DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 16, 2026--
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority has revealed that Dubai retained its position as the world’s leading destination for new foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in 2025, ranking first globally for the fourth consecutive year. According to data from the Financial Times’ fDi Markets, a leading source of greenfield FDI intelligence, Dubai topped the ranking of 233 cities, ahead of London, Singapore, Riyadh and Bengaluru. The results reflect the strength of the emirate’s investment environment and its appeal to creative businesses, investors, entrepreneurs and talent from around the world.
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In 2025, Dubai attracted 754 new projects in the cultural and creative industries, with greenfield FDI capital inflows reaching US$3.756 billion and generating 19,304 jobs. Based on the Financial Times’ definition of creative industries, the emirate ranked first globally for both project numbers and job creation, and second for greenfield FDI capital inflows.
Growth spanned advertising and public relations; specialised computer programming; data processing and digital services; film, media and gaming; AI-powered creative technologies; creative education; professional services; design and architecture; crafts; performing arts; and museums and historical sites. This breadth reflects the diversity of Dubai’s creative economy and its capacity to respond to technological and economic change.
India was the largest source of greenfield FDI capital inflows into Dubai’s cultural and creative industries, accounting for 19% of the total, followed by the United States at 17.5%, China at 13%, Malaysia at 12%, and the United Kingdom at 9%. By project numbers, the United Kingdom led with a 21.5% share, followed by India at 21%, the United States at 14% and France at 4%.
Dubai’s performance was supported by an investment environment offering full foreign ownership, efficient business setup, specialised creative and technology clusters, long-term residency pathways for talent, advanced digital and logistics infrastructure, and access to regional and international markets. Alongside the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy, these advantages support business growth and strengthen the emirate’s position as a destination for investment in the cultural and creative industries.
*Source: AETOSWire
Dubai Culture: Dubai ranks first globally in attracting new FDI projects in cultural and creative industries in 2025 (Graphic: AETOSWire)
MUNICH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 16, 2026--
QCraft, a leading autonomous driving technology company, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with HERE Technologies, the leading mapping and location data platform, at HERE Directions 2026 in Munich.
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Under the MOU, the two companies will explore how HERE’s map data and location intelligence can work together with QCraft’s navigation-assisted driving technology, with the goal of speeding up the local validation and rollout of intelligent driving solutions in Europe and other international markets.
The signing follows the Paris Motor Show, where QCraft demonstrated its QPilot Urban Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) system on Paris streets for the first time.
A Partnership Built Around Local Roads
Gang Zhao, Vice President of Business at QCraft, and Jason Jameson, Chief Customer Officer at HERE Technologies, signed the agreement on the main stage at Motorworld Munich.
A navigation-assisted driving system needs accurate, up-to-date map data on lanes, junctions, traffic signs and speed limits, all of which differ from one European country to the next. HERE’s location platform powers 238 million vehicles worldwide, more than 63 million of which use its data for driver assistance and automated driving.
Working with HERE’s global map data and location intelligence is expected to help QCraft accelerate the local adaptation and validation of its intelligent driving solutions across different markets, while potentially simplifying integration for automakers already using HERE’s technologies.
“QCraft embodies innovation in motion when it comes to autonomous driving, and as the company looks to bring its capabilities to more international markets, including Europe, we’re honored to play a role in supporting that journey,” said Jameson. “Our partnership brings together QCraft’s deep autonomous driving expertise with HERE’s trusted location intelligence to help enable safer, more reliable and more localized driving experiences.”
“Our driver assistance systems are now in more than one million vehicles, and as we expand into Europe, getting the experience right for local drivers matters more and more,” said Zhao. “We see today’s signing as a new starting point, and we look forward to working with HERE to bring autonomous driving to more markets around the world.”
Recognized with the HERE Horizon Award
At the awards ceremony that evening, Jameson presented QCraft with the 2026 HERE Horizon Award. The HERE Horizon Awards recognize organizations pushing the boundaries of location technology to shape the future of mobility, logistics and AI innovation across industries. QCraft was honored for enabling world-scale autonomous driving through the global launch of its Urban NOA solution, part of the QPilot end-to-end autonomous driving system.
Global Technology, Local Service
From Paris to Munich, QCraft is linking its mass-production experience in China with European safety standards and local service, under its approach of “Global Technology, Local Service.” The company’s European headquarters is in Munich, where local teams cover research and development, certification and business development. QCraft has worked with more than 10 leading automakers on more than 40 vehicle models.
About QCraft
QCraft is a leading autonomous driving technology company. Founded in Silicon Valley in 2019, the company has deployed its technology with a range of major global automakers. Powered by a world-class R&D team and partnerships with OEMs and tech companies, QCraft combines proven large-scale adoption with industry-leading safety and efficiency to bring autonomous driving into real life.
About HERE Technologies
HERE is the global leader in mapping and location technology. For over 40 years, we've been powering innovation for the world's most recognizable companies: from launching our first digital map in 1985, to shaping the future of software-defined vehicles today. With the industry's freshest and richest unified map and a portfolio of products, services and solutions that serve the needs of multiple industries, HERE reveals opportunities that drive progress and unlock new possibilities for every moving vehicle. Discover more at here.com.
QCraft Signs MOU with HERE Technologies to Advance Localized Autonomous Driving in Europe
