UAE: Abu Dhabi, Dubai score high in happiness survey – News

Report finds emirate’s residents “feel a strong sense of belonging and attachment to their city”

Are UAE residents happy? This question was answered in a recent report titled “Cities of Choice: Are People Happy Where They Live?”, in which both Dubai and Abu Dhabi were ranked among the world’s top cities.

In the US-based Boston Consulting Group’s “Preferred Cities” study, Dubai ranked first in the “social capital” dimension, ahead of Washington, Singapore, San Francisco, Guangzhou, Boston, Seattle, Atlanta, Barcelona and Berlin, which are classified as A “light” city with a population of more than 3 million but less than 10 million.

Dubai’s score of 74 out of 100 “indicates that residents feel a strong sense of belonging and attachment to their city and that they maintain meaningful social ties.”

“Social capital” measures the strength of social relationships and community engagement within a city. It also covers social connection, inclusion, equality, cultural and historical identity, and safety.

The report delves into the nuances of how a city functions best, said Vladislav Boutenko, BCG managing director and senior partner and co-author of the report. “Moving is now easier than ever. The challenge for city leaders is to identify what makes their residents happy so they can retain existing residents and attract new ones,” he emphasized.

Dubai also scored highly for “economic opportunity” (71 out of 100), “indicating that the city offers a highly conducive environment for businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive.”

Other positive indicators were “job, career, and income opportunity, equality of income opportunity for businesses, and availability of personal loans.”

Other dimensions of the survey, conducted among more than 50,000 people in 79 cities around the world, were quality of life, interaction with authorities, and speed of change.

Dubai ranks eighth among “light cities”, after Washington, Singapore, San Francisco, Guangzhou, Madrid, Boston and Seattle.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi is classified as a medium-sized city with an urban population of less than 3 million.

The capital received a score of 73 out of 100 for its “business-friendly environment that promotes innovation and entrepreneurship” in the “economic opportunity” dimension. Abu Dhabi’s aggressive investment in technology, renewable energy and tourism has attracted both local and foreign investors.