Dubai Leads Gulf Cities in Kearney 2025 Global Cities Index

Dubai ranked 23rd worldwide in Kearney’s 2025 Global Cities Index, leading the Middle East and North Africa as Gulf cities advanced on measures of livability, innovation and infrastructure investment. Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Manama were among the strongest year-on-year gainers globally. The index evaluates 158 cities across business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience and political engagement. New York, London, Paris, Tokyo and Singapore retained the top five positions globally.

Within the Gulf, Riyadh advanced eight places to 56th, supported by economic diversification and global connectivity. Manama climbed 10 places to 125th. Abu Dhabi and Dammam recorded some of the highest improvements in human-capital metrics, supported by education and immigration reforms. The report highlights accelerated investment in digital infrastructure and quality of life as Gulf cities work to improve competitiveness.

Kearney’s accompanying Global Cities Outlook, which measures future potential, ranked Munich, Seoul and Singapore as the top three cities. The outlook noted steady upward movement for Dubai, Riyadh, Doha and Manama, with progress attributed to sustained investment in innovation, infrastructure and environmental resilience. The report adds that the next phase of urban leadership will hinge on aligning energy, livability and human capital to capture opportunities from artificial intelligence while mitigating disruptions.