At Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Bombay Club redefines Indian dining with a focus on Western India’s culinary heritage. Chefs Manav Tuli and Kumaran Balaji present dishes like baked guinea fowl samosas, tandoori red snapper, and Bohri lamb biryani, with ma...
Dubai’s nightlife, once defined by glitzy super-clubs, is diversifying into a vibrant tapestry of underground music, jazz lounges, and alcohol-free cultural evenings. Beneath the city’s shimmering skyline, a new scene is emerging, driven by local DJs and event organizers catering to varied tastes.
Iconic venues like WHITE Dubai and SKY2.0 in the Design District still draw crowds with international DJs and bottle service starting at AED 2,000 ($545 USD). Yet, underground spots like The Backyard at Steigenberger Hotel, hosting “Deep Like Thursdayz,” and Bridgewater DXB’s eclectic lineups are gaining traction for their focus on authentic music. “Clubbers crave originality over corporate venues,” says Deian Markov, promoter of Groove On The Grass, a pop-up festival drawing 4,000 fans.
Jazz clubs like Bahri Bar at Madinat Jumeirah, with Burj Al Arab views, and The Green Room in City Walk 2 offer soulful evenings, blending live music with mocktails. Alcohol-free cultural nights are also rising, with Global Village’s drum circles and Dubai Miracle Garden’s illuminated floral walks appealing to families and expats. These venues align with the UAE’s strict alcohol laws, relying on ride-hailing apps for safe transport.
DJs like Mike Bufton of Audio Tonic and promoters Rima and Dania at Electric Days curate fresh sounds, from house to Afrobeats, at venues like BLING Dubai. This blend of Arabian heritage and global influences creates a nightlife that’s both inclusive and innovative.
Dubai has emerged as a global hub for perfumery, blending ancient Arabian traditions with modern innovation to captivate scent enthusiasts worldwide. From the rich, woody notes of oud to bespoke fragrances crafted for individual tastes, Dubai’s perfume industry is a testament to its cultural depth and commercial prowess.
Dubai’s perfume heritage is rooted in the Arabian Peninsula’s ancient trade routes, where frankincense, myrrh, and oud—derived from the resinous agarwood tree - were prized commodities. Today, the city’s Deira Perfume Souk remains a sensory treasure trove, with shops like those in Al Sabkha offering attars, oil-based perfumes made from natural ingredients such as rose, saffron, and musk. These traditional blends, often crafted using techniques passed down through generations, reflect a culture where fragrance is a daily ritual, woven into religious ceremonies, social events, and personal expression.
Yet Dubai is no relic of the past. Its strategic location and luxury-driven economy have made it a magnet for global fragrance houses like Chanel, Dior, and Roja Parfums, which release region-specific scents with high concentrations of oud and amber to cater to Middle Eastern tastes. Local brands like Ajmal Perfumes, founded in 1951, and Swiss Arabian, known for alcohol-free attars, have also gained international acclaim, with Ajmal now selling in 50 countries. The UAE’s fragrance market, led by Dubai, is projected to reach $1.7 billion by 2033, driven by a growing appetite for niche and premium scents.
Bespoke perfumery is a rising star in Dubai’s scent-scape. High-end boutiques in the Dubai Mall and Bur Dubai offer custom blending, where artisans work closely with clients to create unique fragrances using rare ingredients like Taif rose or saffron. This personalized approach, coupled with events like Beautyworld Middle East, an annual trade show highlighting cutting-edge trends, underscores Dubai’s role as a leader in olfactory innovation. In 2024, the event featured over 100 nominations for awards like Niche Fragrance of the Year, showcasing the city’s influence on global trends.
Modern fragrance houses, such as Lattafa and Hind Al Oud, are redefining the industry by merging heritage with contemporary flair. Lattafa’s Khamrah, launched in 2024, blends cinnamon, praline, and oud, rivaling high-end Western perfumes at a fraction of the cost. Meanwhile, boutique perfumers focus on small-batch creations, emphasizing storytelling through scent. These efforts have fueled a market growing at a rate three to four times higher than in Europe or America, with international brands like Eurofragance reporting €180 million in global sales in 2024, largely driven by the UAE.
Dubai’s perfume industry is more than a business; it’s a cultural bridge. Traditional attars and bakhoor - fragrant wood chips burned to release aroma - coexist with avant-garde scents, reflecting the city’s ability to harmonize past and present. As Abdulla Ajmal, CEO of Ajmal Group, noted, “Traditional oriental fragrances continue to be the heart of the region’s olfactory identity,” even as they captivate Western consumers. This fusion of craftsmanship and innovation ensures Dubai’s scented legacy will linger for generations.
Dubai’s ambition to become a global tech hub is taking flight under the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), launched in 2023 to double the city’s economy to AED 32 trillion by 2033. The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) reported over 1,000 new tech startups registered in 2025, driven by the emirate’s tax-free zones, robust infrastructure, and focus on AI, blockchain, and fintech. This surge is transforming Dubai’s economic landscape, but challenges like talent retention and global competition test its staying power.
The D33 Agenda prioritizes innovation, targeting AED 100 billion in annual digital economy value by 2033. DIFC’s Innovation Hub and Dubai Internet City offer zero corporate tax and streamlined regulations, attracting startups like Tabby, a $1.5 billion-valued buy-now-pay-later platform, and Zand, the UAE’s first digital bank. Careem, a Dubai-born unicorn, remains a success story, while emerging ventures like Tarjama (AI translation) thrive with support from the Dubai Future Academy. Investors are bullish: the Dubai Future District Fund invested in 29 ventures in 2024, drawing AED 2 billion in venture capital in 2025. Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, notes, “Dubai’s ecosystem empowers startups to outperform globally.”
The numbers are striking. Dubai’s GDP grew 3.3% in 2023 to AED 429 billion, with tech driving growth. Free zones host over 1,500 tech firms, and events like the Dubai FinTech Summit 2025 foster global partnerships. Yet, retaining talent and competing with tech giants like Silicon Valley remain hurdles. As Dubai balances innovation with sustainability, its startup surge signals a bold step toward a digital future.
Photo credits: DIFC Instagram.
Alexander Agafiev Macambira
Alexander Agafiev Macambira is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.
In Dubai, a city where the skyline is a canvas for ambition, the hum of drones is becoming the sound of progress. As part of its relentless pursuit to redefine urban living, Dubai has positioned itself at the forefront of drone delivery systems, with companies like SkyGo and Jeebly leveraging cutting-edge technology to transform last-mile logistics. In 2025, these efforts are scaling up, with trials expanding across Dubai South and Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), aligning seamlessly with the emirate’s vision for smart mobility and sustainability. This initiative, rooted in the Dubai Program to Enable Drone Transportation launched in 2021, is not just a technological leap but a bold step toward reimagining how goods move in a city of 3.7 million. Yet, as drones take to the skies, questions linger about scalability, public acceptance, and environmental trade-offs, even as residents and logistics firms herald the promise of a faster, greener future.
The foundation of Dubai’s drone ambitions was laid with the Dubai Sky Dome policy in 2018, followed by the 2021 launch of the Dubai Program to Enable Drone Transportation under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. This program has fostered public-private partnerships, with Dubai South—a 145-square-kilometer economic zone—and DSO serving as testing grounds. In October 2023, Jeebly LLC, a UAE-based logistics provider, and Skye Air Mobility, India’s largest SaaS-based drone delivery company, conducted a groundbreaking three-week Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) trial in DSO. The trial, supported by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Dubai Future Foundation, used Skye Air’s Skye Ship One drone—equipped with proprietary navigation, parachutes, and collision-avoidance systems—to deliver consumer goods like snacks and small packages in under four minutes. By December 2024, Sheikh Hamdan placed the first order through a new drone delivery system, signaling plans to expand coverage to 33% of Dubai by 2030, a milestone that underscores the city’s commitment to the D33 Economic Agenda, which aims to double the economy through innovation.
The logistics impact is profound. Last-mile delivery, which accounts for up to 53% of shipping costs globally, is a bottleneck in urban centers like Dubai, where traffic congestion on roads like Sheikh Zayed can delay deliveries. Drones bypass this, offering speed and precision. For instance, trials in Dubai South, a hub for logistics and aviation, have demonstrated drones’ ability to deliver medical supplies and e-commerce packages to densely populated or remote areas, reducing delivery times by up to 70% compared to vans. Raman Pathak, CEO of Jeebly, emphasized, “This explorative drone project represents an effective and environmentally responsible solution for small to medium-sized packages, in line with the Universal Postal Union’s sustainable development objectives.” Logistics firms like SkyGo, which launched in Abu Dhabi in 2022 with a 40-station network for healthcare deliveries, are now expanding into Dubai, focusing on cost-effective, eco-friendly solutions. Studies, such as one from the University of North Texas, estimate drone deliveries cost $1.23 per package versus $5.33 for a four-mile van delivery, making them a game-changer for businesses.
Sustainability is a key driver. Drones, powered by electricity, produce up to 94% less energy per package than traditional vehicles, aligning with Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which targets 75% clean energy by mid-century. By reducing road-based deliveries, drones also ease traffic congestion, a pressing issue in a city that welcomed 92 million passengers through its airport in 2024. Eng. Muammar Al Katheeri, Chief Officer of Engineering and Sustainability at Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority, noted, “DSO has placed the highest priority on supporting entrepreneurs who utilize advanced technologies to offer smart city solutions.” The 2023 BVLOS trials, conducted over 18 months, included rigorous safety tests, ensuring drones can operate in Dubai’s extreme heat and urban density without compromising safety or reliability.
Residents, however, have mixed feelings. For some, like Ayesha Khan, a Dubai Marina resident, drones promise convenience: “Getting groceries or medicine in minutes without traffic delays is incredible.” Others, like Khalid Al Mansouri, a Deira shopkeeper, express concerns about noise and privacy, noting, “Drones buzzing overhead feel intrusive, and I worry about accidents.” Research from the International Journal of Logistics Management highlights societal concerns, including wildlife interference and collision risks, though Dubai’s drones incorporate low-noise propellers and multi-sensor positioning to mitigate these. Public acceptance remains a hurdle, with a 2022 Milan study showing only 60% of urban residents favor drone deliveries due to privacy fears.
With plans to integrate drones into 33% of the city’s logistics network by 2030, supported by events like Hypermotion 2025 showcasing smart mobility, Dubai is poised to redefine last-mile delivery. As drones weave through the city’s airspace, they carry not just packages but the promise of a smarter, greener urban future—provided the emirate can navigate the complexities of scaling this aerial revolution.
In 2025, Dubai continues to shine as a global beacon of safety, securing its place among the world’s safest cities with a crime index of just 16.5, according to Numbeo’s 2025 Safety Index. Ranking third globally with a safety score of 83.8, behind only Abu Dhabi (88.4) and Doha (84.1), the emirate’s low crime rates and robust security infrastructure have solidified its reputation as a haven for residents and visitors alike. This achievement has fueled Dubai’s tourism boom, with 18.7 million international visitors in 2024—a 9% increase from the previous year—and projections for 2025 estimating 20 million, driven by the emirate’s reputation for security. Yet, beneath this gleaming success lies a shadow: the UAE’s 145th ranking out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, a persistent critique that raises questions about the balance between safety and openness in this desert metropolis.
Dubai’s safety is no accident. The emirate employs cutting-edge technology, including AI-powered cameras, facial recognition, and predictive crime modeling, to maintain order across its bustling streets, from the glittering skyscrapers of Downtown Dubai to the sprawling souks of Deira. Numbeo data highlights Dubai’s remarkably low rates of violent crime (11.89), property theft (16.32), and concerns about physical attacks due to ethnicity or religion (13.65), all classified as “very low.” Strict legal frameworks, with severe penalties for offenses ranging from drug use to public misconduct, act as a powerful deterrent, while a visible police presence and extensive surveillance ensure swift responses to any disruptions. This environment allows tourists to roam freely, day or night, whether strolling along Jumeirah Beach or navigating the crowded Dubai Mall, fostering a sense of security that few global cities can match.
The impact on tourism is undeniable. Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism reported 5.31 million visitors in the first quarter of 2025, with Western Europe (22%) and South Asia (14%) leading the influx. The emirate’s safety ranking enhances its appeal as a destination for families, solo travelers, and business visitors, who flock to iconic attractions like the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Marina, and the newly expanded Deep Dive Dubai. The city’s real estate market also benefits, with high safety scores driving demand in freehold zones like Business Bay and Dubai Marina, where properties yield 6-8% annual returns and qualify investors for the UAE’s 10-year Golden Visa. Dubai’s airports, handling 92 million passengers in 2024, further underscore its role as a global hub, with safety as a cornerstone of its appeal.
However, Dubai’s glittering image is not without flaws. The UAE’s 145th ranking in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Without Borders, reflects significant restrictions on media and freedom of expression. Critics argue that the emirate’s stringent laws, while effective in curbing crime, extend to limiting dissent and independent journalism, creating a tightly controlled information environment. This has sparked international debate about whether Dubai’s safety comes at the cost of openness, a tension that contrasts with its cosmopolitan image. For tourists, this may have little immediate impact—most prioritize security over press freedom—but for expatriates and investors, it raises questions about long-term transparency and governance.
As Dubai looks to 2025, its safety ranking remains a powerful draw, underpinning its ambition to be the world’s leading tourism and investment destination. The emirate’s ability to blend cutting-edge security with cultural and economic vibrancy is unmatched, yet the press freedom critique serves as a reminder that even the safest cities must navigate complex trade-offs. For now, as millions marvel at Dubai’s skyline or dive into its underwater wonders, the city’s promise of security continues to propel its global ascent, even as it grapples with the shadows of its own success.
In the heart of Dubai, where ambition meets innovation, Deep Dive Dubai has emerged as a global sensation, redefining adventure tourism with its record-breaking 60-meter-deep swimming pool—the world’s deepest, as verified by Guinness World Records. In 2024, this aquatic marvel welcomed over 100,000 visitors, a testament to its allure for divers, thrill-seekers, and curious tourists alike. Projections for 2025 anticipate a 15% surge in visitors, fueled by Dubai’s relentless drive to cement its status as a premier global destination. Yet, as the pool’s popularity soars, questions about its environmental footprint have surfaced, prompting plans for sustainable upgrades that reflect the emirate’s broader green ambitions.
Opened in 2021, Deep Dive Dubai is no ordinary pool. Spanning 15 million liters—equivalent to six Olympic-sized pools—it houses a meticulously crafted underwater city, complete with sunken cars, motorbikes, and arcade games, inspired by the UAE’s pearl-diving heritage. This immersive setting, described by director Jarrod Jablonski as a “unique underwater classroom,” caters to all skill levels, from beginners taking their first scuba plunge to certified divers exploring depths up to 30 meters. Social media has amplified its appeal, with influencers and newly engaged couples flocking to capture surreal underwater moments, further driving its global fame. The facility’s advanced technology even allows divers to listen to whale sounds or their favorite music, blending adventure with sensory delight.
The numbers tell a compelling story. Dubai’s tourism sector, a cornerstone of its economy, welcomed 18.7 million international visitors in 2024, a 9% increase from the previous year, with Deep Dive Dubai emerging as a standout attraction. The emirate’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing reported 5.31 million visitors in the first quarter of 2025 alone, with Western Europe (22%) and South Asia (14%) leading the influx. Deep Dive Dubai’s visitor count of over 100,000 in 2024 reflects its role in this tourism boom, drawing a diverse crowd eager to experience its one-of-a-kind underwater city. Industry experts project a 15% rise in visitors for 2025, driven by expanded marketing and new freediving courses like the AIDA Level 1 and 2 programs, tailored for beginners and seasoned snorkelers.
Yet, the pool’s success comes with challenges. Maintaining 15 million liters of water at pristine conditions requires significant energy for filtration and temperature control, raising concerns among environmentalists about its sustainability. Critics argue that such resource-intensive attractions clash with Dubai’s commitment to becoming a global leader in sustainable tourism, especially following the UAE’s hosting of COP28 in 2023. In response, Deep Dive Dubai has announced plans for solar-powered upgrades to its filtration systems, aligning with the emirate’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to generate 75% of Dubai’s energy from clean sources by mid-century. These upgrades, expected to roll out in 2026, could set a precedent for balancing tourism innovation with environmental responsibility.
As Dubai continues to break records—its International Airport handled 92 million passengers in 2024, the highest ever—the success of Deep Dive Dubai underscores the emirate’s knack for turning audacious ideas into global draws. But its future hinges on harmonizing spectacle with sustainability. For now, as divers descend into the depths of this underwater city, they embody Dubai’s relentless pursuit of the extraordinary, even as the city grapples with the costs of its own ambition.
In the ever-shifting landscape of global trade, Dubai’s DP World stands as a colossus, orchestrating the flow of goods across continents with unmatched scale and ambition. In 2025, the Dubai-based logistics giant solidified its influence with a $1.2 billion investment in African ports, spanning from Algeria to Zambia, reinforcing its role as a linchpin in the world’s supply chains. This strategic expansion, coupled with the continued dominance of its flagship Jebel Ali Port, which handled 15.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2024, underscores Dubai’s ascent as a global trade powerhouse. Yet, as DP World extends its reach, environmental concerns over port-related pollution in the Persian Gulf cast a shadow, urging a reckoning with the ecological costs of such vast operations.
DP World’s investments in Africa reflect a calculated push to harness the continent’s economic potential. From modernizing ports in Senegal and Egypt to expanding the Berbera Port in Somaliland, the company is not merely building infrastructure but reshaping trade corridors. These efforts aim to transform ports like Berbera into major Red Sea hubs, with plans to boost its container capacity from 500,000 to 2 million TEUs annually. Such developments promise to unlock prosperity for landlocked nations like Ethiopia, which holds a 19% stake in Berbera, while positioning DP World as a gatekeeper of Africa’s maritime trade. This expansion aligns with the UAE’s broader geopolitical strategy, leveraging economic influence to secure access to critical markets and resources, including agricultural products vital for food security.
At the heart of DP World’s operations lies Jebel Ali Port, the Middle East’s largest and one of the world’s top ten container ports. In 2024, it processed 15.5 million TEUs, a million more than the previous year, driven by robust demand from Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. The port’s cutting-edge infrastructure, including automated terminals and AI-driven yard management, enables it to handle ultra-large container vessels and diverse cargo, from wind turbines to humanitarian wheat shipments. Jebel Ali’s integration with the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), home to nearly 10,500 businesses, amplifies its economic impact, contributing 21% to Dubai’s GDP. The port’s record-breaking performance, including a peak of 1.4 million TEUs in July 2024, reflects its pivotal role in navigating global supply chain disruptions, such as the Red Sea crisis, while supporting Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33.
Beyond containers, Dubai’s gold trade, valued at $30 billion annually, further cements the emirate’s status as a global commerce hub. Jebel Ali serves as a critical node for this trade, facilitating the movement of precious metals through its advanced logistics network. The port’s connectivity to Dubai International Airport and its free trade zones ensures seamless re-export, making Dubai a vital link in the global gold market. This economic prowess, however, comes with challenges. The port’s reliance on fossil fuel-powered vessels and heavy machinery has raised environmental concerns in the Persian Gulf, where marine pollution and carbon emissions threaten fragile ecosystems.
Environmentalists and international regulators, including those enforcing MARPOL Annex V and VI, are pressing for greener practices at Persian Gulf ports. Jebel Ali has taken steps toward sustainability, implementing renewable energy and advanced waste management systems, but critics argue that more aggressive measures are needed. The International Maritime Organization’s classification of the Strait of Hormuz as a High Risk Area, combined with rising sea levels and storm frequency due to climate change, complicates operations and underscores the urgency of adopting cleaner technologies. DP World’s issuance of a $100 million blue bond in 2024 and its validation by the Science Based Targets initiative signal progress, but the scale of its operations demands bolder action to mitigate pollution and protect the Gulf’s marine environment.
DP World’s global expansion, from Africa’s ports to Jebel Ali’s bustling terminals, reflects a vision of trade as a catalyst for economic growth. Yet, as the company drives Dubai’s $20 billion trade network forward, it must navigate the delicate balance between ambition and responsibility. The calls for greener practices are not merely a challenge but an opportunity to lead by example, ensuring that the arteries of global commerce remain open without choking the environment they depend on. As Dubai continues to shape the future of trade, its ability to harmonize economic dominance with ecological stewardship will define its legacy on the world stage.
In Dubai’s glittering skyline, where Palm Jumeirah’s villas and Downtown Dubai’s penthouses define opulence, the luxury real estate market soared in 2025. The Julius Baer Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report 2025 reported a 27% increase in luxury property sales, fueled by a 102% rise in high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) since 2020. With transactions above $10 million up 93.2% in the first five months, per Dubai Land Department data, Dubai’s tax-free policies and global connectivity have made it a magnet for the wealthy. Yet, rising costs for the city’s low-wage workers highlight persistent inequalities.
Dubai’s appeal draws global elites, with 9,800 millionaires projected to relocate to the UAE in 2025, per Henley & Partners, hosting 81,200 millionaires and 20 billionaires. Palm Jumeirah villas, priced up to $120 million, and Downtown Dubai penthouses, reaching $20 million, led with 590 sales above AED 20 million ($5.4 million) in Q1 2025. In May, sales hit $18.2 billion, up 44% year-on-year, with 3,105 deals above AED 10 million ($2.7 million), per Seven Luxury Real Estate. A square foot of prime property costs $1,020, compared to $2,732 in New York.
The emirate’s zero-tax environment and Golden Visa, offering 10-year residency for AED 2 million ($544,500) investments, attract buyers from India, the UK, and China. The Dubai Land Department recorded 94,000 residential sales in H1 2025, up 23.04%, valued at AED 326.7 billion ($88.9 billion). Off-plan properties, 69% of Q1 deals, rose 24%. Developments like Emaar Beachfront and Dubai Creek Harbour offer smart homes with blockchain-backed transactions.
Non-oil GDP, at 55% in 2024 per Deloitte, and 18.7 million tourists bolster demand. Dubai International Airport’s 92.3 million passengers in 2024, per Dubai Airports, enhance connectivity. However, Fitch Ratings predicts a 10-15% price correction in 2025 due to 41,000 new units. Among 3.7 million residents, 88% expatriates per the Dubai Statistics Center, low-wage workers face affordability issues. The city’s high carbon footprint, contrasts with its 75% clean energy goal by 2050.
Photo credits: Luxury Property. Villa in Palm Jumeirah.
Alexander Agafiev Macambira
Alexander Agafiev Macambira is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.
In the sun-scorched expanse of Saih Al-Dahal, 50 kilometers south of Dubai, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park hums with activity, its 3.66 gigawatts of photovoltaic panels and concentrated solar power towers generating clean energy for 240,000 homes. This sprawling 77-square-kilometer facility, the world’s largest single-site solar park under the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, is a cornerstone of the United Arab Emirates’ ambition to redefine itself as a global leader in renewable energy. In 2025, the UAE’s vision extends far beyond its borders, with Dubai-based AMEA Power spearheading solar and wind projects across 11 African nations, backed by the $4.5 billion Africa Green Investment Initiative launched at COP28 in 2023. Yet, as the UAE scales its renewable energy footprint, reliance on Chinese technology for critical components has sparked concerns about supply chain vulnerabilities, even as the emirate sets a global benchmark for sustainable development.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, managed by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), is a linchpin of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to source 75% of the emirate’s energy from clean sources by 2050. By the end of 2024, the park’s capacity reached 3,660 megawatts (MW) from photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies, with an additional 1,000 MW under construction, per DEWA. The sixth phase, 53% complete as of March 2025, has 600 MW operational and will reach 1,800 MW by 2026, powering 540,000 residences and cutting 2.36 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually, according to Zawya. With a planned capacity of 7,260 MW by 2030 and investments of AED 50 billion ($13.6 billion), the park will reduce 8 million tonnes of carbon emissions yearly upon completion, per DEWA. Its third phase, developed by a Masdar-led consortium, set a global record for the lowest solar tariff at 2.99 US cents per kilowatt-hour in 2016, while the sixth phase, with Masdar’s bid of 1.6215 US cents per kWh, continues to drive down costs, per DEWA.
AMEA Power, founded in Dubai in 2016, has emerged as a key player in exporting this expertise to Africa, managing a 6-gigawatt clean energy pipeline across 20 countries, with 2.6 gigawatts in operation or near completion in nations like Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia, per its 2025 corporate update. In Egypt, AMEA Power commissioned a 500 MW solar PV plant in Aswan in December 2024 and launched a 300 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in July 2025, the country’s first utility-scale BESS, financed by the International Finance Corporation, per posts on X. The company also operates a 51.75 MW wind farm in Jordan’s Tafilah Governorate and a 70 MW solar PV project with 4 MWh BESS in Togo, completed in February 2024, per AMEA Power. Its African portfolio includes projects in Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, and Uganda, targeting underserved markets with decentralized energy solutions, per Renewables in Africa. The UAE’s $4.5 billion Africa Green Investment Initiative, announced at COP28 in Dubai, supports these efforts, channeling funds into renewable projects to address Africa’s electrification gap, where over 600 million people lack access.
The UAE’s broader renewable energy strategy, underpinned by the Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, integrates solar, wind, nuclear, and hydrogen. The Al Dhafra Solar PV plant in Abu Dhabi, operational since November 2023 with a 2-gigawatt capacity, offers the world’s lowest solar tariff at 1.35 US cents per kWh, per the UAE Embassy. The Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, with four reactors, supplies 25% of the UAE’s electricity, saving 5 million tonnes of CO2 annually, per the Economist Impact. Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, complements AMEA Power’s efforts, with projects like the 250 MWac solar PV and 63 MW BESS in Uzbekistan and a 300 MW solar plant in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, per Masdar’s 2025 project portfolio. The UAE’s hosting of COP28 in 2023 elevated its global climate leadership, with 78 environmental initiatives approved, including solar energy regulations and sustainable tourism.
However, the UAE’s reliance on Chinese technology, particularly for solar panels and battery systems, raises supply chain concerns. The Al Dhafra project, developed with China’s Jinko Solar, and AMEA Power’s projects, which use Chinese-manufactured PV panels, reflect this dependency, per Power Technology. Geopolitical tensions and potential U.S. tariffs on Chinese solar components, noted by AGBI, could disrupt supplies, while quality control issues in Chinese-made equipment have occasionally delayed projects, per industry reports. The UAE’s high per-capita carbon footprint—40.31 tonnes in 2009, per Wikipedia—also underscores the urgency of its renewable push, though solar and wind accounted for only 8.3% of electricity in 2023, up from 4.5% in 2022.
Dubai’s 3.7 million residents, 88% expatriates per the Dubai Statistics Center, benefit from a cosmopolitan hub, but rising living costs, noted on X, challenge workers supporting its infrastructure. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park’s R&D Centre, with its solar-powered desalination plant, drives innovation, testing PV and CSP performance in desert conditions, per C40 Cities. As the UAE expands its renewable footprint in Africa, its model of public-private partnerships, exemplified by DEWA’s collaboration with ACWA Power and Masdar, sets a global standard, though navigating supply chain risks and economic disparities remains critical to sustaining its leadership.
Photo credits: DEWA Instagram.
Alexander Agafiev Macambira
Alexander Agafiev Macambira is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.
In April 2025, Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah resort hosted Token2049, a blockchain conference drawing 15,000 attendees from 150 countries, reinforcing the emirate’s role as a global crypto hub. A $2 billion investment by Abu Dhabi’s state-backed MGX into Binance, using USD1, a Trump-affiliated stablecoin, marked a milestone in Dubai’s push for decentralized finance leadership. The deal, alongside the city’s regulatory framework and tax-free incentives, underscores its strategic vision, though it has sparked scrutiny over transparency.
The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) hosts over 650 Web3 firms, per Cointelegraph, supported by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), which licenses exchanges like Binance and Crypto.com. The UAE’s crypto market, valued at $744.3 million in 2024, is projected to grow 16.75% annually through 2033, per the Carnegie Endowment. VARA’s compliance with Financial Action Task Force standards and the UAE’s exit from the FATF grey list in April 2024, after $31.3 million in fines, enhance its credibility. The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Ras Al Khaimah’s RAK DAO offer 100% foreign ownership, attracting firms like CoinW, which made Dubai its global headquarters in 2025.
Announced on May 1, 2025, by Eric Trump and Zach Witkoff, the MGX-Binance deal uses USD1, a dollar-pegged stablecoin on the TRON blockchain, to bolster Binance’s operations, per Reuters. Eric Trump noted its use for transactions at the planned Trump International Hotel and Tower, per The New York Times. The Dubai Land Department’s Prypco Mint platform, launched in May 2025, tokenizes property deeds on the XRP Ledger, enabling fractional ownership from 2,000 dirhams ($540), per CoinDesk. OKX’s zero-fee crypto payment app and Zodia Custody’s UAE entry via Tungsten Custody acquisition, per a May 2025 press release, highlight practical blockchain applications.
Token2049 positions Dubai to shape the $3.3 trillion global crypto market.
In 2024, Dubai International Airport (DXB) welcomed 92.3 million passengers, reclaiming its title as the world’s busiest international airport for the tenth consecutive year, per Airports Council International (ACI). Announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on January 30, 2025, this 6% increase from 2023’s 86.9 million surpassed the 2018 peak of 89.1 million. The milestone highlights Dubai’s role as a global aviation hub, but with infrastructure strained, the city is preparing to transition to the larger Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
DXB, home to Emirates and flydubai, handled 440,300 aircraft movements in 2024, up 5.7% from 2023, and processed 2.2 million tonnes of cargo, a 20.5% increase, per Dubai Airports. December 2024 saw 8.2 million passengers, with India (12 million), Saudi Arabia (7.6 million), and the UK (6.2 million) as top markets. The airport’s 99.45% baggage handling success rate, with 5.5 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers, outperformed the global average of 6.9, per SITA. In Q1 2025, passenger numbers rose 8.4% year-on-year, driven by new routes to Asia and Europe, including Druk Air’s service to Paro, Bhutan, per Cirium.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, credited the city’s strategic location—seven hours from London, 14 from New York—and investments like Terminal 3’s luxury lounges, named the world’s most luxurious by AllClear in 2025. “This record reflects Dubai’s vision to connect the world,” Griffiths told Reuters on January 31, 2025. The surge aligns with Dubai’s tourism boom, with 16.8 million visitors in the first 11 months of 2024, up 14% from 2023, per the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Events like GITEX Global and the city’s top ranking for tourism FDI in H1 2024, per the Financial Times, fueled growth.
However, DXB’s capacity is stretched, with 416,000 movements in 2023 already testing limits. To address this, Dubai is expanding Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). On April 28, 2024, Sheikh Mohammed approved a $34.85 billion terminal, set to handle 260 million passengers annually upon completion, with the first phase (150 million passengers) due by 2032. DWC, currently serving 27 carriers to 44 destinations, will incorporate biometric security and LEED Gold standards, supporting the UAE’s net-zero 2050 goal.
Challenges include aircraft delivery delays for Emirates and flydubai, per Aviation Week, and aviation’s contribution to the UAE’s high carbon emissions, per IATA. DXB’s 77,000 workers, mostly expatriates, face rising living costs, with affordability concerns noted on X. Security measures ensure safety, but the UAE’s 145th ranking in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index raises transparency questions. Griffiths projects 100 million passengers by 2027, with DWC poised to redefine global travel. For now, DXB’s record cements Dubai’s status as a hub defying limits.
Photo credits: Dubai International Airport Instagram.
Amid the buzz of new skyscrapers and Michelin stars, Dubai’s most quietly transformative story might be this: the rise of Free Zones as sanctuaries for global entrepreneurs.
As of 2025, Dubai is home to over 40 Free Zones, each offering 100% foreign ownership, zero import/export taxes, and repatriation of profits. For the global expat entrepreneur—especially from India, Europe, and Southeast Asia—this model is more than appealing. It’s life-changing.
With Dubai named the world’s fourth-best city for digital nomads by Nomad Capitalist, and the continued success of the Golden Visa Program, the emirate has become a magnet for self-starters. Whether it’s a food startup in Dubai Silicon Oasis or a fintech firm in DIFC, entrepreneurs benefit from fast-track licensing, global banking access, and connectivity to emerging markets in Africa and Asia.
The appeal goes beyond business. It’s about a quality of life rare in other tax-friendly havens. Access to healthcare, international schools, museums, and clean, safe public infrastructure make Dubai not just a business base, but a lifestyle choice.
In a decade that has seen democratic backsliding and regulatory uncertainty worldwide, Dubai is cultivating a middle path—liberal economics under a stable, efficient government, fused with global ambition.
There is a quiet strength in Dubai’s economy—resilient, digitally nimble, and unlike any other in the region. In a feat few cities have achieved, Dubai ranks #1 globally for Greenfield Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the fourth consecutive year.
This isn’t just an economic headline—it’s a case study in governance and vision. According to fDi Markets (a Financial Times service), the emirate drew 1,186 FDI projects worth more than $14.8 billion in 2024. That represents a nearly 70% year-on-year increase, signaling deep investor confidence. Dubai now ranks first globally in both project volume and job creation through FDI.
In today’s volatile world markets, the reasons are clear. First, the emirate’s pro-business laws—from 100% foreign ownership in Free Zones to the Golden Visa pathway—offer investors long-term strategic benefits. Second, the infrastructure is unmatched: from AI-optimized logistics hubs to digital government services, Dubai operates at a scale and speed rivaling any modern economy.
More subtly, Dubai’s leadership has embraced economic storytelling. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince, calls it "future-proofing through purposeful growth." The city is no longer simply a launchpad—it is a destination economy, attracting sectors from fintech and gaming to biotech and AI.
While many global cities chase unicorns, Dubai is building a diversified stable of smart, mid-size enterprises, nurtured in Free Zones tailored to tech, media, and finance. Unlike the fragile VC bubbles elsewhere, this ecosystem is engineered for sustainability and cross-sector innovation.
