Dubai is writing headlines again! In 2025, the emirate has smashed records across trade, tourism and “soft power”, setting it firmly on the path of its bold Vision 2033 (D33).
Kashif Ansari, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Juwai IQI, supports this view, pointing to the emirate’s rapid diversification and rising global influence.
"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,” Kashif explains.
Thanks to its pivot away from oil, Dubai’s foreign trade hit USD 1.424 trillion in 2024, a massive 49% jump from 2021, outperforming global trade, which only grew by 2.9%.
That leap brings Dubai closer to its D33 goal of nearly USD 7 trillion in trade by 2033 and doubling its economy along the way.
On top of that, Dubai has expansive leverage that you might call ‘air power’.
“Tourism, residency and investment from other shores all depend on aviation links,” Kashif says. His point: connectivity is mission critical.
Dubai expects a record-breaking 150 million airline passengers in 2025, near double the 78 million in 2015.
That puts Dubai International Airport at the zenith of global aviation and underlines the urgency behind the huge expansion at Al Maktoum International projected to be five times larger and eventually replace the existing airport.
International visitors are expected to spend about USD 62 billion in 2025, setting a fresh record more than one third above 2019’s peak.
Tourism already contributes roughly 10% of UAE GDP, momentum that’s clearly rising. Even diplomacy plays a role.
Kashif also points to a recent visit by then‑US President Donald Trump, during which US–UAE deals topped USD 200 billion, including an AI chip agreement, powerful evidence of Dubai’s growing “soft power”.
- Trade has surged nearly 50%.
- Tourism is twice what it was a decade ago.
- Aviation capacity is being massively expanded.
- Diplomacy and tech investment are creating new pathways.
All signs point toward Dubai not just meeting but possibly exceeding its D33 targets and solidifying its place among the globe’s top three cities by 2033.
In conclusion, Dubai isn’t just running in place, it’s sprinting.
Between booming trade, booming tourism and multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects, the city is building the runway for its 2033 vision: becoming a world-leading hub for living, investing and innovation.
