Dubai: Improved quality of life has helped Dubai earn a place in the ranking of global cities for liveability, according to a new international city survey.
Survey authors, Economist Intelligence Unit, said Dubai’s scores fared better in this year’s edition of the ‘Liveability Ranking and Overview August 2015’ report, pushing Dubai to 75th spot out of 140 total cities polled.
The survey ranked cities based upon relative comfort variables across five categories — stability, health care, culture, environment, education and infrastructure.
According to the survey, obtained by Gulf News, Dubai ranked third in a list of 10 most-improved cities in the last five years, with Harare, Zimbabwe, ranked most-improved followed by Kathmandu, Nepal, in second place.
In the Gulf, Kuwait was ranked two places behind Dubai, coming in fifth as the most-improved city with an overall global ranking of 83rd place.
By contrast, Damascus had the biggest fall in rankings to dead last in the last five years with Kiev, Ukraine, taking the place of the second worst globally.
The survey stated that “cities moving up the ranking are largely countries that have enjoyed periods of relative stability following falls in liveability” as compared to 57 cities that saw declines in liveability.
“Three cities in particular, Tripoli, Kiev and Damascus, have seen significant declines … illustrating that conflict is, unsurprisingly, the key factor in undermining wider liveability,” authors of the report stated.
Dubai resident Rana Al Sayed said she wasn’t surprised by Dubai’s improved presence on the liveability survey noting that the peace and stability enjoyed by the city was a critical factor in her move from the UK.
“Dubai is very stable and I like that. I don’t worry about crime and it is very peaceful to live here. It is a good city to live and enjoy your life, especially if you are young,” she said.
Kathryn Staikos has lived in Dubai for several years and said Dubai is highly stable.
“I feel confident that life here will be better for me, at least for now and in the next couple of years. Dubai is a safe place to live, I think that’s why so many expatriates are moving here from all over the world,” she said.
