Digital Dubai Helps Dubai Reach Top Five Strongest City Brands in the World
Image used for illustrative purpose. Photo: WAM
DUBAI: Digital Dubai has played a major role in helping Dubai become one of the world’s top five city brands, according to a new study by global brand valuation company Brand Finance.
The report showed that Dubai is now ranked fifth among the world’s strongest city brands, with a total brand value of nearly AED 1 trillion. Digital Dubai was identified as one of the key reasons behind this achievement.
According to the study, Digital Dubai contributed around AED 31 billion ($8.5 billion) to Dubai’s overall brand value. The organization also received an AA+ rating, placing it among the world’s leading digital government institutions.
The report found that Digital Dubai helped improve Dubai’s City Brand Strength Index score to 86 out of 100. Its contribution added 1.9 points to the city’s overall score, helping Dubai move up from seventh place to fifth place in the global rankings.
Digital Dubai also earned strong scores for trust and reputation. Residents and business leaders gave it 8.4 out of 10 in both categories. These results highlight the growing confidence people have in Dubai’s digital services and technology-driven lifestyle.
Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai, said the results reflect Dubai’s vision of making digital transformation a key part of development, quality of life, and global competitiveness.
He explained that digital services are no longer just technology tools. They have become an important part of daily life, helping people live, work, invest, and do business more easily in Dubai.
Al Mansoori added that Dubai’s success is the result of continuous investment in advanced digital infrastructure and strong cooperation among government departments. He said the city’s leadership has used innovation and technology to improve lives, strengthen the economy, and support communities.
He noted that these efforts continue to make Dubai an attractive destination for investors, entrepreneurs, skilled workers, and global talent.
Tariq Al Janahi, CEO of the Corporate Enablement Sector at Digital Dubai, said the city’s digital ecosystem has become a key driver of economic growth, innovation, and quality of life.
He said Digital Dubai remains committed to providing smooth and connected digital services that meet the changing needs of society while improving everyday experiences for residents and businesses.
Al Janahi added that cooperation among government entities has helped create trusted, secure, and future-ready digital services that strengthen Dubai’s global reputation.
David Haigh, Chairman and CEO of Brand Finance, said the study confirms that trusted digital infrastructure has become an important factor in building a city’s reputation and competitiveness.
He said Digital Dubai’s AA+ rating and its AED 31 billion contribution to Dubai’s brand value demonstrate the real benefits of investing in world-class digital government services designed around people’s needs.
The report also highlighted several strong performance indicators for Digital Dubai. Brand familiarity reached 92 percent, while its Brand Strength Index score stood at 77.7 out of 100.
It also scored 8.4 out of 10 for trust and reputation, 8.1 out of 10 for the “benefit of doubt” measure, and 7.9 out of 10 for engagement.
The study showed that Digital Dubai’s influence extends far beyond government services. It plays an important role in strengthening Dubai’s global image and international appeal.
Among its biggest contributions were improving Dubai’s reputation as an important global city, supporting startups and innovation, boosting future growth potential, reducing bureaucracy, encouraging openness, improving quality of life, advancing science and technology leadership, building trust, and making it easier to do business.
Experts say these factors help Dubai attract more businesses, investors, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals from around the world.
The Brand Finance study was based on responses from around 5,000 participants and used international benchmarking methods to evaluate city brands and their global influence.
Brand Finance’s Global City Index is considered one of the most comprehensive studies of city brands worldwide. It ranks the world’s top 100 cities based on factors such as reputation, familiarity, investment opportunities, quality of life, work opportunities, education, and tourism appeal.
