Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi and Dubai are emerging as key growth centres in the Middle East, with both cities highlighted by Oxford Economics for their economic diversification, ability to attract talent and strong long-term growth prospects.
The Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2026 places the UAE’s major cities among the Middle East’s prominent urban economies, highlighting the role of Abu Dhabi and Dubai in attracting investment, skilled workers and businesses.
According to the survey, Dubai is among the top 50 cities in the globe, ranking 42nd overall. Dubai is second in the world for human capital, yet it is ranked 53rd overall for economics. According to the report, the city's success may be attributed to its quickly rising economy, capacity to draw in enterprises and employees and the increasing significance of knowledge-intensive and financial industries.
Over the next 25 years, Dubai's economy is predicted by Oxford Economics to develop at the quickest rate in the Middle East, with an average annual growth rate of more than 3%. According to the analysis, by 2050, the metro area of Dubai may have the 60th-largest city economy globally.
In contrast, Abu Dhabi is listed in the report's "Cities to Watch" section for the Middle East along with Dubai and Riyadh. The financial sector, investment potential and economic diversification of the capital are highlighted in the paper as key factors influencing its future expansion.
By 2050, financial services are predicted to surpass oil activities as Abu Dhabi's major economic sector, according to Oxford Economics. Along with quicker employment growth, the research predicts that Abu Dhabi's non-oil GDP growth will surpass Dubai's.
The capital's capacity to draw in highly qualified individuals through the growth of cutting-edge services is demonstrated by its sixth-place ranking in the world for human capital. According to the report, Abu Dhabi had a population of 2.3 million, a GDP of $160 billion, and a GDP per capita of $68,400 in 2025.
More generally, Oxford Economics notes that UAE cities are part of a broader Middle Eastern shift. almost the past 25 years, positive migration has brought in almost 8.5 million net new people to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, and their economies have grown by an average of 6% per year.
Additionally, the analysis projects that between 2025 and 2050, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, and Doha will generate over 1.8 million business-services positions, highlighting the region's sophisticated service economies' increasing significance.
In general, the report portrays the metropolitan areas of the United Arab Emirates as economies that are becoming more diverse, with traditional economic sectors being supplemented by finance, advanced services, human resources, investment, and foreign talent.
