Top 10 safest cities in the world in 2025

Safety is an essential element to any thriving city. It paves the way for higher settlements, investments, and tourism, among other factors. Today, some of the best ranking safest cities are right here in the Gulf.

Here’s a look at the top 10 safest cities worldwide, as per the Numbeo Safety Index:

1. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Safety index: 88.4

Abu Dhabi has achieved the number one rank for safest city once again. While it isn’t the sole emirate to make this list, the UAE capital is unique as it has held the number one position for nearly ten years. Continued efforts by local administrations, such as the council for national security, make this high rank possible. In fact, Abu Dhabi’s focus extends beyond crime control. For instance, Abu Dhabi’s Civil Defence Authority recently launched a safety patrol aimed at improving preventive safety in industrial, commercial, and residential facilities.

2. Doha, Qatar

Safety index: 84.1

Doha has secured a place in the top 10 ranks since 2017, where it first made the charts placing fourth positon. Since then the Qatari capital has been alternating between the second and third positions. This high rank translates to crime being highly unlikely to occur, providing residents and visitors peace of mind. Similar to the UAE, many women-only designated areas in Doha (such as on transportation) aid to creating a safe and welcoming environment.

3. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Safety index: 83.8

The second UAE emirate to make this list is Dubai. While the city has maintained a steadfast position in the top 10 since 2018, this year is Dubai’s highest ranking thus far. One reason for Dubai’s high success in safety is thanks to its smart cameras surveillance that not only ensures safety for traffic movements, but for everyday operations as well.

4. Taipei, Taiwan

Safety index: 83.8

Taipei has been consistently in the top 10 safest cities for the past nine years now. The highest rank ever achieved by the Taiwanese capital has been the number two position in 2024. As a major tourism-dependent city, their high safety index allows tourists to feel confident in their travels to the city.

5. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Safety index: 83.8

Sharjah is the third and final UAE emirate to rank amongst the top five safest cities. It first made this list in 2020 and achieved its highest rank in 2022 where it placed third for safest city worldwide. Similar to other emirates, top-notch police departments are one major attribution to the emirate’s high safety rank. Rising use of artificial intelligence in these departments also aid their operations.

6. Manama, Bahrain

Safety index: 81.0

This is the first time Manama has made the top 10 list, making this the city’s highest ranking ever. Although the country is geographically small, the Bahraini government has dedicated full efforts to promote safety for all. It remains a major focus of government programs in all types of sectors from cybersecurity to road safety and beyond.

7. Muscat, Oman

Safety index: 80.9

Muscat is the last Middle Eastern city to make the top 10 ranks for 2025. It first joined the top 10 list in 2021. Oman’s continued political stability is a great factor that contributes to the nation’s safety standards, such as low rates of crime and violence.  

8. The Hague (Den Haag), Netherlands

Safety index: 79.5

The Hague is the capital city of Netherland’s South Holland province. It first placed amongst the top 10 cities just last year, coming in at number six. While this year’s rank has slightly dropped, the city still continues to build a strong reputation as a safe and habitable place to live.

9. Munich, Germany

Safety index: 79.4

Munich has held a consistent position in the top 10 for a decade now. Historically, the city used to rank much higher. In fact, the last time Munich made the top five range was in 2018. Often, if Munich had not made the list, other German cities have held strong rankings.

10. Trondheim, Norway

Safety index: 79.3

The final city to make the top 10 ranks is Trondheim. This is the first time Trondheim made the list in the 2020s, after previously ranking in the top 10 for a few years in the 2010s. The city is the third largest in Norway and is known for its rich Viking history. Trondheim is also a popular city for university students, making safety a desirable trait. Over the years, a few other Norwegian cities have also had high safety rankings.

How is safety measured?

Numbeo’s safety index is based on an analysis of crime (or lack thereof). The index is based on a scale from 0 to 100, with a higher safety index indicating better safety. The list takes into account a variety of crimes such as violence, robbery, property harm, physical harm, and general perceptions of safety in a city.

UAE’s overall position in worldwide safety

It comes as no surprise that UAE cities were amongst the top rated when it comes to safety. Apart from the high rankings of the individual emirates, the UAE as a country also often tops the charts for safety. In 2025, the UAE was ranked the second safest country in the world, falling just behind Andorra. Other GGC countries like Qatar and Oman also made the top 10 list.

Mariam Khan is a trainee journalist at Gulf News.