View the full Brand Finance Global City Index 2024 here.
London is perceived as the world's top city for the second consecutive year, but Dubai outperforms it in reputation, according to the latest Brand Finance Global City Index, the most comprehensive global survey of city perceptions.
The 2024 results are based on a survey of over 15,000 respondents across 20 countries, offering a detailed look at how the world’s leading city brands are viewed. Respondents were asked to rate 100 cities on Key Performance Indicators: Familiarity, Reputation, and Consideration, indicating how strongly these cities are perceived as places people would want to live, work, study, visit, retire, and invest in. In addition, respondents chose from 45 attributes grouped under seven pillars, including Culture & Heritage or Business & Investment, that they associated with city brands.
Key highlights include:
- Dubai is the world’s most reputable city, now ahead of Sydney, and leads in perceptions for business and investment
- London, New York, and Paris remain world’s top 3-ranked cities across all metrics, as Tokyo and Dubai rise to 4th and 5th ranks overall
- European cities lead when it comes to perceptions of culture and heritage, claiming 17 of the top 20 spots
David Haigh, Chairman and CEO of Brand Finance, commented,
“The 2024 study reveals that familiarity can be a double-edged sword. For example, while London remains the world’s best city brand overall, its perceptions across certain metrics have weakened this year. It is no longer considered the world’s top city to visit – overtaken by Rome, or to study in – where Boston is now top of class. These findings provide valuable insights into the changing perceptions and priorities of residents and visitors, which can help guide decision makers in cities across the world in implementing effective strategies to drive growth.”
