Abu Dhabi, Dubai Ranked As Premier Liveable Cities In Middle East And Africa

Abu Dhabi and Dubai have maintained their status as the most liveable cities in the Middle East and Africa, with improvements in healthcare and education, according to the 2024 Global Liveability Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The index placed Dubai in second place, recognising its advancements in these areas.

According to Numbeo's "Crime and Safety Indexes," Abu Dhabi is one of the safest cities worldwide. It ranked first globally on the Safety Index with a score of 88.2 points and had the lowest score on the Crime Index at 11.8 points. Dubai also performed well, ranking fifth among the world's safest cities.

The Dubai Health Authority reported that during the first quarter of 2024, there were 5,020 licensed and operational healthcare facilities in Dubai. This included 13,370 licensed doctors. In contrast, Abu Dhabi had 3,323 healthcare facilities during the same period. These included 67 hospitals, 1,136 health centres, 765 clinics, 1,068 pharmacies, and 287 other healthcare establishments. By the end of 2022, Abu Dhabi had 12,922 licensed doctors.

In terms of education for the academic year 2023-2024, Abu Dhabi had a total of 459 schools encompassing private, public, and mixed institutions. Meanwhile, Dubai had 220 private schools.

The Gulf region's stability has led to eight out of ten top cities being located there. Kuwait City, Doha, and Bahrain secured third, fourth, and fifth places respectively. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising six member states, is a significant economic force attracting global talent and capital.

The EIU's global index evaluates 173 cities based on five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.

This recognition underscores both cities' commitment to enhancing living standards through continuous improvements in essential services like healthcare and education.

With inputs from WAM