ABU DHABI and DUBAI ranked most liveable cities in MENA
Middle Eastern and African cities that are the most livable are Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Kuwait City came in third, Doha came in fourth, and Bahrain came in fifth among the top-ranking GCC cities.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index for 2024, Abu Dhabi and Dubai will remain the most liveable cities in the Middle East and Africa, with improved ratings in healthcare and education.
Abu Dhabi came in first, followed by Dubai, showcasing their success in critical areas. According to Numbeo’s Crime and Safety Index, Abu Dhabi is one of the world’s safest cities. The city rated first internationally on the Safety Index (88.2 points) and had the lowest Crime Index score (11.8 points). Meanwhile, Dubai placed seventh among the world’s safest cities.
Healthcare Sector Bloomed
In the healthcare sector, recent data from the Dubai Health Authority indicated that the total number of licensed and operating healthcare institutions in Dubai reached 5,020 in the first quarter of 2024, with 13,370 licensed doctors.
Meanwhile, the number of healthcare institutions in Abu Dhabi increased to 3,323 over the same time period, comprising 67 hospitals, 1,136 health centers, 765 clinics, 1,068 pharmacies, and 287 other healthcare enterprises. Furthermore, by the end of 2022, Abu Dhabi will have a total of 12,922 licensed doctors.
During the academic year 2023-2024, Abu Dhabi had 459 schools, which included private, public, and mixed schools. Meanwhile, the number of private schools in Dubai has reached 220.
GCC Cities Dominate Ranking
Eight of the top ten cities in the area were located in the GCC region, which is stable and growing in importance on a global scale. In addition to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the top-ranking cities were Kuwait City, Doha, and Bahrain, which ranked third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.
The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a global economic powerhouse, attracting talent and enormous pools of wealth. The worldwide index ranks 173 cities in five categories: stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.