A growing number of expatriates in the UAE are now calling the country their permanent home, drawn by its outstanding quality of life, safety, and the ease of settling in, according to a new global report.
The Expat Insider 2025 survey by InterNations revealed that 19% of expats in the Emirates wish to stay indefinitely. Meanwhile, another 39% remain undecided about their long-term future, reflecting the country’s rising appeal among foreign professionals and residents.
The UAE secured the 7th spot globally in the list of best countries to live in, outperforming developed nations such as the US, UK, Germany, and Singapore.
The survey also highlighted the UAE as the world’s top country for “expat essentials”, which includes digital infrastructure, housing, and ease of dealing with government services. The country also ranked second globally for overall quality of life, fourth for safety, and sixth for leisure activities.
More than 11 million people live in the UAE, with over 80% being expatriates. The country’s diverse, multicultural environment continues to draw talent and investment from across the globe. Many attribute this to recent government initiatives like the Golden Visa, Retirement Visa, and the new Blue Visa, which cater to long-term residents, retirees, professionals, and investors.
The top industries that currently employ expatriates in the UAE are finance, hospitality, and construction, with job opportunities and international recruitment being major factors for their relocation.
This year’s Expat Insider survey was based on the responses of over 10,000 individuals from 172 nationalities living in 46 countries.
Globally, Panama ranked first in the survey, followed by Colombia, Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and UAE. At the bottom of the list were countries like Kuwait, Türkiye, South Korea, and Italy, which received the lowest satisfaction scores from expats.
