For the first time ever, UAE has debuted among the top three best countries to live in, as per Henley and Partners. Due to factors such as safety, security, zero income tax and numerous opportunities for professionals and businesses, the country has moved from the fifth to joint second place on the Global Residence Programme Index.
While the number one place is held by Greece, the second position is shared by the UAE, Italy and Switzerland. The report analysed key aspects such as reputation, quality of life, tax, visa-free or visa-on-arrival access and others.
The findings mark an important inflection point for policymakers, said Dr Christian H Kaelin, chairman at Henley and Partners. “Europe remains highly attractive, but its relative dominance is declining. Forward-thinking countries such as Singapore and the UAE are engaging strategically with globally mobile investors. At a time when foreign direct investment, entrepreneurial talent, and fiscal resilience are critical, policy certainty and openness are decisive competitive advantages,” said Kaelin.
What drove UAE's rise?
The firm said UAE's rapid ascent reflected its transformation into a "global wealth hub" supported by tax competitiveness, regulatory agility and proactive investor engagement.
Additionally, the country also had perfect reputation scores for top quality of life, along with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Switzerland. It also led in tax efficiency with Monaco and Saudi Arabia. Clear residence pathways and consistent policy signals were also some key factors that supported long-term confidence in the country among internationally mobile families.
Other countries who made it to the Index
Countries including Costa Rica, New Zealand, Panama and Singapore have also shown "strong upward momentum" alongside Malaysia, Mauritius and Thailand making "steady gains," said the report.
Three countries made notable debuts on the Index: Uruguay at the fifth place, Saudi Arabia at the ninth and Maldives at eleventh, highlighting the expansion of developed residence offerings across the globe.
The rankings are a part of the firm's annual Residence and Citizenship report, which evaluates 40 leading residence programs from more than 100 worldwide. Each programs is independently assessed by immigration specialists, economists, academics, and country-risk experts.
