Dubai's record 2025 performance puts it on track for 2033

Dubai is setting records in trade, tourism, and soft power in 2025 that put it on track to hit the targets laid out in its Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33” plan, an industry veteran said.

“Why is it important to attract so many visitors from overseas? It’s because Dubai has a relatively small population and has traditionally depended on natural resources exports for its income. For Dubai to thrive in the next decade, and the one after that, it must continue to diversify its economy and attract spending, investment, and human talent from overseas,” said Kashif Ansari, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Juwai IQI.

Juwai IQI is an international real estate technology group that powers property transactions and ownership. Juwai IQI transacted more than 48,000 properties in 2024, advertises $4 trillion of property from 111 countries and generates 10 million monthly consumer engagements.

The year 2033 is the target for establishing Dubai as one of the top three global cities in which to invest, live, and work. “The emirate’s government has placed these goals at the centre of its economic strategy. That’s where the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 comes in. It targets almost $7 trillion in foreign trade by 2033, and hopes this international connectivity will double the city’s economy by then. The UAE’s trade numbers suggest Dubai is well on its way to that goal. Total foreign trade hit US$1.424 trillion in 2024, up 49% from 2021. The UAE managed to grow its trade numbers despite global trade stalling. By comparison, global merchandise trade grew just 2.9% during the year,” Ansari said.

“Dubai has expansive leverage that you might call ‘air power.’ Tourism, residency, and investment from other shores all depend on aviation links. If the emirate is going to attain its economic goals, it must keep improving its flight links with the rest of the world so it is easy to travel to and from Dubai. That’s why aviation has always been at the heart of Dubai’s soft-power strategy. That started with founding the flagship airline, Emirates, back in 1985,” he added. 

Kashif Ansari, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Juwai IQI.

Dubai expects a record 150 million airline passengers in 2025. A decade ago, in 2015, passenger numbers totalled just 78 million. That 92% growth is staggering and has made Dubai International the world’s busiest international hub for more than a decade. “So that these unprecedented numbers can keep growing, Dubai is spending billions to expand Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). It will be five times larger than the current Dubai International Airport and will eventually replace it entirely. The new airport will cost as much as building the Burj Khalifa, 22 times. One benefit of all these visitors is the money they bring and then leave behind when they go home again. International travellers will spend $62 billion this year. That is a new record and more than a third higher than the 2019 peak. Tourism already contributes nearly one dirham out of every 10 in the national GDP, and its share looks set to grow further,” Ansari said.

The UAE and its individual emirates have what diplomats call ‘soft power.’ Dubai can leverage its global reputation, finances, and relationships to improve security, attract investment and talent, and boost trade and tourism. “We saw this soft power at work when the US President, Donald Trump, recently visited the UAE. He announced $200 billion in deals during this visit and signed an AI agreement that will give the Gulf country expanded access to advanced chips that had previously been restricted. Trade is booming, visitors are spending a record $62 billion, and a five-times-larger airport is underway. Dubai looks set to smash its D33 benchmarks and claim a top-three global city ranking by 2033,” Ansari said.