Among the 52 global destinations in the international report, the UAE ranked second. Reuter
International surveys found that Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are among the top 10 destinations for foreign workers worldwide.
According to a report by global network InterNations, the UAE ranks second out of 52 destinations for global foreign workers to start a new life, as the country offers easy communication and minimal bureaucratic problems.
Bahrain tops the Expat's Base Index for providing a smooth transition for those moving to the country, which surveyed 11,970 foreigners in 181 countries last year to understand all aspects of expat life, according to InterNations.
InterNations said in its annual report released on Tuesday that Singapore ranked third, while Estonia and Oman ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.
Indonesia ranks in the top ten, ranking sixth, followed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kenya and Canada.
The Expat Essentials Index ranks destinations based on four categories: housing, languages, digital life and management topics.
Bahrain ranks first in the International Fundamental Index for Expats, which offers a smooth transition for foreign residents to live abroad.
The UAE 10-year visa is granted to investors, entrepreneurs, skilled professionals earning more than AED 30,000 (US$8,167) per month, as well as outstanding talents, scientists and professionals, outstanding students and graduates, real estate investors, humanitarian pioneers and A-list heroes.
The UAE Green Visa provides skilled employees with five-year residency without the need for a sponsor or employer. The minimum level of education is a bachelor's degree or equivalent, and the salary should not be less than AED 15,000.
In third place is Singapore – which scored highly in the Language and Digital Life categories in the Global Expats Network survey. associated press
Meanwhile, the UAE introduced a one-year digital nomad visa in March 2021, allowing people to live in the UAE while continuing to work for employers in their home countries.
Dubai also offers a five-year visa for retirees over the age of 55.
While the accommodation subcategory in the Fundamental Index for Expats focuses on housing affordability and ease of finding housing for foreign workers, the language section deals with the ease of living abroad and learning the local language without speaking the local language.
Administrative topics include dealing with local bureaucracy, opening local bank accounts, and the ease of obtaining visas.
The digital life subcategories include the availability of online management services, the convenience of getting high-speed internet access at home, the convenience of paying without cash, and unrestricted access to online services.
The UAE scored highly in the language subcategory, with 85% of foreign workers surveyed saying it was easy to live in the country without speaking the local language, compared to 51% globally.
According to InterNations, four out of ten residents say learning the local language in the UAE is easy.
Foreign workers are also "very satisfied" with the way the UAE deals with administrative topics, ranking first globally in terms of ease of obtaining a residence visa.
In addition, 61 percent said it was easy to deal with local bureaucracy in the UAE, compared to 40 percent worldwide.
In the digital life subcategory, foreign workers ranked third out of 52 in terms of availability of online administrative services and 10th in terms of easy access to high-speed internet access from home.
InterNations found that three-quarters of residents said they thought housing was easy to find in the UAE, but only 38 percent said it was affordable.
Bahrain, which ranked first, also scored highly in the administrative subcategory, with 67 percent of respondents saying it was easy to deal with local authorities.
International said seven out of ten expats also said it was easy to get a visa to Bahrain.
When it comes to digital life, Bahrain ranks in the top ten for online availability of government services.
Expats in Bahrain are also not hampered by the language barrier, with 82% saying it is easy to live there if they don't speak the local language.
"Oman is in the top ten in both the housing and language subcategories, while Saudi Arabia offers relatively hassle-free bureaucracy, easily accessible housing for expats without too many language barriers," InterNations said. ”
"Qatar ranks in the top ten in the language and management topics subcategory."
Top 10 countries for expats to get started
1. Bahrain; 2. United Arab Emirates; 3. Singapore; 4. Estonia; 5. Oman; 6. Indonesia; 7. Saudi Arabia; 8. State of Qatar; 9. Kenya; 10. Canada.
10 countries where it is more difficult for expats to get started
Malta, France, Czech Republic, Vietnam, Greece, Italy, Kuwait, China, Japan, Germany.