Abu Dhabi and Dubai among 'contenders' reshaping global economic landscape

Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been named "contenders" in a report by Oxford Economics, indicating their rapid economic growth and potential to reshape the global landscape. The Middle Eastern cities, along with Riyadh, represent the region on the list of 28 "cities to watch" in the advisory firm's Global Cities Index. The index assesses cities based on five metrics: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance.

Dubai rose nine spots from 2025 to enter the top 50 at 42, excelling in human capital and ranking 53rd in economics. Abu Dhabi, however, fell by 11 places to 84th, ranking sixth in human capital but 110th in economics. Despite this, Oxford analysts noted that Abu Dhabi's economic success has positive effects on the wider Gulf region.

Riyadh made a significant leap of 47 spots to 50th place, ranking fourth in human capital and fourth in economics. This growth is attributed to the city's economic and social development, as well as its resilience to the US-Iran conflict due to diversification and targeted investment.

The report emphasizes that the Gulf cities have burst onto the global scene and are attracting top-skilled workers and innovative businesses. However, the ongoing conflict in Iran threatens to undermine this growth, as wider geopolitical uncertainty could hinder the region's ability to attract skilled workers and capital. Despite this challenge, Oxford Economics maintains that the Middle East's major cities will continue to drive strong growth, cementing their positions as key players in the global economy.