Dubai has ranked first globally for the number of Greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the cultural and creative industries for the fourth consecutive year.
According to the 2025 Financial Times Ltd.’s fDi Markets report, Dubai attracted 754 new projects in the sector, creating more than 19,300 jobs and bringing in $3.75 billion in investment.
The emirate ranked ahead of London (227), Singapore (197), Riyadh (157) and Bengaluru (132) among 233 cities tracked in the report.
Dubai also ranked second globally for FDI capital inflows into the sector.
The growth covers a wide range of industries, including advertising, digital services, film and gaming, artificial intelligence, design, architecture and entertainment.
India (19%) was the largest source of investment capital, followed by the United States (17.5%), China (13%), Malaysia (12%) and the United Kingdom (9%).
"These results reflect the continued evolution of Dubai’s cultural and creative ecosystem and its growing contribution to the emirate’s broader economic and development ambitions," said Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture).
"Over the years, Dubai has worked to create an environment where innovation and entrepreneurship can thrive together, enabling talent, ideas, and investment to intersect in meaningful and sustainable ways," she added.
Latifa bint Mohammed: Guided by the vision of its leadership, Dubai has built an environment that gives creativity room to grow, enables talent to turn ambition into enterprise, and connects promising ideas with investment and opportunity. These results reflect the continued… pic.twitter.com/GnhTxbWLKJ
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 25, 2026
Dubai tops global ranking in new FDI projects in cultural and creative industries for fourth consecutive year. pic.twitter.com/1C98czUxFj
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 25, 2026
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