Creative Economy Growth, Digital Startups & Economic Impact

Dubai is rapidly establishing itself as a global centre for the digital creative economy, driven by strong investment inflows and the adoption of advanced digital technologies. In 2024 alone, Dubai attracted 971 foreign creative-industry FDI projects, bringing in AED 18.86 billion in new capital and creating more than 23,000 jobs. This performance positioned the city as the world’s top destination for creative-industry FDI.

Technology plays a central role in this growth. Dubai’s creative sector is integrating AI, VR, AR, and Web3 across fashion, architecture, gaming, media, and content creation. Districts such as d3 and Dubai Media City host thousands of companies working at the intersection of creativity and advanced digital tools, shaping Dubai into a global innovation hub.

The global digital creative economy is expected to reach AED 27 trillion by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 11%. Dubai’s policies, infrastructure, and talent ecosystem position it to capture a significant share of this expansion, further strengthening its role as a global leader in digital cultural industries.

Startup momentum further boosts the digital economy. In 2024, the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy supported 1,210 new digital startups, a 120% year-on-year increase. This rapid surge reflects the strength of Dubai’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, access to capital, and global attractiveness for high-growth digital businesses.

Creative Economy Growth, Digital Startups & Economic Impact