Dubai Ranks 10th Globally for Tourism Attractiveness, Bolstering Investment Appeal
A new index places Dubai 10th worldwide for tourism attractiveness, reinforcing its position as a global destination for living and investment due to its strong visitor experience.
Dubai has secured the 10th position globally for tourism attractiveness, and the highest ranking in the region, according to the 2026 Global Tourism City Attractiveness Index. This index, a collaboration between Yanolja Research, Purdue University’s CHRIBA Institute, and H&T Analytics Center at Kyung Hee University, evaluated 261 cities worldwide.
The emirate also placed 11th in the overall index, reflecting its robust visitor experience. The ranking highlights Dubai's ability to translate global recognition into positive experiences for both tourists and long-term residents. Badar Rashid Al Blooshi, Chairman of Arabian Gulf Properties, noted that the qualities making Dubai attractive to visitors, such as quality of life, world-class infrastructure, hospitality, and diverse experiences, also enhance its appeal to individuals and investors seeking a place to live, establish themselves, and invest for the long term.
The index assesses cities across two primary dimensions: 'Awareness', measuring visibility in global tourism conversations, and 'Attractiveness', reflecting positive sentiment and evaluations of traveller experiences. Dubai ranked 14th globally for Awareness and 10th for Attractiveness.
This shift in global tourism competitiveness increasingly emphasises the quality of visitor experiences over mere visibility. Arabian Gulf Properties believes this trend underscores the importance of a high quality of life and an integrated urban experience in strengthening cities' long-term competitiveness and their ability to attract residents and investment.
Questions, answered
- Which organisations published the 2026 Global Tourism City Attractiveness Index?
- The index was published by Yanolja Research, in collaboration with Purdue University’s CHRIBA Institute in the United States and the H&T Analytics Center at Kyung Hee University in South Korea.
- How did Dubai rank in the overall index and its sub-dimensions?
- Dubai ranked 11th globally in the overall index. It secured 14th place for 'Awareness' and 10th place for 'Attractiveness'.
- What factors contribute to Dubai's attractiveness according to the index?
- The index measures 'Awareness' (visibility in global tourism conversations) and 'Attractiveness' (travellers’ positive sentiment and evaluation of experiences). Dubai's strong performance indicates high quality of life, world-class infrastructure, hospitality, and diverse experiences.
- Which cities topped the global Attractiveness ranking?
- Osaka led the global Attractiveness ranking, followed by Kyoto, New York, Seoul, Paris, London, Rome, Okinawa, Bangkok, and then Dubai in 10th place.
This brief was summarised and rewritten by Gaia Living from public reporting. Figures and details reflect the original sources.