Doha shows a high jump in Cultural Experience in Kearney's Global Cities Index 2022
Gulf Times
Jad Elias, Partner and Qatar Office Lead, Kearney Middle East
Doha gains strength as a key global city in Kearney’s annual Global Cities Report, owing to an increased focus on Cultural Experience. The capital city noted a 17-point jump in the category, along with bolstered positions in the business activity, human capital and political engagement categories of the report. The increase in rankings reflects the city's ongoing efforts to position itself as a global business and culture hub.
The host city of the FIFA World Cup holds a firm lead on sporting events in the MENA region, part of the Cultural Experience category. In addition, the country has also invested in several developments over the past decade, including museums and cultural sites that bring Islamic and Arab art and tradition to the fore.
The development of infrastructure to accommodate an estimated 2 million visitors during the FIFA World Cup including state-of-the-art stadiums, a modernised metro system and new urban districts has increased interest from investors and businesses looking to set roots in Qatar. The adoption of open economic policies and commitment towards diversifying the economy, such as the Public-Private partnership law that was issued in 2020, has improved the investment environment and resulted in an improved ranking on the Business Activity category.
The Global Cities Report also noted improvement on the Human Capital category in Doha. This is reflective of the state’s decades-long undertaking to develop a world-class educational system at par with the highest international standards as well as relative ease of access to global talent.
