A study issued by the global consultancy Brand Finance has highlighted the growing role of Digital Dubai in supporting the emirate’s position among the world’s leading cities, through a digital ecosystem that has become an essential part of the experience of living, working, and investing in Dubai.

According to the study, Dubai ranked fifth globally in the City Brand Index, with a brand value approaching AED 1 trillion. Digital Dubai’s contribution to the emirate’s overall brand value reached around AED 31 billion.

This performance reflects the importance of digital transformation in enhancing the competitiveness of cities, especially as digital services have become an influential factor in the trust of residents and the business community, as well as in shaping Dubai’s image as a modern city that attracts investment and innovation.

AED 31 Billion Contribution to Dubai’s Brand Value

The study showed that Digital Dubai contributed around AED 31 billion, equivalent to USD 8.5 billion, to Dubai’s total brand value. It also helped strengthen the emirate’s brand strength index, which reached 86 points out of 100.

Digital Dubai added 1.9 points to Dubai’s brand strength index, supporting the emirate’s rise from seventh to fifth place globally in the City Brand Index.

These results confirm that investing in digital infrastructure and smart government services is no longer just a technical development. It has become an important tool for supporting global reputation, raising levels of trust, and improving customer experience.

AA+ Rating for Institutional Brand Strength

Digital Dubai received an AA+ rating for institutional brand strength, placing it among the world’s leading digital government entities. It also recorded a brand familiarity rate of 92% and achieved 77.7 points out of 100 in the institutional brand strength index.

The study also showed strong performance in trust and reputation indicators, with Digital Dubai scoring 8.4 out of 10 in both indicators among residents and the business sector in Dubai.

It also achieved 8.1 out of 10 in the benefit of doubt indicator, and 7.9 out of 10 in the engagement indicator, reflecting the presence of the digital ecosystem in everyday life and the confidence users have in the services it provides.

Digital Transformation as Part of Quality of Life

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai, said the results reflect part of the ambitious vision leading Dubai toward the future. He noted that digital transformation has become a pillar of comprehensive development, quality of life, and the strengthening of the emirate’s global competitiveness.

He explained that the digital ecosystem is no longer limited to technical infrastructure or smart services. Instead, it has become part of the experience of living, working, and investing in Dubai, as well as an influential element in building trust and reinforcing the emirate’s international appeal.

A Digital Ecosystem Supporting Growth and Innovation

Tariq Al Janahi, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporate Enablement Sector at Digital Dubai, said that Dubai’s digital ecosystem has become a key pillar in supporting economic growth, encouraging innovation, and improving quality of life.

He noted that Digital Dubai continues to develop connected and seamless digital services and experiences that meet the expectations of society and support the emirate’s readiness for the future.

He added that the strong performance of the digital ecosystem reflects the impact of cooperation and integration among government entities, helping provide more reliable and flexible digital services, while strengthening Dubai’s position as a global hub for innovation and opportunities.

Digital Infrastructure as a Key Factor in City Strength

David Haigh, Chairman and CEO of Brand Finance, said the study’s findings confirm that trusted digital infrastructure has become one of the main factors in supporting the reputation of cities and enhancing their global competitiveness.

He pointed out that Digital Dubai’s AA+ rating in institutional brand strength, together with its contribution of around AED 31 billion to Dubai’s place brand value, reflects the emirate’s success in turning investment in digital government services into a clear and tangible impact.

He added that this success is linked to the delivery of world-class, human-centered digital government services, supporting Dubai’s image as an advanced city in the field of digital services.

An Impact Beyond Government Services

The study showed that the impact of Digital Dubai is not limited to digital government services alone. It also extends to strengthening the emirate’s global position and soft power.

Digital Dubai recorded a clear impact in reinforcing Dubai’s image as a global city of strategic importance. It also supported the emirate’s position as a destination for startups and innovation, and contributed to enhancing future growth potential, reducing bureaucracy, and making it easier to do business.

Its impact also included supporting quality of life, promoting openness and hospitality, strengthening Dubai’s image as a leading city in science and technology, and increasing confidence in the emirate locally and globally.

Dubai Continues to Build a Digital City Model

The study’s results confirm that Dubai is moving forward in building an integrated model for the digital city, based on trusted government services, advanced technical infrastructure, and a smoother, more flexible user experience.