• Kuwait ranked third in the Gulf and Arab region for the best cities to live in 2024 according to the Economist Intelligence Unit.
• Abu Dhabi ranked first in the Gulf and Arab region and 76th globally, followed by Dubai at 78th globally. The ranking is based on factors such as stability, healthcare, education, culture, environment, and infrastructure.
• Vienna remains the most livable city in the world for the third consecutive year.
Kuwait City has been recognized as the third most livable city in the Gulf and Arab region for 2024 according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). This places Kuwait at 93rd globally.
This news comes alongside a rise in rankings for other Gulf cities as well. Abu Dhabi secured the top spot in the region and 76th globally, followed by Dubai at 78th. Doha and Manama followed closely behind at 101st and 106th positions, respectively.
Strong performance by gulf cities
The National newspaper highlighted the overall rise in livability rankings for Gulf cities, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Jeddah.
The EIU’s Global Liveability Index 2024 attributes this strong performance to the region’s focus on sustainable investment in healthcare and education. Notably, both Abu Dhabi and Dubai climbed two places from their previous rankings.
“Dubai joined Abu Dhabi in achieving the highest level of livability in our index this year,” commented Barsely Bhattacharya, Deputy Director of Industry at EIU.
He further explained that Saudi cities have also witnessed significant investments in infrastructure, education, and healthcare, making them more appealing to foreign tourists and expats, alongside their economic diversification efforts.
This focus on social infrastructure complements the Gulf region’s ongoing economic diversification initiatives. As per the World Bank’s forecast, the region’s economic growth is projected to reach 2.8% in 2024 and 4.7% in 2025.
According to the Dream Destinations and Mobility Trends report, job opportunities remain the primary factor influencing people’s choice of destination, followed by quality of life and income-related considerations.
Vienna retains top spot globally
The Austrian capital, Vienna, holds onto its crown as the world’s most livable city for the third year in a row. Copenhagen, Denmark, follows closely behind in second place, while Zurich, Switzerland, witnessed a significant jump to third place,up from sixth last year.
London landed at 45th globally, while Hong Kong in Asia saw a notable rise from 61st to 50th, attributed to improvements in stability and healthcare outcomes.
On the other hand, the EIU report identifies Damascus as the least livable city globally, with Tripoli, Libya, following closely behind.
