It’s widely assumed that pragmatic elements, like a strong job or housing market, attract people to cities – but new studies show that vibrant cultural offerings, from galleries to club nights, are the real draw. How are lesser-known cities using creative clout to attract and retain residents?

Dubai conjures up images of gleaming skyscrapers, ostentation and uncomfortable politics. Keen to soften this image and attract a new kind of visitor, the city is building a ‘design district’ from scratch – complete with boutiques, galleries and art studios.

1000 Dean is the epitome of cool Brooklyn, combining office spaces with an artisanal food and beer hall. But with real estate investors playing a vital role, this hipster hub isn’t another product of community-led gentrification. Can a cool neighbourhood really be created in a matter of months?

Now valued at $63.8 billion, the global art market is booming. Its biggest trade show, Art Basel, has transformed the cities of Basel and Miami into global cultural capitals. It's now setting its sights farther afield, with the Art Basel Cities project aiming to give smaller cities the Basel treatment.