Today's Edition
TALAH TURK (ABU DHABI)
Time Out’s highly anticipated sixth annual list of the Best Cities in the World for 2024 was unveiled on Tuesday, proudly featuring Abu Dhabi and Dubai among the top 40 spots globally. In a remarkable achievement, Dubai secured the 28th position, while Abu Dhabi claimed the 39th spot, making them the sole Arab cities on the prestigious lineup.
The world-renowned media and hospitality brand surveyed thousands of locals in each city to provide their unique insights into the essence of these vibrant metropolises. Time Out highlighted that this year’s list not only serves as “inspiration for travel” but also offers a “global snapshot of city living.”
In this year’s comprehensive survey, participants shared their perspectives on “the quality and affordability of the food, culture, and nightlife scenes in their city” and expressed how their city “makes them feel,” with responses ranging from happiness to romance. Additionally, respondents were asked to reveal the city they would most like to live in.
The combination of answers shaped this year’s ranking, featuring iconic cities such as New York, Cape Town, Berlin, London, and Madrid in the top five spots.
Also on the list, in the following order, are Mexico City, Liverpool, Tokyo, Rome, Porto, Paris, Mumbai, Lisbon, Chicago, Manchester, São Paulo, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Lagos, Melbourne, Naples, Singapore, Miami, Bangkok, Lima, Budapest, Beijing, followed by Dubai.
Subsequent positions showcased Montreal, Glasgow, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Seoul, Hanoi, San Francisco, Barcelona, and, making a remarkable entrance, Abu Dhabi.
The final 11 spots featured New Orleans, Philadelphia, Austin, Boston, Accra, Marseille, Taipei, Istanbul, Osaka, Hong Kong, and Vancouver.
Time Out’s Travel Editor, Grace Beard, emphasised the honour associated with making it onto the list, stating: “Every city that made the list did so because locals rate it highly – so whether a city ranked at one or fifty, it’s still one of the greatest amongst the thousands of cities around the globe.”
Beard commented on the top cities, noting that they are not only exceptional places to visit, boasting world-class restaurants, culture, and nightlife, but “they’re also great places to live, with strong community spirit and an undeniable vibe.”
The recognition on Time Out’s prestigious list further solidifies the Abu Dhabi and Dubai’s global standing and strong appeal, instilling a sense of pride among their residents and admirers worldwide.
