The UAE was commended for its security, stability and excellent transport infrastructure in a survey of top expat destinations in 2021 published on Tuesday.
The Emirates was ranked 18th out of 59 countries, an improvement of 16 places on its InterNations Expat Insider 2020 survey rating of 34.
This performance contrasts to the UK which came in a lowly 45th, its expat community complaining of poor quality of life and miserable weather.
The winner was Taiwan while Kuwait was ranked the worst destination for expats.
UAE performance in the Expat Insider survey 2021
The UAE finished 17th in the quality of life category but where it really shone was in safety and security where it finished third, bettered only by Finland and Singapore.
Compared to a global average of 80 per cent, 92 per cent of expats said the UAE was peaceful and 89 per cent lauded its political stability.
The Emirates also performed well in the travel and transport subcategory, coming in at seventh with 95 per cent of expats satisfied with its infrastructure compared to a global average of 76 per cent.
Another area of excellence came in the ease of settling in category, with the UAE finishing fourth in the subcategory behind Malaysia, Singapore and Kenya.
Expats told the survey that they feel at home culturally in the UAE and found it easy to get used to.
"Expats consider the UAE to be a peaceful, safe and stable country with a lot of travel opportunities and a good transportation infrastructure," an InterNations representative told The National.
"Most are also very happy with the quality of medical care … and it is an ideal destination for expats who are worried about the language barrier as they find it easy to get by without speaking the local language."
This was affirmed by a Kenyan expat who said “the country is safe for me and my two daughters”.
UK performance dragged down by weather and Covid
Expats in the UK may well view the UAE cohort with more than a tinge of envy.
A mere 10 per cent said they were happy with life in Britain overall, giving the UK a miserable ranking of second from last in this category. Only expats in Kuwait were more downbeat.
One of the reasons given was the UK’s ‘inconsistent’ weather, but if it’s not the cold and rain getting expats in Britain down it’s the cost of living, a category in which the country came 45th.
When it comes to the global pandemic, there was a marked disappointment at the UK government's handling of the crisis, a performance that is now to be investigated in a full public inquiry.
Only 55 per cent of expats were happy with the Covid communications of Boris Johnson and his government, compared to a global average of 66 per cent.
Top 10 expat destinations 2021
The UK has some ground to make up on the top 10 destinations for expats in 2021, which can be seen in the gallery above and are listed below.
1. Taiwan
2. Mexico
3. Costa Rica
4. Malaysia
5. Portugal
6. New Zealand
7. Australia
8. Ecuador
9. Canada
10. Vietnam
1. Taiwan
First overall, the east Asian country also finished top in the quality of life and working abroad categories. Furthermore, it came top of the pile in the friendliness subcategory while expats spoke glowingly of its medical care system.
2. Mexico
Mexico’s appearance so near the pinnacle is arguably surprising but expats even rated it at number one in the ease of settling category. Seventy-eight per cent of respondents said it is easy to make friends in Mexico compared to a global average of 44 per cent.
Mexico also polled well in the personal finance and cost of living categories.
3. Costa Rica
Moving down the Americas and coming in third is the wildlife paradise of Costa Rica. Expats rated it very highly in both the ease of settling in and quality of life categories.
It even came in first place in the personal happiness subcategory with 96 per cent of expats thrilled by its natural environment, some way ahead of the global average of 84 per cent.
4. Malaysia
Malaysia ranks above the global average in every single category polled.
It did exceptionally well in the ease of settling in category with one US expat saying “the people are wonderful”. It also finished top in the language subcategory.
5. Portugal
Recently placed on the UK’s travel green list, Portugal isn’t just popular with tourists – expats love it, too.
The temperate country performed best in the quality of life category, with its weather and lifestyle propelling it to third place.
It also performed very well in the ease of settling category. Eighty-three per cent felt at home compared to a global average of 62 per cent.
8. New Zealand
Peter Jackson saw so much potential in this breathtaking Pacific island he decided it was good enough for Tolkein’s Middle Earth. Whilst expats didn’t mention living on the Lord of the Rings set as a factor in their happiness, they did highlight the quality of life and work opportunities New Zealand provides.
“I love my peaceful, calm and safe existence in New Zealand,” said one US expat.
7. Australia
Just a single place behind its antipodean neighbour came Australia, where expats were most pleased with its range of leisure activities and natural environment.
“Living in close proximity to nature, close to the beach and the rainforest, is so amazing!” said one expat.
Australia ranked highly in the digital life subcategory, with 89 per cent of expats appreciating the availability of government services online compared to a global average of 63 per cent.
8. Ecuador
Another entry from the Americas, Ecuador performed best in the personal finance category where it ranked fifth. More than 91 per cent of expats said their disposable household income was more than enough to cater for their expenses, compared to a global average of 77 per cent.
Linked symbiotically to personal finance is the cost of living, and Ecuador performed admirably here too, coming in seventh.
9. Canada
Canada is a perennial presence on living and working abroad lists and as expected it performed well across all categories. It finished fifth in the quality of life category with expats particularly impressed by its connectivity and cashless payments infrastructure.
Canada’s healthcare and political stability were also lauded by its expat community.
10. Vietnam
Countries from east Asia bookended the top 10 with Vietnam taking the final place. It ranked first in both the personal finance and cost of living categories, with expats also rating it in ninth in the working abroad category and finding friends subcategory.
Malcolm & Marie
Directed by: Sam Levinson
Starring: John David Washington and Zendaya
Three stars
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
Monday's results
- UAE beat Bahrain by 51 runs
- Qatar beat Maldives by 44 runs
- Saudi Arabia beat Kuwait by seven wickets
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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South Korea
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
I Care A Lot
Directed by: J Blakeson
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage
3/5 stars
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
Results
2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mezmar, Adam McLean (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: AF Ajwad, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Gold Silver, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.
4pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m; Winner: Atrash, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez.
4.30pm: Gulf Cup Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Momtaz, Saif Al Balushi, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Al Mushtashar, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Smart words at Make Smart Cool
Make Smart Cool is not your usual festival. Dubbed “edutainment” by organisers Najahi Events, Make Smart Cool aims to inspire its youthful target audience through a mix of interactive presentation by social media influencers and a concert finale featuring Example with DJ Wire. Here are some of the speakers sharing their inspiration and experiences on the night.
Prince Ea
With his social media videos accumulating more half a billion views, the American motivational speaker is hot on the college circuit in the US, with talks that focus on the many ways to generate passion and motivation when it comes to learning.
Khalid Al Ameri
The Emirati columnist and presenter is much loved by local youth, with writings and presentations about education, entrepreneurship and family balance. His lectures on career and personal development are sought after by the education and business sector.
Ben Ouattara
Born to an Ivorian father and German mother, the Dubai-based fitness instructor and motivational speaker is all about conquering fears and insecurities. His talk focuses on the need to gain emotional and physical fitness when facing life’s challenges. As well managing his film production company, Ouattara is one of the official ambassadors of Dubai Expo2020.
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More from Neighbourhood Watch
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
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