Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi has been recognised as the leading Arab city in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index for 2024, securing the 54th position globally.
The index evaluates the 1,000 largest cities across 163 countries, based on 27 indicators across five crucial categories: Economics, Human Capital, Quality of Life, Environment, and Governance. By utilising Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Service and other pertinent datasets, the index offers a comprehensive comparison of cities, highlighting their strengths and areas for development.
“The top cities overall in the Global Cities Index possess strong scores in all five categories. Not only do they provide important economic contributions to the global economy, they are hubs for education and business innovation, and invest in the infrastructure necessary to maintain a high quality of life. They also prioritise policies that focus on the environment and good governance,” the report said.
New York and London lead the 2024 rankings, both excelling in the Economics and Human Capital categories, followed by San Jose, Tokyo, and Paris.
Human Capital HubShowcasing its status as one of the world’s best locations to live and work, Abu Dhabi was ranked second in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and 8th globally in the Human Capital category, boasting a total score of 83.4. Indicators in this category include educational attainment, population growth, presence of universities, age profile, corporate headquarters, and foreign-born population.
The report pointed out that human capital represents the collective knowledge and skills of a city’s population, which are vital for its economic prosperity.
“In today’s knowledge-based economy, cities with diverse, highly-skilled workforces and innovative businesses are better positioned to adapt to technological change and compete globally,” it stated.
