MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
A new poll of more than 700 expatriates living in the UAE has found overwhelming satisfaction with life in the country, challenging media speculation about a possible exodus of foreign workers.
The UAE Expat Monitor, conducted by research firm QuestionPro in partnership with strategic communications consultancy ARCET Global, found that 94% of respondents plan to remain in the UAE for the foreseeable future, while 97% regard the country as a safe and stable place to live.
Expatriates rated the UAE more highly than their home countries across almost every major quality-of-life measure.
Around 85% of respondents said the UAE offers better job opportunities, while 82% said it performs better on safety and crime.
The same pattern was seen in broader lifestyle measures, with 86% saying the UAE provided a better quality of life than their home country, and 80% rating its modern infrastructure as superior.
"Rather than let speculation go unchallenged, we designed this survey to allow the expat community to put any doubts about their future to rest," said Mark Hamill, Chief Executive of ARCET Global.
The survey also found a strong connection between expatriates and the UAE leadership, particularly following the recent regional conflict.
About 98% of respondents said trust in the country's leadership played an important role in their decision to remain, while two-thirds said they trusted the UAE leadership more than the governments in their home countries.
Another 95% expressed confidence that the UAE would recover quickly from challenges arising from regional tensions.
Respondents also expected conditions in the country to improve over the next five years. About 87% anticipated greater innovation, 84% expected more investment in infrastructure and 78% predicted higher living standards.
The survey collected 708 responses between April and May 2026, with respondents spanning all seven emirates.