Infrastructure is essential to economic development, promoting mobility, trade and business attractiveness. Quebec and the United Arab Emirates are investing in strategic projects to strengthen their competitiveness. Quebec is modernizing its transportation system with the Réseau express métropolitain (REM), the Samuel-De Champlain bridge and the expansion of the Port of Montreal. In the Emirates, the Port of Jebel Ali, Al Maktoum Airport (DWC) and Expo City Dubai are strengthening their role as logistics hubs. These infrastructures are stimulating economic growth and diversification. An analysis of these initiatives highlights their impact on growth, job creation and economic diversification.
The REM is a 67-km automated light rail system linking downtown Montreal with the suburbs and the international airport. It represents Quebec's largest public transit project in 50 years, with an investment of $7 billion and the integration of sustainable mobility technologies (BIC, 2023).
Its impact is considerable, particularly in terms of traffic flow. It will cut journey times between certain destinations from 40 to 18 minutes, while reducing road congestion, potentially taking 30,000 cars off the road every day. In addition to improving urban mobility, the REM contributes to the fight against climate change by reducing CO₂ emissions by 100,000 tonnes per year (BIC, 2023).
By facilitating access to economic hubs and optimizing travel, this network enhances Montreal's attractiveness to businesses and stimulates real estate development around its stations, thus promoting sustainable urban growth.
The new Samuel-De Champlain Bridge, inaugurated in 2019, replaces an aging bridge over the St. Lawrence River. It handles the transit of 50 million vehicles a year and carries $20 billion worth of goods between Montreal and the United States (Government of Canada, 2019). Its economic importance is crucial, as it constitutes a strategic trade corridor between Canada and its main economic partner.
In addition, the expansion of the Port of Montreal, with the construction of a new terminal at Contrecoeur, will increase port capacity by 60% by 2029. This project will create 6,500 jobs during construction and 1,100 permanent jobs, and diversify Quebec's export markets, reducing dependence on trade with the U.S. (TVRS, 2025).
Improving transport and logistics infrastructures stimulates economic growth by optimizing supply chains and reducing lead times. It also promotes job creation, both in the construction and operation of new infrastructures. By making transport faster and more efficient, these investments boost the competitiveness of local businesses and attract investors. In this way, they support Quebec's economic diversification and contribute to its long-term development.
The Port of Jebel Ali in Dubai is the largest deepwater port in the Middle East and a key player in international trade. It handles around 14 million TEU containers a year, making it one of the world's top 10 ports (Construction Business News Middle East, 2023). Thanks to its modern infrastructure and strategic location, it is linked to over 150 international ports, facilitating trade between Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas.
The port's economic importance is considerable, generating 26% of Dubai's GDP by facilitating the large-scale import and export of goods. However, its influence is not limited to the maritime sector. Surrounding the port is the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), which generates 24% of Dubai's GDP, a vast economic area that is home to over 9,000 international companies and generates 130,000 jobs (TLME, 2020). By combining a state-of-the-art port with a dynamic free zone, Dubai is strengthening its position as a global logistics hub and a preferred destination for multinational companies.
Al Maktoum International Airport is an ambitious project destined to become the world's largest airport, with a capacity of 260 million passengers a year. It will triple the capacity of DXB, currently the world's second-busiest airport, with 90 million passengers, and far exceed that of Atlanta airport, which is currently the busiest, with around 107 million passengers a year. In addition to passenger traffic, DWC aims to become the world's largest airfreight hub, with a capacity of 16 million tonnes of cargo per year (Wikipedia, 2025). Its strategic location, directly linked to the port of Jebel Ali, will foster the creation of a unique multimodal logistics corridor, strengthening connectivity between air, sea and land transport. With a total investment of $40 billion, DWC will play a key role in Dubai's economy, attracting multinational trading and logistics companies, while consolidating its status as a global transportation hub.
After the 2020 World Expo, Dubai has transformed the site into Expo City Dubai, a smart, sustainable city that reuses 90% of the event's infrastructure. Located close to Al Maktoum Airport, Jebel Ali Port and Jebel Ali Free Zone, it boasts exceptional connectivity, facilitating trade and business location. Designed to be a hub of innovation, it will be home to 35,000 residents and create 40,000 jobs, offering an environment conducive to talent and investment (Expo City Dubai, 2025). Powered 100% by renewable energies, it embodies a model of sustainable urban development. As an economic and technological hub, Expo City Dubai attracts innovative companies and strengthens the Emirates' economic diversification, consolidating its role as a global center for trade, logistics and innovation.
Infrastructure is more than just a construction project; it is an engine for economic growth, directly influencing employment and the diversification of business sectors.
Infrastructure investment is a powerful lever for creating jobs and boosting the economy. During construction, these projects mobilize a large workforce in sectors such as engineering, construction and logistics. Once operational, they generate lasting jobs in operation, maintenance and related services, thus contributing to the economic stability of the regions concerned.
In Quebec, major infrastructure projects such as the REM and the expansion of the Port of Montreal are boosting employment by stimulating several sectors, notably transport, logistics and real estate. These investments are also improving the flow of trade and making the region more attractive to businesses and investors.
In the Emirates, the Jebel Ali port and Al Maktoum airport reinforce Dubai's position as a hub for global trade, attracting multinationals and developing job opportunities in the freight, aviation and international trade sectors. In addition, Expo City Dubai, conceived as an innovation hub, promotes the creation of skilled jobs in technology and sustainability, while attracting talent and forward-looking companies.
Modern infrastructure not only improves mobility and trade, it also plays an essential role in economic diversification, attracting companies from a variety of sectors and reducing dependence on a single industry.
In Quebec, the expansion of the Port of Montreal opens up new trade corridors to Europe and Asia, reducing dependence on trade with the United States. At the same time, the REM is improving urban accessibility, facilitating worker mobility and making Montreal more attractive to companies wishing to locate in a well-served, competitive environment.
In the Emirates, the development of the Jebel Ali port and its new airport is transforming Dubai into an international logistics hub, reducing its dependence on oil and strengthening its role in trade and services. In addition, Expo City Dubai is focusing on innovation and sustainable technologies to attract companies specializing in new industries. The existence of free zones such as JAFZA, offering tax and logistics advantages, further enhances Dubai's attractiveness to multinationals.
Infrastructure plays a key role in economic competitiveness, facilitating trade, stimulating employment and attracting investment. Quebec and the United Arab Emirates illustrate this reality through strategic projects that strengthen their long-term development. By modernizing their transport and logistics networks, these regions are ensuring sustainable growth and consolidating their position in the global economy.
BIC. (2023). Réseau express métropolitain (REM). Retrieved from cib-bic.ca: https://cib-bic.ca/fr/projets/transport-en-commun/reseau-express-metropolitain-rem/
Construction Business News Middle East (2023). Port of Jebel Ali, UAE. Retrieved from Construction Business News Middle East: https://www.cbnme.com/top-ports-in-the-middle-east/port-of-jebel-ali-uae/
Expo City Dubai (2025). An iconic location at the heart of Dubai's future, Expo City's free zone expands initiatives to attract sustainable, innovative enterprises. Retrieved from Expocitydubai.com: https://www.expocitydubai.com/en/media-centre/an-iconic-location-at-the-heart-of-dubais-future-expo-citys-free-zone/
Government of Canada. 2019. Historic inauguration of the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge . Retrieved from Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/fr/logement-infrastructures-collectivites/nouvelles/2019/06/inauguration-historique-du-pont-samuel-de-champlain.html
TLME (2020). Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone Play Key Role in Dubai's Success. Retrieved from www.transportandlogisticsme.com: https://www.transportandlogisticsme.com/smart-sea-freight/jebel-ali-port-and-free-zone-play-key-role-in-dubais-success
TVRS. (2025). 130 M from the government for the expansion of the Port of Montreal at Contrecoeur. Retrieved from TVRS: https://www.tvrs.ca/actualites/130-m-du-gouvernement-pour-l-expansion-du-port-de
Wikipedia. (2025). Al Maktoum International Airport. Retrieved from Wikipedia.org: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Maktoum_International_Airport