Jakarta has climbed higher on the global stage, with Governor Pramono Anung highlighting the capital’s improved rankings and claiming that the city now outperforms several well-known capitals, including Washington, D.C. and Abu Dhabi.
Speaking at the Jakarta Creative Festival 2026 on Saturday (July 4, 2026), Pramono said an international survey institution based in Brussels ranked the city 53rd among 100 cities worldwide.
“Out of 100 cities in the world, Jakarta is ranked 53rd, and this city is better than Washington, D.C. That’s the important part. It is also better than Abu Dhabi and others,” Pramono said.
The governor also pointed to another indicator that, according to him, reflects Jakarta’s growing global standing.
He said the city has recorded progress in the Global City Index during his administration. When he was inaugurated as Governor of Jakarta, the city ranked 74th on the index. Within the following 10 months, Jakarta’s position improved by three places and rose to 71st.
“When I was inaugurated as Governor of Jakarta, the Global City Index ranking was 74th, and thankfully, within 10 months it rose to 71st,” he said.
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Pramono viewed the improvement as an encouraging sign for the capital’s future. He stressed that Jakarta must continue strengthening its position as a global city while maintaining its role as Indonesia’s economic center.
To achieve that, he called on all stakeholders to work together and continue supporting the city’s development.
According to Pramono, it cannot rely on conventional approaches if it wants to compete internationally. Instead, the capital needs to create breakthroughs and adopt policies that distinguish it from other cities across Indonesia.
“Jakarta certainly must have breakthroughs and take steps that are different from other cities in Indonesia,” he concluded.
