UAE ranked 10th best destination to live and work for expats in 2024

UAE Ranked 10th Best Destination for Expats to Live and Work in 2024

The UAE has been ranked the 10th-best destination for expatriates to live and work, based on the high quality of life it offers and job opportunities, according to a report by global network InterNations.

Panama topped the global ranking, with Mexico and Indonesia in second and third place, respectively, InterNations said in its annual Expat Insider 2024 report released on Thursday.

Spain and Colombia were ranked fourth and fifth on the index. Also in the top 10 were Thailand, Brazil, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Some of the worst destinations for expatriates include Kuwait, Turkey, Finland, Germany, Canada, and Norway.

InterNations polled 12,543 people in 174 nations and territories, asking questions based on five categories: quality of life, ease of settling in, working abroad, personal finance, and an expatriate essentials index, which covers digital life, administration topics, housing, and language.

“Expat satisfaction in the UAE is very high in three of the five indices we use to map out life abroad: quality of life (third), working abroad (sixth), and expat essentials (first),” said InterNations, which has more than 4.8 million members.

The UAE, the Arab world’s second-largest economy, has introduced 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 set up or expand their operations.

In 2019, amendments were introduced to the golden visa initiative to simplify the eligibility criteria and expand the categories of beneficiaries.

The 10-year visa is granted to investors, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals who earn a monthly salary of more than Dh30,000 ($8,167), as well as exceptional talent, scientists and professionals, outstanding students and graduates, property investors, humanitarian pioneers, and front-line heroes.

A green visa provides a five-year residency for skilled employees without the need for a sponsor or employer.

The minimum educational level is a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and the salary should not be less than Dh15,000.

Meanwhile, the UAE introduced a one-year digital nomad visa in March 2021 that allows people to live in the Emirates while continuing to work for employers in their home countries.

Dubai also offers a five-year retirement visa for expatriates older than 55.

The UAE was ranked first globally in the Expat Essentials Index category.

Expatriates said that it was easy to live in the UAE without speaking the local language and were happy about the country’s administrative services, InterNations said.

This might be linked to the excellent online availability of administrative and government services, it added.

The UAE was ranked third globally in the quality of life category and was top in the subcategories of environmental policies, infrastructure for cars, and political stability.

Nearly nine in 10 respondents (or 86 percent) in the UAE agreed that the government supports policies to protect the environment.

About 91 percent rated the UAE’s infrastructure for cars positively. Satisfaction with affordability and availability of public transport has also improved compared with 2023, the survey found.

Foreign workers also rated the country’s political stability and their personal safety very positively, InterNations said.

The Emirates also ranked 12th globally for health care, with respondents praising the good availability and quality of health care.

Respondents added that they enjoyed the culinary variety, culture and nightlife, and opportunities for recreational sport, the survey found.

The UAE was ranked sixth in InterNations’ working abroad category, which covers career prospects, salary, and job security.

Foreign workers rated the country’s economy and the local job market positively.

Nearly eight in 10 (or 76 percent) respondents said that moving to the UAE has improved their career prospects, which is the highest percentage worldwide and 20 percentage points above the global average, according to InterNations.

It also ranked well in the work culture and satisfaction subcategory.

The UAE fared well (16th) in the ease of settling in segment and was ranked 33rd in the personal finance category.

The best destinations for expats in 2024 are as follows:

1. Panama
2. Mexico
3. Indonesia
4. Spain
5. Colombia
6. Thailand
7. Brazil
8. Vietnam
9. The Philippines
10. UAE

The UAE’s ranking as the 10th-best destination for expatriates in 2024 reflects its ongoing efforts to create a welcoming and attractive environment for foreign residents. Over recent years, the country has implemented a series of economic, legal, and social reforms aimed at enhancing its appeal to expatriates. These measures include the introduction of the golden visa initiative, which offers long-term residency to investors, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals who meet certain criteria, such as earning a monthly salary of more than Dh30,000 ($8,167). This initiative has been expanded to cover a wider range of beneficiaries, including exceptional talent, scientists, outstanding students, property investors, humanitarian pioneers, and front-line heroes.

In addition to the golden visa, the UAE offers a green visa, providing a five-year residency for skilled employees without the need for a sponsor or employer. The eligibility criteria for this visa include a minimum educational level of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and a salary of at least Dh15,000. The country also introduced a one-year digital nomad visa in March 2021, allowing individuals to live in the UAE while working remotely for employers in their home countries. For expatriates over the age of 55, Dubai offers a five-year retirement visa.

The UAE’s top ranking in the Expat Essentials Index highlights the country’s strong administrative services and ease of living without speaking the local language. This is partly due to the excellent online availability of government and administrative services. In the quality of life category, the UAE ranked third globally, excelling in environmental policies, infrastructure for cars, and political stability. A significant majority of respondents (86 percent) agreed that the government supports environmental protection policies, and 91 percent praised the country’s car infrastructure. Additionally, satisfaction with public transport’s affordability and availability has improved compared to 2023.

Foreign workers also rated the UAE highly for political stability and personal safety. The country’s healthcare system received positive feedback, ranking 12th globally, with respondents appreciating the availability and quality of healthcare services. The survey also revealed that expatriates enjoyed the UAE’s culinary variety, cultural and nightlife offerings, and recreational sports opportunities.

In the working abroad category, the UAE ranked sixth, with expatriates rating the country’s economy and job market positively. An impressive 76 percent of respondents said that moving to the UAE had improved their career prospects, the highest percentage worldwide and 20 percentage points above the global average. The UAE also performed well in the work culture and satisfaction subcategory.

While the UAE ranked 16th in the ease of settling in category, it was placed 33rd in the personal finance category. Despite this, the UAE’s overall ranking as the 10th-best destination for expatriates in 2024 underscores its success in creating a favorable environment for foreign residents, contributing to its growing reputation as a top global destination for those seeking a high quality of life and promising career opportunities.