Dubai has been named the world’s most cosmopolitan city in the latest World Migration Report (WMR). Home to over 200 nationalities from around the world, it’s reported that 83% of Dubai’s residents were born in a foreign country before migrating to Dubai, making it a truly global city.
The vision of a modern Dubai by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, spurred the emirate’s growth in the past decade, with many foreign visitors seeing Dubai as the hub of the region.
WMR reported that about 50 per cent of international migrants reside in ten highly urbanised, high-income countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Canada, the United States and several countries in Europe (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom).
Dubai is followed by Brussels with 62 per cent of its residents born in a foreign country. Among the other top ten cities are Toronto (46%), Auckland (39%), Sydney (39%), Los Angeles (39%), Singapore (38%), London (37%), New York (37%) and Melbourne (35%).
What makes Dubai the most Cosmopolitan city?
- Dubai boasts over 5,400 restaurants with a fusion of global flavours and many celebrity chefs opening their first international restaurants (outside of their home countries) in Dubai, including Marco Pierre White and Gary Rhodes
- The city is only 44 years old but is expanding to become the hub of the region, currently gearing up for Expo 2020 with new developments across the city
- Dubai is home to some of the world’s best hotel brands: St Regis, W (opening soon), Palazzo Versace, The Langham (opening soon), Viceroy, Atlantis
- Dubai International Airport is now the busiest airport in the world, overtaking London Heathrow only a few months ago
- Ranked one of the safest cities in the world within the top 20, according to a report by Aon Hewitt
- Ranked 7th most Visited City In The World by International Visitors and in the top 20 in terms of visitor expenditure
- Home to an ever-expanding events calendar with global sporting and arts events as well as fashion and music events and headline artists that include Sting, Pharrell and David Guetta
- Opening this year is the Dubai Opera House with performances across ballet, opera and music. The city is also developing the Opera District housing art galleries, museums, parks and boutique hotels
- Thriving local art scene with world-class art galleries, such as Majilis Gallery, Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde and Third Line
- Growing café culture, including some great home-grown businesses such as Tom & Serg (Australian founder giving a taste of Melbourne in Dubai)
- Fashion capital of the region, local designers include Zahra (who has made abayas for Rachel Hunter and Paris Hilton)
- Home to the world’s largest shopping mall with high-street to high-end, and this year Dubai is launching its very first Fashion Week
