ALLAN JACOB (ABU DHABI)
The UAE continues to attract people from all over the world despite regional developments, and has been ranked among the top 5 countries for expats.
Seven in 10 expats are happy with life in the country, according a new Expat Insider survey conducted by InterNations.
In a poll, the UAE was rated the fourth best country for expatriates, scoring high for what it calls "expat essentials".
“The UAE is the easiest place in the world for expat essentials and a magnet for ambitious careers,” the report said.
The country ranks 3rd for quality of life, which covers travel, environment, healthcare and safety.
The survey of 31 counties was conducted in the first quarter of 2026.
The UAE also comes fifth for "ease of settling in".
“Overall, expats are broadly content: about seven in 10 (69%) are happy with life there. While this result is slightly below the 70% global average, it includes nearly a third (32%) who say they are completely happy with life in the UAE (vs 24% globally), the report said.
Panama leads the rankings, followed by Mexico and Thailand.