{"id":445946,"date":"2026-09-24T06:26:25","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T06:26:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/445946\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T06:26:25","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T06:26:25","slug":"dallas-climbs-to-no-17-in-2026-global-cities-index","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/445946\/","title":{"rendered":"Dallas Climbs to No. 17 in 2026 Global Cities Index"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>                            <img width=\"970\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/adobe-stock-global-cities.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"featured-caption\">Dallas moved up two spots to No. 17 in Oxford Economics\u2019 2026 Global Cities Index. [Image: Adobe Stock]<\/p>\n<p>Bolstered by its strong economic growth, Dallas climbed two spots in Oxford Economics\u2019 Global Cities Index for 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The closely watched <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oxfordeconomics.com\/global-cities-index\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">index<\/a>, which assesses the strengths, weaknesses and potential of the world\u2019s 1,000 largest cities, placed Dallas at No. 17 this year. That\u2019s up from No. 19 in 2025. The index debuted in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>This year, Dallas benefited from a solid showing in the index\u2019s economics category.<\/p>\n<p>No. 6 in the world for economic strength<\/p>\n<p>Oxford Economics, an economic advisory and forecasting firm, evaluates cities based on 27 indicators across five categories: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance.<\/p>\n<p>Dallas claimed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oxfordeconomics.com\/resource\/the-worlds-top-10-cities-by-economic-strength-in-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">No. 6 spot in the economics category<\/a>, its highest ranking among the five categories. Only New York, Los Angeles, San Jose, California, Seattle and San Francisco ranked higher. London ranked No. 7, and Houston ranked No. 10.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDiversification away from oil production since the 1980s into downstream oil refining and other high-value services sectors means that the city is less beholden to oil booms and busts, and it is now among the most stable economies in the world,\u201d Oxford Economics said in the report.<\/p>\n<p>The firm said Dallas sits at No. 4 among the largest metro economies in the U.S. and at No. 8 in the world. The city\u2019s gross domestic product, or GDP, stood at $845 billion in 2025, Oxford Economics said.<\/p>\n<p>In evaluating Dallas\u2019 economic credentials, Oxford Economics cited the region\u2019s plethora of corporate headquarters. It mentioned Dallas\u2019 success attracting relocations, including \u00a0AECOM, Caterpillar, Charles Schwab, CBRE and Toyota North America, as well as corporate fixtures like American Airlines, AT&amp;T, Southwest Airlines and Texas Instruments.<\/p>\n<p>Strength in human capital<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to its substantial number of corporate headquarters and well-regarded universities, Dallas grabbed the No. 21 ranking in the index\u2019s human capital category.<\/p>\n<p>However, Oxford Economics said a relatively weak demographic profile in Dallas compared to its peers \u2014 with a rising share of the population approaching retirement age \u2014 helped drag down the city\u2019s human capital score. So, too, did a comparatively low rate of educational attainment.<\/p>\n<p>Dallas landed at No. 198 in the governance category, No. 275 in the quality-of-life category and No. 378 in the environment category.<\/p>\n<p>Oxford Economics said housing affordability and income inequality weighed down Dallas\u2019 quality-of-life ranking. The firm also said that, despite notable recreational and cultural amenities, the city\u2019s art and culture offerings lack the breadth of those in leading metros.<\/p>\n<p>The firm attributed Dallas\u2019 environment category ranking to urban sprawl, limited public transit options, traffic congestion and poorer air quality than cities that outranked it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMoreover, frequent heatwaves and the heightened potential severity of natural disasters significantly downgrade Dallas\u2019 standing,\u201d Oxford Economics said. \u201cWithout more concrete plans to address these climate change hazards, the city risks further sliding in this category (and in others) in future years.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Oxford Economics did not explain Dallas\u2019 specific governance score, but the category is based on country-level indicators. It matches that of other U.S. cities profiled in the report.<\/p>\n<p>\tR E A D\u00a0\u00a0 N E X T\t<\/p>\n<p>\t<a href=\"https:\/\/dallasinnovates.com\/calendar\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790231177_689_AdobeStock_216040804.jpg\" class=\"attachment-rp4wp-thumbnail-post size-rp4wp-thumbnail-post wp-post-image\" alt=\"\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>North Texas has plenty to see, hear, and watch.\u00a0Here are our editors&#8217; picks. Plus, you&#8217;ll find more selections to &#8220;save the date.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\t<a href=\"https:\/\/dallasinnovates.com\/month-to-month-car-leasing-company-flexcar-opens-first-texas-location-in-dallas\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790231178_122_flexcar-dallas-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-rp4wp-thumbnail-post size-rp4wp-thumbnail-post wp-post-image\" alt=\"flex car location\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Flexcar says it\u2019s disrupting a $110 billion industry \u201cby providing customers a better alternative to car ownership.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\t<a href=\"https:\/\/dallasinnovates.com\/south-dallas-nonprofit-bonton-farms-will-open-its-first-airport-store-at-dfw\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790231179_502_bonton-farms.jpg\" class=\"attachment-rp4wp-thumbnail-post size-rp4wp-thumbnail-post wp-post-image\" alt=\"Assorted products\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Located at DFW\u2019s Terminal A, the Bonton Farms retail store will introduce travelers to the nonprofit\u2019s mission while selling local honey, handmade jams, goat milk soaps, grab-and-go food items, apparel and gifts. It is the organization\u2019s first location outside South Dallas.<\/p>\n<p>\t<a href=\"https:\/\/dallasinnovates.com\/home-and-auto-labs-at-new-allstate-claims-university-in-dallas-replicate-real-life-situations-to-teach-claims-professionals\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790231180_518_allstate-property-lab-feature.jpg\" class=\"attachment-rp4wp-thumbnail-post size-rp4wp-thumbnail-post wp-post-image\" alt=\"\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The university\u2019s Property Lab features two full-scale, two-story homes, and the Auto Lab contains nearly 30 electric, hybrid and traditional vehicles, supporting a claims workforce of 23,000.<\/p>\n<p>\t<a href=\"https:\/\/dallasinnovates.com\/new-center-operated-by-junior-achievement-of-dallas-and-richardson-isd-schools-students-on-economic-and-financial-literacy\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790231181_533_biztown-feature.jpg\" class=\"attachment-rp4wp-thumbnail-post size-rp4wp-thumbnail-post wp-post-image\" alt=\"\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A small-scale version of Richardson with storefronts and local landmarks serves as a centerpiece of economic and financial literacy education for fifth-and seventh-graders.<\/p>\n<p>\t<a href=\"https:\/\/dallasinnovates.com\/mark-cuban-foundation-launches-its-first-ai-education-program-for-adults-at-dallas-college\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790231182_317_AI_BootCamp-feature-970-970x464.jpg\" class=\"attachment-rp4wp-thumbnail-post size-rp4wp-thumbnail-post wp-post-image\" alt=\"\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Dallas-based foundation is partnering with New York City worker advocacy nonprofit Lift Our Voices on the free Agentic AI Academy, a five-day pilot for community college learners.<\/p>\n<p>\t<a href=\"https:\/\/dallasinnovates.com\/dallas-fort-worth-ranks-among-top-metros-for-tech-talent-growth-and-ai-hiring\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790231183_639_tech-talent-adobe-stock.jpg\" class=\"attachment-rp4wp-thumbnail-post size-rp4wp-thumbnail-post wp-post-image\" alt=\"\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>New CBRE research points to a maturing tech workforce in North Texas, fueled partly by the Y\u2019all Street financial services boom.<\/p>\n<p>\t<a href=\"https:\/\/dallasinnovates.com\/the-next-chapter-of-u-s-taiwan-innovation-is-taking-shape-in-dallas\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Taiwan-Expo-Floor.png\" class=\"attachment-rp4wp-thumbnail-post size-rp4wp-thumbnail-post wp-post-image\" alt=\"Taiwan Expo Floor with vendors.\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Taiwan Expo USA 2026 brings business, government and technology leaders together to explore the partnerships driving AI, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, energy and resilient supply chains.<\/p>\n<p>\t<a href=\"https:\/\/dallasinnovates.com\/five-executives-in-10-months-diversifieds-new-global-cto-on-growth-push\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790231184_183_Diversified-PlanoHQ-PANA1338-970.jpg\" class=\"attachment-rp4wp-thumbnail-post size-rp4wp-thumbnail-post wp-post-image\" alt=\"\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Global CTO Pete Emminger, the fifth senior executive Diversified has hired in 10 months, told Dallas Innovates the Plano-based audiovisual and broadcast integrator plans to invest additional resources in North Texas as broadcast-grade engineering requirements move into corporate offices, stores and stadiums.<\/p>\n<p>\t<a href=\"https:\/\/dallasinnovates.com\/the-waitlist-is-over-waymo-offers-central-dallas-rides-to-anyone-on-the-app\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790231185_432_waymo-car.jpg\" class=\"attachment-rp4wp-thumbnail-post size-rp4wp-thumbnail-post wp-post-image\" alt=\"\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Since rolling out the service in Dallas in February, Waymo has autonomously chauffeured some 150,000 customers. The company also is testing at Dallas Love Field and preparing to run its vehicles on area freeways.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dallas moved up two spots to No. 17 in Oxford Economics\u2019 2026 Global Cities Index. [Image: Adobe Stock]&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":445947,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[26446,55622,102,112541,104,103,153846,153847,426],"class_list":["post-445946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-dallas","tag-corporate-headquarters","tag-corporate-relocations","tag-dallas","tag-dallas-economy","tag-dallas-headlines","tag-dallas-news","tag-global-cities-index","tag-oxford-economics","tag-rankings"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=445946"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445946\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/445947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=445946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=445946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=445946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}