Dubai has significantly enhanced its international standing, achieving dual recognition in the recently published Global Power City Index (GPCI) 2025. The emirate ascended to fourth position among global tourist destinations, moving up from fifth place, while simultaneously securing ninth place overall in the comprehensive power city rankings.
The Mori Memorial Foundation’s annual report attributes Dubai’s tourism advancement to its continuous expansion of retail and culinary offerings. The city boasts an unparalleled shopping ecosystem featuring monumental centers like The Dubai Mall—which recorded 111 million visitors in 2024—alongside distinctive destinations including The Mall of the Emirates, Gold Souk, and Dragon Mart.
Tourism metrics substantiate this growth, with Dubai welcoming 9.88 million international visitors during the first half of 2025, representing a 6% increase year-over-year. This performance positioned Dubai ahead of numerous global capitals including New York, Madrid, Sydney, and Hong Kong in tourist appeal, while London, Tokyo, and Paris maintained the top three positions.
The index evaluates urban centers across six critical dimensions: economic vitality, research & development, cultural interaction, livability, environmental quality, and accessibility. Dubai demonstrated particular strength in accessibility, ranking third globally for international flight connectivity, bolstered by the expansive networks of Emirates and flydubai airlines.
Economically, Dubai achieved remarkable progress, jumping from 42nd to 10th place in GDP growth rate rankings. This acceleration reflects successful regional economic diversification efforts, with recent data showing a 5.3% GDP growth in Q3 2025 and 4.7% growth through the first nine months.
The city also garnered elite recognition from business communities, ranking fourth worldwide in corporate location desirability due to improved workplace options and startup ecosystem development. For globally mobile skilled professionals, Dubai secured seventh position in the evaluation.
The comprehensive ranking placed Dubai ahead of Berlin, Copenhagen, Beijing, and Melbourne, with only eight cities worldwide ranking higher in overall power index scores.