56 global cities. It currently sits between nearby Abu Dhabi (51st) and Tokyo (53rd).
Last updated in January 2024. More city profiles here.
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