What makes a city great? Different cities succeed by different measures, but a robust infrastructure, a strong sense of identity, a vibrant cultural scene and a prosperous economy are necessary for any successful modern metropolis. Since the turn of the century, Dubai has staked a credible claim to all four—and added a fifth: a can-do attitude. The city’s audacious spirit is encapsulated in a slogan the United Arab Emirates adopted: impossible is possible. Audacious plans produced growth  that transformed Dubai into one the world’s preeminent global cities.

As migration became an increasingly toxic political issue in Britain, the United States and Germany, Dubai opened its doors. The governing idea was not merely that migrants were welcome but that they were invited to be active participants in making the city a success. When traditionally open cities were turning inward, Dubai leaned into globalization’s foundational principles—freedom of movement and the discovery of common ground among people of different backgrounds—and gained a decisive edge.

What emerged was a modern land of opportunity, governed by a clear social contract: come here to work, to create, to contribute; abide by clear and robust rules; and you will share in the success. That compact extended across the full economic spectrum—from the blue collar workers who form the backbone of the economy and are protected under some of the strongest labor laws in the Middle East, to global chief executives who relocated to a city offering world-class services and a financial center ranked seventh in the world by the Global Financial Centers Index.

A new land of opportunity

Attracting international talent is woven into Dubai’s identity. The pursuit of global talent is existential for a city with a small citizenry and grand ambitions. For years, many immigrants considered their time in the Emirates as temporary, a chapter. That has changed. A decade of legal reforms and targeted incentives has given expatriates compelling reasons to stay. Non-Emiratis can now own their businesses, purchase property, and apply for 10-year residency visas. In most Arab countries, especially across the Gulf, such provisions were unheard of until a few years ago.

Cities often have a signature question. In Washington DC, where professional status defines social worth, it is: What do you do? In London, where London, where the city’s geography and the complexity of navigating it so often shapes people’s relationships, it is: Where do you live? In Dubai,........

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