Economy
Dubai’s Allure to Expats Is Weighing on City’s Infrastructure
- Emirate has attracted about 400,000 people since the pandemic
- That’s boosted rents and home values, put pressure on schools
Traffic in the Dubai International Financial District.
Photographer: Natalie Naccache/BloombergThe extent of Dubai’s post-pandemic rebound was on display late last month. On the same day that Africa’s richest man unveiled plans to set up his family office, Santander Group became the latest firm to bolster its wealth offering in the emirate.
But while an influx of expatriates chasing high-paying jobs is boosting the Middle Eastern business hub’s nearly $115 billion economy, it’s also exposing the limitations of Dubai’s infrastructure. The city is home to 3.8 million now, and that’s expected to surge to 5.8 million by 2040.