Kuwait secures fifth spot as best Gulf city for expat living
Mercer’s latest expatriate quality of life rankings evaluate 450 cities worldwide, considering factors such as exceptional living standards, strong infrastructure, and vibrant cultural scenes.
• Dubai ranked first in the Middle East, followed by Abu Dhabi in second. Doha ranked third in the Arab world, and Muscat ranked fourth in the Arab world in expatriate quality of life rankings.
Kuwait ranked fifth in the Gulf, ninth in the Arab world, and 139th globally in Mercer’s latest expatriate quality of life rankings, according to Al Rai newspaper.
Dubai ranked first in the Middle East, followed by Abu Dhabi in second. Meanwhile, Doha ranked third in the Arab world and 109th globally, Muscat ranked fourth in the Arab world and 119th globally, Casablanca was 37th globally, Rabat ranked 127th globally, Tunisia 129th globally, and Oman 137th globally.
The new ranking evaluates 450 cities worldwide, assessing factors such as exceptional living standards, strong infrastructure, and vibrant cultural scenes.
The classification considered several key factors that attract expatriates when relocating, including political stability, healthcare, housing, entertainment, social environment, purchasing power, travel, traffic, air quality, and access to education.
According to Bloomberg, Yvonne Trapper, Mercer’s President of Global Mobility, stated that the digital traveler era and workplace flexibility highlights the appeal of destinations that combine high quality of life with reasonable living costs. She noted this presents a challenge for international organizations and expatriates in balancing transitions, investments, and talent management decisions.
Zurich ranked first in the world, supported by its outstanding public services, low crime rates, vibrant cultural scene, efficient infrastructure, and high sustainability.
The 10 best cities for living
- Zurich, Switzerland.
- Vienna, Austria.
- Geneva, Switzerland.
- Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Auckland, New Zealand.
- Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Frankfurt, Germany.
- Vancouver, Canada.
- Bern, Switzerland.
- Basel, Switzerland.
The 10 worst cities
- Khartoum, Sudan.
- Baghdad, Iraq.
- Bangui, Central African Republic.
- Sana’a, Yemen.
- Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
- N’Djamena, Chad.
- Damascus, Syria.
- Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
- Tripoli, Libya.
