Abu Dhabi and Dubai have again secured 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 demonstrated notable improvements in healthcare and education, with Dubai closely following Abu Dhabi in second place. The Global Liveability Index evaluates 173 cities based on five key categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.

Abu Dhabi is also recognized as one of the safest cities worldwide, ranking first globally on the Safety Index with a score of 88.2, according to Numbeo’s “Crime and Safety Indexes.” Dubai ranked fifth on the same list, reinforcing its status as a secure metropolis.

The Dubai Health Authority reported a significant increase in operational healthcare facilities, with 5,020 licensed establishments and 13,370 doctors by the first quarter of 2024. Abu Dhabi had 3,323 healthcare facilities, including 67 hospitals, and 12,922 licensed doctors by the end of 2022.

Education in both cities also saw growth. Abu Dhabi hosted 459 schools across various sectors during the 2023-2024 academic year, while Dubai had 220 private schools.

The index highlighted the dominance of Gulf cities, with eight of the top ten most liveable cities in the region belonging to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Kuwait City, Doha, and Bahrain.

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