Dubai retains top global spot for FDI in creative industries

For the third year in a row, Dubai has been ranked as the top global destination for attracting Greenfield FDI projects in cultural and creative industries, as per the Financial Times’ ‘fDi Markets’ report, covering 233 cities.

In 2024, Dubai attracted 971 projects in the sector, with total foreign direct investment (FDI) capital inflows reaching AED 18.86 billion, resulting in the creation of 23,517 new jobs.

Dubai's achievement surpasses major cities such as London and Singapore.

Flexible government policies contributed to boosting FDI flows into the cultural and creative industries (CCI) and strengthening Dubai's position as an attractive destination for investors, entrepreneurs and owners of innovative initiatives and projects.

"Through strategic planning and pioneering initiatives, Dubai has cultivated an environment that empowers creatives, investors and entrepreneurs to realise their ideas and turn them into impactful, sustainable projects that enrich the emirate’s cultural fabric," said Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture).

Dubai has ranked as the top city worldwide in the number of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the cultural and creative industries for 2024, maintaining its lead for the third consecutive year. Out of 233 cities ranked in the report, Dubai outperformed major global… pic.twitter.com/X6jH71pTH6

— Latifa MR Al Maktoum (@hhshklatifa) May 5, 2025

According to data from the Dubai FDI Monitor, released by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and based on the Dubai Framework for Cultural Statistics, the emirate attracted 971 projects in the CCI sector in 2024, an 8 per cent increase from the previous year’s 898 projects.

This growth was driven by expansion in sub-sectors including advertising and PR; custom computer programming services; education and institutions in CCI domains; CCI business services; filmmaking, media and gaming; software design specialising in advanced technologies, including AI, machine learning, digital engineering and cloud solutions; and paint, coating and adhesive manufacturing.

The United States topped the list of countries for FDI capital inflows into Dubai’s cultural and creative industries in 2024 with 23.2 per cent, followed by India (13.4%), the United Kingdom (9.4%), Switzerland (7.6%), and Saudi Arabia (4.8%).

India topped the list in terms of the number of FDI projects in the sector with 18.8 per cent, followed by the United Kingdom (16.3%), the United States (14.2%), Germany (4.2%), and Italy (3.7%).

India also led in job creation through FDI in CCI projects with 18.5 per cent, followed by the United States (14.6%), the United Kingdom (13.6%), Germany (4.3%) and France (4%).

Greenfield wholly-owned FDI projects accounted for 76.5 per cent of the total FDI projects in the registered sectors in 2024, while new forms of investment made up 15.4 per cent, reinvestment projects 5.6 per cent, and merger & acquisition projects 2.4 per cent.