Global Liveability Index 2024: Abu Dhabi, Dubai top rankings in Middle East and Africa

Image credit: Getty Images

Abu Dhabi and Dubai have solidified their positions as the most liveable cities in the Middle East and Africa, according to the 2024 Global Liveability Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Both cities improved their scores in healthcare and education, with Abu Dhabi retaining the top spot and Dubai following closely in second place, in the region.

The EIU‘s ‘Global Liveability Index’ evaluates cities based on five key categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai’s strong performances in these areas underline their commitment to enhancing quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

Improved infrastructure in Abu Dhabi, Dubai

Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a safe city was further reinforced by the “Crime and Safety Indexes” from Numbeo, where it ranked as the safest city globally, scoring 88.2 points on the Safety Index and recording the lowest score on the Crime Index at 11.8 points. Dubai also ranked highly, securing fifth place on the list of the world’s safest cities.

In healthcare, Dubai saw significant growth, with the Dubai Health Authority reporting that the number of licensed and operational healthcare facilities in the emirate reached 5,020 in the first quarter of 2024.

The number of licensed doctors in Dubai also rose to 13,370. Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, had 3,323 healthcare facilities, including 67 hospitals, 1,136 health centres, and 1,068 pharmacies, with a total of 12,922 licensed doctors by the end of 2022.

The education sector in both cities also showed strong performance. During the 2023-2024 academic year, Abu Dhabi had 459 schools, including private, public, and mixed institutions, while Dubai had 220 private schools.

The index also highlighted the dominance of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in the region, with eight of the top ten cities located in the Gulf. Kuwait City, Doha, and Bahrain secured the third, fourth, and fifth spots, respectively. Kuwait City was noted for its significant improvement, climbing four positions to 93rd place globally.

Global rankings

Globally, Vienna retained its title as the world’s most liveable city for the third consecutive year, receiving perfect scores in stability, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. However, cities like Melbourne, Sydney, and Vancouver saw declines due to infrastructure challenges, particularly related to housing.

Global Liveability Index 2024: Top 10 cities

1. Vienna  
2. Copenhagen 
3.  Zurich 
4. Melbourne 
5. Calgary 
6. Geneva 
7. Sydney 
8. Vancouver 
9. Osaka 
10. Auckland

The index also pointed out that stability saw the most significant decline among the five categories, with protests and conflicts affecting many cities. Tel Aviv, for instance, fell by 20 places due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. 

Meanwhile, Damascus and Tripoli remained at the bottom of the list, reflecting the ongoing instability in Syria and Libya.

Overall, the 2024 Global Liveability Index highlights the continued improvement of cities in the Middle East and Africa, with Abu Dhabi and Dubai leading the way in enhancing the quality of life for their residents.

Read: Discover the world’s most liveable cities in 2023