dubai and abu dhabi are world’s best cities for expats
According to the InterNations survey finds Dubai and Abu Dhabi are among the top 10 global destinations for foreign workers. Certainly, this is a beacon of fresh light in the Arab world
According to a new report by global network InterNations, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the world’s second and ninth-best cities for expats to live and work based on their high quality of life.
The survey ranked Dubai third and Abu Dhabi 16th last year.
InterNations’ annual Expat City Ranking 2022 was released which ranked Valencia in Spain as the best city for foreign workers to live in, followed by Mexico City, Lisbon, and Madrid.
Bangkok rounded out the top 10, followed by Basel (seventh), Melbourne (eighth), and Singapore (10th).
| Top 10 cities for expats to work and live in 2022 | |
| 1 | Valencia, Spain |
| 2 | Dubai, UAE |
| 3 | Mexico City, Mexico |
| 4 | Lisbon, Portugal |
| 5 | Madrid, Spain |
| 6 | Bangkok, Thailand |
| 7 | Basel, Switzerland |
| 8 | Melbourne, Australia |
| 9 | Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| 10 | Singapore |
In 50 cities, InterNations interviewed 11,970 people about the quality of life, ease of settling in, working abroad, personal finances, and the Expat Essentials Index, which covers digital life, administration, housing, and language.
One of the most comprehensive surveys about living and working abroad is InterNations’ annual Expat Insider survey.
InterNations, which has more than 4.5 million members, reports that Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the top two places in the Expat Essentials Index.
According to a survey by health insurance company Cigna, the UAE is among the top 10 countries in the world to relocate expatriates in September.
4% of ex-pats around the world want to relocate to the UAE because of its progressive policy changes, recent visa reforms, and economic growth following Covid-19, according to the 360° Global Well-Being Survey.
The UAE, the second-largest economy in the Arab world, has undergone several economic, legal, and social reforms in recent years to strengthen its business environment, boost foreign direct investment, attract skilled workers, and provide incentives to companies to begin or expand their operations.
The golden visa initiative was amended in 2019 to simplify eligibility criteria and expand beneficiary categories.
Exceptional talents, scientists and professionals, outstanding students and graduates, property investors, humanitarian pioneers, and front-line heroes are eligible for the 10-year visa, which is granted to investors, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals earning more than Dh30,000 ($8,167) per month.
For skilled workers, a green visa offers five years of residency without requiring a sponsor or employer. The minimum educational level is a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, and the salary should be at least Dh15,000.
In March 2021, the UAE introduced a one-year visa for digital nomads, which allows them to live in the UAE while continuing to work for employers back home. Dubai also offers an older expatriate five-year retirement visa.
The UAE has also emerged as a hotspot for remote cross-border hiring, with companies in Canada, the US, the UK, and Israel tapping into a “pool of high-quality job seekers” looking for full-time remote positions, Deel, the payroll and remote onboarding company, said in its State of Global Hiring Report 2022.
According to the Deel report, remote hiring from the UAE has doubled from the same period in 2021.
Expatriates in Dubai are “generally more satisfied with their jobs and their compensation”, according to InterNations’ Working Abroad report.
Despite doing well in the Ease of Settling In the segment, Dubai and Abu Dhabi struggle in the Personal Finance Index.
Dubai, however, came first globally in the Expat Essentials Index, with 66 percent of respondents saying dealing with local bureaucracy and authorities is easy, compared with 40 percent globally.
InterNations states that this is partly because 88 percent of expatriates are satisfied with the availability of administrative and government services online.
In the report, an Indian expatriate who lives in Dubai says the basic things can be taken care of.
It is estimated that 68 percent of expatriates living in Dubai are also satisfied with their social life, while 81 percent feel welcome in the city.
In both the Travel & Transit and Leisure Options Subcategories, Dubai ranks fifth. InterNations says “Dubai comes in fifth place for both the Travel & Transit and the Leisure Options Subcategories”
Most ex-pats [95 percent] are satisfied with the infrastructure for cars. It seems that there are many reasons to make use of this infrastructure since Dubai ranks fifth for culture and nightlife, and third for culinary variety.
According to InterNations, ex-pats also enjoy their work life in Dubai, which came sixth in the Working Abroad Index.
The country is ranked fifth in the Work Culture & Satisfaction subcategory, because 70 percent of ex-pats are satisfied with their jobs, and 78 percent say the local business culture encourages creativity.
According to the survey, 74% of Abu Dhabi-based respondents say it’s easy to open a local bank account, while 53% say dealing with local bureaucracy is a positive experience.
75 percent of foreign workers say that moving to Abu Dhabi has improved their career prospects.
According to the survey, 72 percent of the local population is friendly to foreigners, compared to 65 percent worldwide.
A British expat based in Abu Dhabi says the Emiratis are friendly, helpful, and welcoming.
In the Health & Well-Being category, Abu Dhabi ranked first for both the availability and quality of medical care.
A survey found that Valencia and Mexico City offer great personal finances and good quality of life, while Lisbon offers mediocre job prospects.
InterNations surveys show foreign workers in Basel are satisfied with their finances, jobs, and quality of life, while ex-pats in Madrid enjoy good leisure activities and a welcoming culture.
In 2022, Johannesburg (50th), Frankfurt (49th), and Paris (48th) were voted the worst destinations for expatriates.
InterNations reports that ex-pats in Johannesburg are particularly dissatisfied with the low quality of life and work conditions, while Frankfurt and Paris score poorly in the Ease of Settling In and Expat Essentials indices.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi provide some of the best living conditions for ex-pats in the world. With their modern infrastructure, excellent job opportunities, low taxes, and vibrant culture, it is no wonder why so many people choose to call these cities home. As UAE and Dubai continue to experience positive changes that enhance life for all its citizens, more people are drawn to the area with each passing day. If you’re looking for a place to live that offers exciting career prospects and an unparalleled quality of life, be sure to consider moving to one of these amazing cities.
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