Dubai Rises to 4th in Global Ranking of Tourist Cities

Dubai has climbed to fourth place among the world’s leading tourist cities in the 2025 Global Power City Index, up from fifth a year earlier, according to the latest edition of the ranking compiled by the Mori Memorial Foundation. The index assesses the global “magnetism” of cities based on six core functions: economy, research and development, cultural interaction, livability, environment and accessibility.
The city also retained a position within the global top 10 most powerful cities overall, ranking ninth in the 2025 edition. In the tourist-city category, Dubai placed ahead of major destinations including New York, Madrid, Moscow, Istanbul, Bangkok, Amsterdam, Vienna, Sydney, Hong Kong and Copenhagen, while London, Tokyo and Paris continued to occupy the top three spots.
Sub-index results highlighted gains in visitor appeal and connectivity. Dubai ranked fifth globally for accessibility and cultural interaction, which includes tourism attractions and cultural offerings. The report pointed to the expansion of Emirates and flydubai as key contributors, with Dubai ranking third worldwide for direct international flights.
Tourism figures cited alongside the ranking showed more than 9.88 million visitors recorded in the first half of 2025, representing a 6% year-on-year increase. Dubai Mall reported 111 million visits in 2024, underscoring the scale of visitor activity referenced in the index.