A recent Global Expat Index, which ranks the emirate as the ninth best in the world with a score of 6.80, puts Dubai ahead of well-known cities like Toronto, Sydney, and Lisbon, demonstrating its status as a top city for both work and living.
The emirate received a score of 6.81, placing it third in Asia among the top cities that foreigners will relocate to in 2024. Abu Dhabi came in eighth place with a score of 6.09.
“Dubai is famous for its luxury lifestyle, but its “cost of living is particularly high, at USD 3,787 per month,” according to research by Preply, an online language learning marketplace.
The report also claimed that, at USD 3,894, Dubai’s average tax-free salary is the second highest of all Asian cities.
According to the report, individuals who earn over USD 64,000 per year can receive even greater benefits from the UAE’s advantageous tax laws, which do not impose income tax.
Dubai came in third place among the cities with the highest safety score, scoring 83.40.
In neighbouring Abu Dhabi, the average cost of living was USD 3,501, while the average salary exempt from taxes was USD 3,597. With a score of 86.71, the capital of the UAE was also the safest place in Asia.
Other Top Expat Cities
Tallinn, Estonia, was rated as the greatest city for living and working, topping the list with the highest overall expat score of 7.35 out of 10.
The capital city of Estonia, ranked among the top 10 safest cities for foreigners, also received a high safety index score of 77 out of 100.
With a score of 7.32, Basel, Switzerland and Singapore tied for third place, with Bern, Switzerland coming in second (7.08). Leading international cities Toronto and Sydney tied for 11th place on the list with a score of 6.76, while Lisbon came in at number sixteen with a score of 6.54.
With a score of 7.20 on the Asia index, Singapore ranked highest among the cities that foreigners should consider moving to in 2024. Bangkok came in second place with a score of 6.96, followed by Dubai with 6.81, to round out the top three spots.