UAE still expat professional favourite for quality of life

New release of a popular annual survey ranks Abu Dhabi and Dubai tops in the region for quality of life.

The recently-released Mercers’ Quality of Living survey saw Abu Dhabi and Dubai keeping their high rankings as the most liveable expat cities in the Arab states. Some 231 world cities were surveyed, with the two popular expat destinations retaining their positions as 74th and 70th respectively. Unfortunately for the region’s overall reputation, another of its cities – Baghdad – was rated as the least hospitable and took the 231st place. Investments in infrastructure played a large part in the two UAE cities’ rankings, along with their concentration on leisure options and entertainment.

The regular annual survey features 39 separate factors set into 10 categories, with replies from those taking part in the study totalled up to give individual rankings. Sectors include housing, kids’education, healthcare provisions and public transport options, and political stability as well as social cohesion also play a part. As usual in this specific survey, European cities took the majority of the top ten placings, with Vienna set at number one. Auckland and Vancouver were the only two non-European cities in the top ten.

London was placed at 41st, mostly for its quality of life, with Brexit not considered to have yet harmed the capital’s cost of living. Mercer’s rankings are important both with expats considering reassignment and with recruiters looking to fix benefits and perks in order to attract top talent. In the global scene, USA destinations weren’t mentioned above the 34th ranking taken by San Francisco, with New York coming in at 44th place. It seems the emirates are still a popular choice, but increasing political instability may well change the rankings in the next several years.

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