Dubai leads global creative industry investment for fourth year

Dubai has ranked first globally in the number of new Greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) for the fourth consecutive year. According to 2025 data from Financial Times fDi Markets, the emirate attracted 754 new projects, surpassing 233 other cities including London, Singapore, Riyadh, and Bengaluru.

Total capital inflows for these new projects in Dubai reached $3.756 billion during 2025, contributing to the creation of 19,304 new jobs. The growth was driven by diverse sectors such as advertising, public relations, computer programming, data processing, digital services, film, media, gaming, AI-supported creative technology, design, and architecture.

In terms of capital sources, India led with a 19% share, followed by the United States at 17.5%, China at 13%, Malaysia at 12%, and the United Kingdom at 9%. Regarding the number of projects, the United Kingdom accounted for 21.5%, followed by India at 21% and the United States at 14%. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, stated that these results reflect the evolution of Dubai’s cultural ecosystem and its ability to connect ideas with investment.