The City

Dubai’s metamorphosis from a modest 20th-century trading port into a modern metropolis is not a tale of petrochemical luck, but of economic vision, aggressive policy reform, and deliberate diversification. While much of the Gulf’s narrative is shaped by the oil boom, Dubai took a different path - one that now positions it as a model for post-oil economic strategy in the region.

In stark contrast to popular assumption, oil contributes less than 1 percent to Dubai’s GDP today, according to official data from the Dubai Statistics Center and UAE government reports. In 2022, oil and gas accounted for just 0.7% of Dubai’s GDP, down from over 50% in the 1970s. Unlike Abu Dhabi, its wealthier neighbor, Dubai’s oil reserves were limited from the start, compelling leaders to think beyond hydrocarbons.

Instead, Dubai bet early - and big - on logistics, tourism, real estate, finance, and free-zone trade. As early as the 1980s and 1990s, the city began laying the infrastructure for an economy driven by services, not oil. The establishment of Jebel Ali Port in 1979 - now the largest port in the Middle East and among the top ten busiest in the world - was an inflection point. It became the gateway to Dubai’s rise as a regional logistics hub, enabling the growth of re-export trade and cementing the city’s geographic centrality between Europe, Asia, and Africa.

By the early 2000s, this pivot was evident in urban form: mega projects like Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) signaled a strategic push into tech, media, and finance. These zones allowed 100% foreign ownership, zero income taxes, and light regulation - creating an environment friendlier to global capital than much of the surrounding region.

The results are measurable. In 2023, non-oil trade in Dubai surged to over AED 2 trillion (~USD 545 billion), a historic high. Tourism now contributes nearly 12% of Dubai’s GDP, with the city consistently ranking among the top three most-visited cities globally, drawing more than 17 million international visitors annually (as of 2023). In real estate, Dubai saw record-breaking investment in 2023, with foreign property buyers accounting for 41% of transactions, largely from India, China and Europe.

Perhaps most emblematic of Dubai’s ambitions is the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building - less a piece of architecture than a statement of intent. And yet, beneath the skyline lies a framework of policy that ensures Dubai’s global relevance is more than symbolic. The city has crafted an economic ecosystem that is highly responsive: from blockchain regulation to fintech sandboxes, and from digital nomad visas to 10-year Golden Visas for investors, the tools of modern economic diplomacy are constantly in play.

Even amidst global headwinds - COVID-19, geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions - Dubai has proven remarkably resilient. The emirate was one of the first to reopen after the pandemic, using its airline, Emirates, and strict but efficient health protocols to restore tourism and business traffic.

Critics may raise valid concerns about sustainability, housing inflation, and the precariousness of a largely expatriate workforce, but Dubai’s strategic agility is undeniable. With plans underway to build the world’s largest airport (Al Maktoum International) and expand its maritime and digital infrastructure, Dubai’s economic transformation is not yet complete - it is simply entering its next phase.

In short, Dubai’s story defies the stereotype of oil-fueled opulence. It is instead the story of a place that confronted its resource limitations and made them a strength, leveraging geography, policy, and ambition to emerge as a global diversification pioneer - and perhaps a model for other post-oil economies to study.

Photo credits: Dubai Instagram

Alexander Agafiev Macambira

Alexander Agafiev Macambira is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.

The transformation of the Gulf economies is neither sudden nor superficial. It is a deliberate, long-term disentanglement from decades of hydrocarbon dependency - charted not through proclamations but through ports, satellites, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence labs.

What began as oil-funded ambition is now materializing in physical infrastructure and institutional reform. Dubai’s thriving free zones, Abu Dhabi’s clean energy and AI corridors, and Saudi Arabia’s $500 billion NEOM project are not vanity ventures. They are components of a broader, carefully engineered strategy to reposition the region’s economic identity.

Yet in much of the West, the narrative remains static: Gulf nations as petro-states, rich but rigid. This framing overlooks the scale of structural change now underway. The real shift is in sovereign wealth funds prioritizing ESG, in regional universities partnering with global research centers, and in early-stage commitments to green hydrogen and quantum computing.

This pivot is not merely about economic diversification. It is a bid for relevance - a transition from commodity capital to human and intellectual capital. 

Photo credits: Abu Dhabi Off Plan. Masdar City. Abu Dhabi

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

In observance of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, municipal authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have announced a series of public service adjustments, including complimentary parking and extended public transportation hours.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) confirmed that all Customer Happiness Centres will remain closed on Friday, September 5. However, smart service centers located in Umm Ramool, Deira, Al Barsha, Al Twar, and RTA’s headquarters will continue operating around the clock.

As part of the observance, all public parking in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi will be free of charge throughout the day.

Public transport services across Dubai will follow modified schedules. The Dubai Metro’s Red and Green Lines will operate on extended hours, beginning service at 5 a.m. and continuing until 1 a.m. the following day. Adjustments have also been made to bus routes, tram schedules, marine transport services, and vehicle testing centers, though specific changes were not immediately detailed.

The announcement reflects the UAE’s broader effort to accommodate public needs during religious observances, ensuring access to essential services while honoring the cultural and spiritual significance of the holiday.

Photo credits: AutoDrift

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

Dubai has long been synonymous with architectural ambition, futuristic skylines, and bold urban planning. Now, with the city's embrace of the “20-Minute City” concept—introduced as part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan—the emirate is laying the groundwork for an urban future defined not just by scale, but by human-centric design.

The goal is clear: to ensure that 80% of residents can access their daily needs—work, school, healthcare, and leisure—within a 20-minute walk or bike ride. If achieved, this would mark a transformative shift from car-dependent sprawl toward integrated, sustainable living.

Implemented correctly, the 20-minute city model could redefine quality of life in the region. It promotes environmental sustainability through reduced emissions, supports small and local businesses, and fosters a greater sense of community. In a city where rapid growth has often outpaced public infrastructure, this policy represents a welcome recalibration.

But the promise lies not in rhetoric, but in execution. To succeed, the initiative must invest heavily in walkability, public transportation, shaded pedestrian corridors, and mixed-use zoning. Crucially, development must prioritize affordability to avoid creating a two-tiered system where only certain neighborhoods benefit.

As Dubai continues its journey toward becoming a global benchmark for livability, its leaders would do well to remember that a 20-minute city is not simply a planning goal—it is a social contract. One that must serve every resident.

Photo credits: Dubai Instagram

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

Dubai’s malls have always been more than shopping venues - they’re social hubs, architectural statements, and economic engines. But now, the emirate is redefining retail with a focus on technology, sustainability, and experience.

The recently launched Dubai Mall Zabeel expansion integrates AI-driven logistics and smart parking. Meanwhile, the Mall of the Emirates is experimenting with AR and VR tech to create immersive shopping environments.

E-commerce surged post-2020, but Dubai’s malls bounced back stronger, evolving into hybrid retail-entertainment complexes. Places like City Walk, Bluewaters, and Boxpark reflect urban outdoor retail trends, emphasizing walkability and local boutiques.

Simultaneously, Expo City Dubai is being transformed into a smart city-scale innovation and retail testbed, blending sustainability with commerce - a blueprint for 21st-century shopping districts.

Photo credits: The Dubai Mall Zabeel 

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

Dubai is making a concrete commitment to environmental sustainability.

Under the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, 60% of the city’s area will be nature reserves or parks. Already, projects like Dubai Creek Harbour, Sustainable City, and Expo City Dubai are setting benchmarks in carbon neutrality, walkability, and smart grid integration.

The Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 aims for 100% clean energy sources by mid-century, spearheaded by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, one of the world’s largest solar installations.

Dubai is also rolling out mandatory green building codes (Al Safat), and banning single-use plastics starting in 2024. These moves place the city at the forefront of eco-conscious urbanism in the Middle East.

Photo credits: Digital Dubai 

Alexander Agafiev Macambira

Alexander Agafiev Macambira is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.

Dubai has quietly transformed into one of the most vibrant culinary capitals of the world. Once dominated by international chains catering to business travelers, the city’s food scene now celebrates local Emirati flavors, immigrant cuisines, and world-renowned fine dining.

The arrival of the Michelin Guide in 2022 marked a pivotal shift. Restaurants like Ossiano, 11 Woodfire, and Tasca by José Avillez earned stars not only for excellence but for introducing global audiences to Dubai's gastronomic diversity.

Meanwhile, grassroots food culture flourishes in areas like Deira and Al Karama, where South Asian, Levantine, and Filipino flavors tell the story of the city’s multicultural backbone. Dubai Food Festival and Dubai Restaurant Week now draw tens of thousands, highlighting the emirate’s ambition to be more than a luxury dining stop - but a global culinary destination.

Photo credits: Atlantis Dubai

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

When Dubai Metro launched in 2009, it became the world’s longest fully automated metro system at the time - now spanning 89.3 km with two lines and over 53 stations. 

Its reach into communities like Al Qusais, Jebel Ali, and now Expo City (formerly Expo 2020 site) has quietly redefined how the city breathes. It averages over 650,000 daily riders as of 2023, reflecting its vital role in reducing car dependence in a notoriously car-centric environment.

Yet challenges persist: low-income workers—especially in peripheral labor camps—remain underserved by last-mile connectivity. The expansion plans (including the proposed Blue Line, linking key suburbs) promise more integration, but also reveal lingering inequities in urban mobility.

In a city of towers, equity begins underground. The metro is not just transport - it’s public policy made steel.

Photo credits: Wikipedia

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

Launched in 2018, Bluewaters Island - home to Ain Dubai, the world’s tallest observation wheel at 250 meters—symbolizes a shift toward branded, engineered residential ecosystems. Developed by Meraas, Bluewaters is both a high-end destination and a residential experiment, with its 10 mid-rise buildings, beach clubs, and walkable districts entirely master-planned.

While it draws global comparisons to Miami’s South Beach or Singapore’s Sentosa, Bluewaters is more than a luxury enclave. It illustrates how Dubai is designing “livable enclaves” in place of organic neighborhoods. Public space, leisure, and private luxury are seamlessly integrated - but always curated.

The island’s success raises critical questions: Where is the line between urban design and urban control? When everything is manufactured, what space remains for unpredictability, for culture to emerge rather than be staged?

Bluewaters is Dubai’s most elegant paradox: a designed community in a city defined by engineered spectacle.

Photo credits: Blue Waters Dubai

Alexander Agafiev Macambira

Alexander Agafiev Macambira is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.

In a metropolis of glass and steel towers, the Ismaili Centre in Dubai stands apart for its embrace of tradition. Inspired by Fatimid architectural forms of Egypt and Syria, the Centre features a domed structure built with brick, wood, and craftsmanship from Kashmiri masons, employing rare artisanal techniques.

Its design philosophy underscores harmony, continuity, and mutual respect within society - an intentional counterbalance to the rapid modernity shaping Dubai. The Centre affirms that in a city of dizzying innovation, cultural rootedness still holds architectural and societal importance.

Photo credits: Wikipedia 

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

Dubai’s skyline stands as a testament to audacious urban ambition. Anchored by the Burj Khalifa, completed in 2009 and opened in 2010, the supertall skyscraper towers at 829.8 meters, holding the title of world’s tallest structure. Designed by Adrian Smith at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, its bundled tube design—a proven innovation from Chicago—promotes both strength and elegance, setting a template for mega‑structures worldwide.

Beside such iconography, the Museum of the Future emerges as a cultural landmark. Crafted by Shaun Killa Design, it achieved LEED Platinum certification in 2023 and carries Arabic calligraphy quoting Sheikh Mohammed about innovation and creativity on its façade. This structure reflects Dubai’s architectural modernism aligned with sustainability.

These edifices reflect a deliberate narrative: architecture as civic statement. With each curve, spire, and diagrid, Dubai repositions itself from a regional capital to a global crucible of design, innovation, and spectacle.

Photo credits: Dubai Instagram

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.