For the third year in a row, Dubai has ranked #1 globally for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the creative and cultural sectors of the economy. In 2024 alone, the city attracted 971 projects, with total capital inflows reaching AED18.86 billion ($5.1 billion), resulting in 23,517 new jobs in the sector.
The ranking was published by the Financial Times, which named Dubai the leading city in the Creative Industries Cluster out of 233 cities worldwide, outperforming major financial hubs such as London and Singapore.
According to the report’s authors, Dubai’s success stems from sustained growth across key creative economy sectors and flexible government policies that foster investor confidence.
Which Sectors of Dubai’s Creative Industries Cluster Grew in 2024?
The main contributors to investment growth included:
- Advertising and PR
- Software development
- Education in creative industries
- Media, film, and game development
- Industrial design, artificial intelligence, and machine learning
- Cloud solutions
- Paints, coatings, and adhesives manufacturing
Where Did the Investments Come From?
By capital volume in 2024:
- United States – 23.2%
- India – 13.4%
- United Kingdom – 9.4%
- Switzerland – 7.6%
- Saudi Arabia – 4.8%
By number of projects:
- India – 18.8%
- United Kingdom – 16.3%
- United States – 14.2%
- Germany – 4.2%
- Italy – 3.7%
By job creation:
- India – 18.5%
- United States – 14.6%
- United Kingdom – 13.6%
- Germany – 4.3%
- France – 4%
