Dubai Retains Global Top Spot for Attracting Greenfield FDI Projects in Cultural and Creative Industries in 2024
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — (Dubai Culture) Dubai has maintained its first place as the world's leading destination for greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) in the cultural and creative industries (CCI), topping the Financial Times' fDi Markets ranking for the third consecutive year.
Article content
Article content
The 2024 report, which assessed 233 cities under the 'Creative Industries Cluster' classification, placed Dubai ahead of global hubs such as London and Singapore. During the year, the emirate attracted 971 CCI projects—an 8% increase from 2023—bringing in AED 18.86 billion in capital inflows, up nearly 60% from 2023, and generating 23,517 new jobs, a 9% year-on-year rise.
Article content
All major CCI subsectors saw stronger performance, with notable growth in advertising and PR, film and media production, gaming, education, and advanced software design. According to the Dubai FDI Monitor, greenfield, wholly-owned ventures made up 76.5% of all projects, while new forms of investment represented 15.4%, reinvestment 5.6%, and mergers & acquisitions (2.4%).
Article content
Data from the Dubai FDI Monitor and the Dubai Framework for Cultural Statistics show that the United States accounted for the largest share of capital inflows in 2024, at 23.2%, followed by India (13.4%), the United Kingdom (9.4%), Switzerland (7.6%), and Saudi Arabia (4.8%). India led in both the number of projects (18.8%) and jobs (18.5%), while the UK, US, Germany, Italy, and France also featured prominently across both metrics.
Article content
Investor confidence continues to be driven by Dubai's pro-business reforms, including Executive Council Resolution 11 of 2025, which enables free zone businesses to operate onshore, expanding commercial flexibility. The city's Zero Government Bureaucracy programme is also reducing red tape across more than 2,000 federal procedures.
Article content
Combined with strong intellectual property protections and advanced digital infrastructure, these initiatives have helped establish a regulatory framework marked by efficiency, transparency, and ease of doing business.
Article content
Insights from the ' Creative Dubai: Navigating Tomorrow's Creative Landscape' report illustrate how this ecosystem is scaling with demand, pinpointing investment opportunity hotspots in design, immersive media and AI-driven production. Dubai continues to offer investors access to top-tier talent, competitive setup costs, and strategic connectivity. The 2024 FDI results underscore the city's rise as a global hub for innovation and one of the world's most attractive environments for creative enterprise.
Article content
Article content
Article content
Article content
Article content
Article content
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
Miss Palestine to compete in Miss Universe pageant for first time
Nadeen Ayoub will represent Palestine at the Miss Universe beauty pageant in November. (Francis R. Malasig/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock via CNN Newsource) Beauty queen Nadeen Ayoub will become the first woman to represent the people of Palestine at the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) said in a statement sent to CNN on Sunday that it was 'pleased to confirm' that Ayoub would compete in the Miss Universe 2025 competition, which takes place in November. 'The Miss Universe Organization proudly welcomes delegates from across the globe, celebrating diversity, cultural exchange, and the empowerment of women,' the statement reads. 'Ms. Ayoub, an accomplished advocate and model from Palestine, embodies the resilience and determination that define our platform,' it adds. Ayoub will join competitors from more than 130 other countries and territories at the 74th Miss Universe final, which will be held on November 21 in Bangkok, Thailand. 'We look forward to welcoming Ms. Ayoub on the Miss Universe stage, where she will proudly represent Palestine, standing alongside contestants from every corner of the world,' MUO said in the statement. Ayoub, now 27, was crowned Miss Palestine back in 2022, according to Abu Dhabi-based news outlet The National. Posting on Instagram on Thursday, Ayoub said she wanted to be a voice for the Palestinian people. 'I am honored to announce that for the first time ever, Palestine will be represented at Miss Universe,' she wrote in the caption. 'As Palestine endures heartbreak — especially in Gaza — I carry the voice of a people who refuse to be silenced. I represent every Palestinian woman and child whose strength the world needs to see,' Ayoub added. 'We are more than our suffering — we are resilience, hope, and the heartbeat of a homeland that lives on through us.' The decision to include a Palestinian entry in the beauty pageant comes amid growing international criticism of Israel's war in Gaza. At least 62,004 people have been killed in the strip since the start of the conflict in October 2023, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a statement published Monday. Authorities in Gaza do not distinguish between civilians and Hamas fighters when reporting casualty figures, but the health ministry and the United Nations say the majority of deaths are women and children. As the war continues, a growing number of countries are pledging to recognize a Palestinian state, with more than 145 nations now joining the call for international recognition. Most recently, Australia, Canada and France announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September, while the United Kingdom has conditionally said it will recognize it if Israel does not meet criteria that include agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.
Globe and Mail
6 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Bybit Private Wealth Management's Standout USDT Yield Strategy Set New Bar in July
DUBAI , UAE , /CNW/ -- Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, concluded a record-breaking month in its Private Wealth Management (PWM) unit, revealed in the latest Bybit PWM newsletter for July 2025 . Capturing the rapid tides of crypto and global markets in July, Bybit PWM delivered exceptional results with average APR across all funds surging over 160% month on month. The standout achievement came from its flagship high-yield USDT-based strategy, which generated an impressive 19.77% APR, demonstrating the power of strategic asset allocation in volatile markets. "In July, BTC's new highs, strong inflows to ETH ETFs and positive regulatory developments energized the markets. Bybit PWM was able to reap the benefits of the movements and achieve demonstrable returns for our clients," said Jerry Li , Head of Financial Products & Wealth Management at Bybit . "While crypto 's long-term potential remains promising, we are staying alert: regulatory signals and rapid news cycles remain game-changers—but solid fundamentals and growing institutional participation suggest brighter days ahead." Bybit PWM turns seasoned analysts' and investing professionals' trading expertise into measurable yield for high-networth investors. With sophisticated product and strategy offerings, the trusted service has achieved over $200 million in subscription volume. Fig. 1 Strategy Return Trend Launched in December 2024 , Bybit PWM empowers visionary wealth builders who prioritize smart strategy over quick wins. The division's expert team—seasoned veterans in quantitative trading, asset management, risk control, and blockchain innovation—crafts resilient portfolios designed to capture lasting value in the dynamic digital asset landscape. For details of Bybit PWM's July performance, users may visit: Bybit Private Wealth Management: May 2025 Newsletter #Bybit / #TheCryptoArk About Bybit Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 70 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi , empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at SOURCE Bybit
Globe and Mail
9 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
U.S. envoy to Lebanon to discuss long-term ceasefire with Israel
The U.S. special envoy to Lebanon said Monday that his team would discuss the long-term cessation of hostilities with Israel, after Beirut endorsed a U.S.-backed plan for the Hezbollah militant group to disarm. Tom Barrack, following a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, also said Washington would seek an economic proposal for post-war reconstruction in the country, after months of shuttle diplomacy between the U.S. and Lebanon. Barrack is also set to meet with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri, who often negotiates on behalf of Hezbollah with Washington. 'I think the Lebanese government has done their part. They've taken the first step,' said Barrack, who is also the U.S. ambassador to Turkey. 'Now what we need is for Israel to comply with that equal handshake.' Lebanon's decision last week to support a plan to disarm Hezbollah angered the Iran-backed group and its allies, who believe Israel's military should first withdraw from the five hilltops it has occupied in southern Lebanon since the end of its 14-month war with Hezbollah last November and stop launching almost daily air strikes in the country. Naim Kassem, Hezbollah's secretary-general, has vowed to fight efforts to disarm the group, sowing fears of civil unrest in the country. Hezbollah raises spectre of civil war, resisting pressure to disarm Barrack warned Hezbollah that it will have 'missed an opportunity' if it doesn't back the calls for it to disarm. Aoun and Salam both want to disarm Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups, and have demanded Israel halt its attacks and withdraw from the country. Aoun said he wants to increase funding for Lebanon's cash-strapped military to bolster its capacity. He also wants to raise money from international donors to help rebuild the country. The World Bank estimates that Hezbollah and Israel's monthslong war in late 2024 cost US$11.1-billion in damages and economic losses as larges swaths of southern and eastern Lebanon were battered. The country has also faced a crippling economic crisis since 2019.
