Paris La Défense, Europe's most attractive business district!

The results of the third barometer of international business district attractiveness were unveiled on November 14, 2025. Good news for Paris La Défense, which remains the fourth most attractive business district in the world and takes pride of place in Europe.

Paris La Défense is now the most attractive district in Europe! It has overtaken the two business districts of London, as well as those of Frankfurt and Madrid.

Produced by EY, the Urban Land Institute, and the Global Business District Innovation Club, this barometer compares 30 major business districts around the world. Globally, Paris La Défense remains in fourth place behind Midtown and the Financial District in New York, as well as Marunouchi in Tokyo: a prestigious ranking, especially as competition intensifies every year.

In this latest edition, Paris La Défense remains in the top three in Europe and has taken a major step forward by taking first place ahead of The City and Canary Wharf in London, as well as Bankenviertel in Frankfurt, Zuidas in Amsterdam, and AZCA in Madrid. 

With this ranking, Paris La Défense demonstrates that it is a real gateway for investors and companies wishing to access the European market. Several factors explain this progress:

• A unique talent pool thanks to its proximity to prestigious schools, universities, and a vast pool of skilled labor.
• A dense and dynamic economic ecosystem, with 2,800 companies and 200,000 employees.
• Excellent international connectivity, which facilitates exchanges and the establishment of global players.
• The appeal of Paris, whose tourist, cultural, and economic influence directly benefits the business district: international events, a wide range of hotels, and the presence of major institutions.

To establish the ranking, nearly 2,400 data points are analyzed and grouped into eight categories, including:

• the macroeconomic conditions of the country and the region,
• proximity to markets and customers,
• the concentration and quality of talent,
• the international influence of players and activities,
• the quality and quantity of real estate supply,
• the range of urban services,
• innovative activities and infrastructure,
• energy facilities and sustainability strategy.

Paris La Défense, across all these criteria, confirms its attractiveness and its ability to evolve to remain a showcase for French dynamism.