Dubai, a leading hub of the Middle East and largest city of the United Arab Emirates, boasts a strong international cultural exchange between locals, tourists and sojourners seeking an alternative, near-futuristic lifestyle in a glimmering city that 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?
Overview of Dubai’s Performance & Potential
The following table offers an overview of Dubai’s overall performance across various international rankings. For a deeper analysis, our custom reports provide tailored insights for specific contexts, such as cities, regions, or countries.
| Ranking | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Brand Finance Global City Index | – | – | – | – | 9 | 5 | – |
| Resonance World’s Best Cities | – | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 13 |
| Global Financial Centres Index | – | 17 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 16 | 12 |
| 2Thinknow Innovation Cities Index | 31 | – | 29 | – | 14 | – | – |
| Kearney Global Cities Index | 27 | 27 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | – |
| Mercer Quality of Living Ranking | 74 | – | 79 | – | 83 | – | – |
| Mercer Cost of Living Ranking | 21 | 23 | 42 | 31 | 18 | 15 | – |
| Numbeo Cost of Living Index | – | 152 | 262 | 276 | 182 | 138 | 115 |
| Numbeo Quality of Life Index | – | 97 | 104 | 95 | 49 | 57 | 86 |
| IESE Cities in Motion Index | 99 | 92 | – | 63 | – | 81 | 44 |
City Brand Strength
Dubai ranks 5th globally in Brand Finance’s Global City Index 2024, reflecting a strong international brand shaped by its reputation for innovation, luxury tourism, and governance. In the Resonance Consultancy‘s World’s Best Cities 2025 report, it holds the 13th position, down by seven places, but continues to rank highly for infrastructure and connectivity.
Appeal to Investors and Business
Dubai has strengthened its position as a financial hub, ranking 12th in the GFCI 37 Rank, an improvement of four places over the previous edition.
In the 2Thinknow Innovation Cities Index, Dubai ranks 14th, moving up 15 places—demonstrating a rapid acceleration in digital services, smart governance, and startup activity.
Appeal to Talent
Dubai’s quality of life is rising in international perceptions. According to Numbeo’s Quality of Life Index 2025, the city is ranked 86th globally, indicating a strong urban experience bolstered by public safety, health services, and climate.
Cost of living remains relatively high, with Dubai placed 83rd in the Mercer’s Cost of Living Ranking 2024, although it has shown improvement.
Urban Sustainability
While Dubai is making strides in smart urbanism, its environmental metrics lag behind its technological ambitions. It ranks 120th in the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index 2024, despite moving up 68 places.
Our Key Takeaways
Dubai continues to rise as a global city through strategic investments in innovation, business attractiveness, and smart governance. Its brand is strong and widely recognised, while rising ranks in finance and technology show real momentum. Still, environmental sustainability and urban cohesion remain areas for focused development as the city seeks to maintain its competitive edge in an increasingly sustainability-driven global landscape.
- Strengths: Global leader in luxury and innovation, advancement in smart city technologies.
- Weaknesses: Relatively low environmental scores, need for more integrated urban development .
- Opportunities: Enhance inclusive governance to improve social cohesion, expand urban masterplanning capacity.
- Threats: Climate change-related pressures, perception gaps around inclusiveness and environmental stewardship.
Last updated in April 2025. Explore more city profiles here.
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Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of Dubai’s economic and cultural landscape and facilitate comparison over time. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, the data is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. Please verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.
