Dubai and Riyadh have climbed significantly in Kearney’s 2025 Global Cities Index, with investment in infrastructure, digital readiness, and human capital driving their rise as international centres for business and innovation.
Dubai led the MENA region, climbing to 23rd place globally while Riyadh rose to 56th.
The findings highlight how Gulf cities are narrowing the gap with long-established global leaders by combining talent development, digital innovation, and large-scale investment.
Gulf Economist Staff Writer