Through its location, diversified economy and unrivalled infrastructure, Dubai has a pivotal role to play as it leads the region in the new world economy. Falcon and Associates, an independent strategic advisory and implementation company which sponsored the EIU report, says that trade between Dubai and the global economy is increasing rapidly. In January 2011 Dubai's non-oil trade increased by 28 per cent and rose to a record high of just under $15 billion. Dubai Customs' statistics show an average growth of 19 per cent over the last five years.
In the first 10 months of 2010, the value of total exchanges between Dubai and India amounted to just under $33.5 billion, representing 26 per cent of Dubai's total trade with the outside world. UAE trade with China in 2010 amounted to $33 billion.
Foreign direct investment into Dubai is expected to jump 30 per cent in 2011, helped by the Emirate's economic recovery and an influx of South American and Chinese companies.
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There has been a surge in the number of tourists visiting Dubai from emerging markets. Government figures show a 57 per cent increase in the number of Chinese tourists visiting the Emirate in the first half of 2010, with 81,932 visitors.
More and more companies from both emerging markets and OECD nations are registering in Dubai. The number of Chinese companies registered in Dubai has grown exponentially over the last five years, rising to 2,346 by the end of 2009 from 11 in 2005.