Dubai Ranked Third Best Place in The World Among High Earners

Dubai is 3rd Best Place in The World Among High Earners

Dubai, which is a well-established ex-pat hub, has scored highly for digital nomads to live in, That’s according to research by real estate consultancy Savills Plc, which ranked 15 prime residential markets by their appeal to long-term remote workers.

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, topped the list and Miami was hot on Lisbon’s heels, which sits second in Savills’ index, which lists the top 15 cities for long-term remote workers, based on internet speed, quality of life, climate, air connectivity, and prime rents, Savills said in a statement.

“Remote working enabled business owners from abroad to make Dubai their main hub,” said Helen Tatham, head of residential community sales and leasing at Savills Dubai.

“UK nationals have long favored Dubai for holiday and work, but the market also benefited from new demand from French, German, Swedish and Swiss buyers.”

The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the remote-working trend, with the adoption of new technologies encouraging more workers to move away from the cities or countries where their employers are based.

In response, some countries, including the UAE, enacted legislation designed to attract foreign-employed workers.

The UAE unveiled a one-year residency permit for remote workers in March last year to attract more talent to the region and boost business opportunities. The visa permits foreign remote professionals to live in the Emirates while continuing to serve employers in their home countries.

Dubai topped the Savills index for air connectivity, with the emirate’s airlines reaching more than 100 countries, Savills said.

All cities that are featured in the Savills index either have a digital nomad visa program, or equivalent, and offer favorable climates year-round, high quality of life, and have established-prime residential markets, Savills said.

“Provided travel connections are good and high-speed internet is reliable, individuals and families are motivated to relocate and are placing a greater emphasis on health, wellness, and overall lifestyle.”