Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been crowned as the most liveable cities in the Middle East and Africa for 2024 according to the 2024 Global Liveability Index released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Both cities have shown significant improvements, particularly in healthcare and education, solidifying their positions as top contenders for quality of life. Abu Dhabi maintains its leadership in the region, closely followed by Dubai in second place.
The EIU’s Global Liveability Index evaluates cities based on five key factors: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. The impressive rankings of Abu Dhabi and Dubai underscore their dedication to enhancing the lives of their residents and attracting visitors.
Advancements in Infrastructure and Safety
Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a safe city has been further solidified by Numbeo’s Crime and Safety Indexes. The city ranked as the safest in the world with a Safety Index score of 88.2 and a Crime Index score of just 11.8. Dubai also performed remarkably well, securing fifth place among the world’s safest cities.
Dubai has witnessed substantial growth in its healthcare sector, with the Dubai Health Authority reporting 5,020 licensed and operational healthcare facilities in the emirate by the first quarter of 2024. The number of licensed doctors in Dubai has also increased to 13,370. Abu Dhabi, by the end of 2022, had 3,323 healthcare facilities, including 67 hospitals, 1,136 health centers, and 1,068 pharmacies, with a total of 12,922 licensed doctors.
Education Excellence
Both cities have also made significant strides in education. In the 2023-2024 academic year, Abu Dhabi had 459 schools, comprising private, public, and mixed institutions, while Dubai had 220 private schools.
The index also highlighted the dominance of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in the region. Eight of the top ten cities are located within the Gulf, with Kuwait City, Doha, and Bahrain taking third, fourth, and fifth places, respectively. Notably, Kuwait City climbed four spots to 93rd place globally.
Global Standings
On the global stage, Vienna continues its reign as the world’s most liveable city for the third consecutive year, achieving perfect scores in stability, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Cities like Melbourne, Sydney, and Vancouver, however, experienced declines due to infrastructure issues, particularly in housing.
Top 10 Cities in the Global Liveability Index 2024
The report also highlighted that stability was the most affected category, with many cities experiencing declines due to protests and conflicts. For instance, Tel Aviv dropped 20 places due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. At the bottom of the list, Damascus and Tripoli remained, reflecting the ongoing turmoil in Syria and Libya.
Overall, the 2024 Global Liveability Index demonstrates the continued advancement of cities in the Middle East and Africa, with Abu Dhabi and Dubai leading the way in improving living standards for their inhabitants.
