The Report: Dubai 2015

Book excerpt: Already a regional and global centre for business and finance, Dubai’s reputation has been bolstered by the MSCI’s decision to upgrade the UAE from frontier to emerging market status in 2014, while the emirate’s successful Expo 2020 bid is expected to generate myriad opportunities for private investors across a range of sectors. Construction is thriving once again, driven in large part by strong retail sector growth, with various projects, including plans for the world’s largest mall, indicating that the sector will maintain its position as the emirate’s biggest GDP contributor moving forward. The transport and logistics framework is set for major expansion in the coming years as well, furthering cementing the emirate’s status as a leading transport and logistics hub not just regionally, but globally too. The continued development of Dubai’s retail and hospitality offerings, alongside the upgrades to its airports, should help to ensure robust growth in visitor numbers from both the region and further afield.