Again, Dubai leads the world in foreign direct investment (FDI) for the cultural and creative industries (CCI), the latest fDi Markets report from the Financial Times reveals. In 2024, the city was rated the number one destination worldwide for greenfield FDI over big hubs such as London, New York and Singapore.
For the third successive year, Dubai is leading the globe in bringing in foreign investment for the creative sector. There was an 8% rise in creative sector projects in 2024, with the city obtaining 971, compared to 2023. The 60% jump in capital (AED18.86 billion or USD 5.1 billion) last year and creation of more than 23,500 new jobs proves that Dubai is making a strong mark in the global creative economy.
This growth is mainly being driven by important companies in the following sectors:
Advertising and Public Relations
Film Production
Gaming
Creative Education
Software Design based on Artificial Intelligence
Based on the Dubai FDI Monitor, most investments (76.5%) are in greenfield projects and fully owned companies, proving that investors are confident about starting businesses in the country.
Out of all investment, 23.2% came from the United States. India, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia were important players as well. India ranked first in job creation as well as the number of projects they had.
Dubai does well in the creative sector mostly because of its positive business policies.
Giving free zone companies access to work onshore
Processes in the government made more efficient
Reliable intellectual property (IP) laws
Top-quality infrastructure and digital networking
As stated in the Creative Dubai report, the city is turning into a top destination for design, immersive technology and artificial intelligence. In the leadup to 2025, Dubai is establishing its position as a top place for creative thinkers and advancement.
