Digital Dubai Helps Secure Top Five Global City Brand Ranking
A recent study has highlighted the role of Digital Dubai in strengthening Dubai’s position among the world’s top five city brands. The emirate’s total brand value now stands at nearly AED1 trillion ($272.29 billion). Moreover, Digital Dubai contributed approximately AED31 billion ($8.45 billion) to that value, helping Dubai move from seventh to fifth place globally.
The report also found that Digital Dubai increased the City Brand Strength Index by 1.9 points, bringing the score to 86 out of 100. In addition, it earned an AA+ rating, placing it among the world’s leading digital government entities.
Strong Trust and Global Reputation
The study revealed high levels of confidence in Dubai’s digital ecosystem. Digital Dubai scored 8.4 out of 10 in both Trust and Reputation among residents and businesses. Furthermore, brand familiarity reached 92 percent, while its Brand Strength Index stood at 77.7 out of 100.
It also achieved scores of 8.1 in Benefit of Doubt and 7.9 in Engagement. Consequently, these results reflect strong user confidence and satisfaction with digital services across the emirate.
Digital Dubai significantly influenced several perception drivers. For example, it strengthened Dubai’s global city status, enhanced its reputation for innovation and startups, and supported future growth potential. Additionally, it helped reduce bureaucracy, improved openness, boosted quality of life, and reinforced the emirate’s leadership in science and technology. As a result, Dubai continues to attract investors, businesses, and skilled professionals from around the world.
Digital Ecosystem Drives Growth and Competitiveness
HE Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai, said, “These results reflect an important dimension of Dubai’s ambitious vision that places digital transformation as a key pillar of sustainable development, quality of life, and the emirate’s global competitiveness. Today, the digital ecosystem is not merely a technology infrastructure or a collection of smart services. It has become an integral part of the experience of living, working and investing in Dubai, and a key driver of trust and a source of the emirate’s growing global appeal. Dubai’s position among the world’s strongest place brands is a testament to the success of its people-centered approach, underpinned by sustained investment in advanced, trusted digital infrastructure and seamless collaboration across government entities operating as one integrated ecosystem.”
Tariq Al Janahi, CEO of the Corporate Enablement Sector at Digital Dubai, said that, “Dubai’s digital ecosystem has become a key enabler of economic growth, innovation, and quality of life, contributing directly to the emirate’s position as one of the world’s leading digital cities. At Digital Dubai, we place great value on our institutional identity and strengthening the reputation of Dubai’s digital ecosystem.”
David Haigh, CEO and Chairman of Brand Finance, stated that, “The study’s findings reaffirm that trusted digital infrastructure has become a pivotal driver of a city’s reputation and global competitiveness, reinforcing Dubai’s outstanding performance in this area. Digital Dubai’s AA+ institutional brand strength rating, alongside its $8.45 billion (AED 31 billion) contribution to Dubai’s overall place brand value, demonstrates the tangible impact of the emirate’s investment in world-class digital government services designed around the needs of people.”
The findings form part of the Brand Finance Global City Index, one of the world’s most comprehensive studies of city brand perception. The latest edition surveyed more than 15,000 respondents across 20 markets and evaluated factors related to living, working, studying, visiting, and investing.
