UAE most luxurious country in world for expats

LUXURY LIVING: The UAE has been rated the most luxurious place in the world for an expat to live. (Getty Images)

Expatriates in the UAE enjoy a more luxurious lifestyle than anywhere else in the world, a survey has revealed, as economic growth, tax-free salaries and relatively cheap goods allow them to live out their dreams.

HSBC's Expat Explorer Survey, published on Friday, found that the Gulf state beat off global hotspots including Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and the United States to claim the luxury living crown.

More expatriates in the UAE are able to afford added extras such as owning a boat, having a swimming pool, taking regular holidays and employing domestic staff than anywhere else, according to the survey.

Foreign residents in the Gulf state experienced increases in 10 of the 11 categories of perceived luxuries measured by the survey.

The UAE's luxurious standard of living has helped it become the second most popular country in the world for expatriates to live in behind Singapore, according to the survey.

The Gulf state also scored very highly on how much expatriates can earn and save compared to their home countries, as well as how much the quality of their accommodation had improved.

The Expat Explorer Survey questioned 2,155 expatriates across four continents, questioning them on topics such as how easy they found it to integrate, how they viewed the changes in their lifestyle, and their children's experiences in a new country.

Top ten countries for expats to live in:
Singapore
UAE
USA
Belgium
Hong Kong
Germany
Netherlands
Canada
India
Australia
Source: HSBC

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to all below
Posted by Salim, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on Monday 4 August 2008 at 15:47 UAE time

You don't like the survey? why you still here? go work outside of the UAE if you don't like the luxury life you're living here.

Expats are having their Emirates Dreams here, check the percentage of the foreign living in the Greens and Marina compare to Locals. Thats why they are living in luxury.

I have nothing against them but boy, if you work hard you will get what u deserve

UAE most luxurious country in world for expats
Posted by Nada on Sunday 3 August 2008 at 14:58 UAE time

Since when do we consider 2100 people questioned as a good base for survey especially that we are trying to tackle a question where millions are involved!
And which category (ies) of expats are those?

Give me a break!! I love UAE but easy on the outcome dude! this can't be real!
Thought HSBC was serious... but then again... what was behind the survey... they know better!

Freigners envious of UAE living the high hog...
Posted by annlar, NYC, USA on Friday 1 August 2008 at 00:41 UAE time


""""I just came from Washington DC and everybody including very high level people respected me and envied me because i come from UAE although i am just an employee and not a UAE citizen!!!
Long Live UAE!""""


Everybody envied you.....groan .... I am glad you were making a joke. And the "long live the UAE" sounds very much like a shill-job.

Living in the UAE is surely enjoyable and has its many rewards, but....

Live a life of luxury....
Posted by annlar, nYC, USA on Thursday 31 July 2008 at 00:53 UAE time


Sorry I am so late to respond. I was enjoying a trip on my yacht and the maids didn't wake me in time. they wee busy with the pool cleaners, having 3 of them, pools th tis, one forgets the time and their master LOL

What a story, what a 1001 night fairy tale. Thanks for the laugh, if not the truth.

Get Real Man
Posted by Trojan on Tuesday 29 July 2008 at 17:50 UAE time

Omar, what are you talking about man???? Have you actually lived in the US? Obviously not! Yes, when I go back to the US people's first reaction is to sound envious that I work in Dubai, but that is because they don't know what it is like to actually live here and deal with the traffic, the weather, and the disgusting corruption and bribery that goes on in the private sector (another subject which this publication should explore) - not to mention how difficult it actually is to be entrepreneurial and run your own business. They just see the marketing hype on TV and the artificial islands, which add nothing to living in Dubai.

Life is not about malls and cars, it is QUALITY OF LIFE. But of course for someone who has never enjoyed or known what it is like to have a high quality of life, he/she would not know what I am talking about. Visit Mercer Consulting's website and you can see the quality of life rankings yourself.

Omar, spare us the political propaganda, you are sounding like the official press. What is happening in Dubai and the rest of the Gulf is nothing more than a real estate asset bubble fueled by petrodollars, excess liquidity, and sorry to say, lack of planning and concern for the long-term benefit of the locals. We've had a similar real estate bubble in the US from 2001 to 2006, and now we are seeing its consequences. Believe me, sooner or later, and probably sooner, the bubble here will pop, and then no one will look so smart and visionary.

Hey, not all of us are here because this is the best opportunity we have. Some people like me are here because of social and family considerations (as many Arab American expats I know), not financial or career considerations. Trust me, if I could be relieved of these commitments, I'd be out of here on the first flight back to beautiful California.

Comment
Posted by SR, Dubai on Tuesday 29 July 2008 at 13:20 UAE time

I agree with Mr Omar as to the culture and vision of UAE.
But trust you can not simply discount the contribution of expats.
As for packing and leaving, I don't think that is something that can be done overnight, especially considering that most expats are here with their families! I also returned from US last month, was in Boston, NY, Washington DC, Virginia, Buffalo etc. you know what when I returned, I felt as if I am really missing something here. There is no question that life here is good, it has pluses & minuses on a comparative basis, but hard to be categorised as luxurious. Unless of course the level of luxury is simply based on the car you drive, the quality of shopping malls etc. Sorry to say, but I guess you are touch out of context vis-a-vis the comments made.

The great UAE culture
Posted by omar, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 29 July 2008 at 11:18 UAE time

Each country reflects its own culture. The developments of UAE are just the result of the long UAE culture. This is the spirit of Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashed and not at all a coincidence or an effort by the foreigners as some people may think. If the foreigners from any country are so great, why do not they go back home and improve their own country. Simply they can not! Because their countries do not have the visionary culture of the UAE! The visionary leadership of Sheikh Khalifah and Sheikh Mohammed is a continuation of their fathers' and grandpa's culture of wisdom and improvement and will carry on with their great sons such as the young Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed. Whoever does not like the UAE should just leave us alone in peace. Nobody is forcing you to stay. Just go now to the airport and you can get a flight back to your home in no time!!!I just came from Washington DC and everybody including very high level people respected me and envied me because i come from UAE although i am just an employee and not a UAE citizen!!!
Long Live UAE!

Dubai is luxurious
Posted by Saif, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 29 July 2008 at 08:26 UAE time

I fully agree with Omar. Most of the expats here are hypocrites; they work in the best of companies, live in nice decent apartments, drive the best cars, go to the best shopping malls buy the best of products and in the end have only negative things to say about the place. I once met an Australian who was driving a BMW and he mentioned that he could never afford one back home.

Expats in UAE
Posted by Georges Hoeterickx, Belgium on Monday 28 July 2008 at 23:46 UAE time


I am very surprised to read all these negative comments - been and lived in the region , we enjoyed living in Dubai.
Why do they stay ? I also heard negative comments from well paid expats - why don't they go home ? Because live in their own country is worse : crime , drugs , poor housing ... also in some Western countries !

I love UAE
Posted by omar, Dubai, UAE on Monday 28 July 2008 at 16:17 UAE time

Yes, I discovered that a long time back after a very thorough research. Yes, it's the highest standard of living for all. I am just a Senior Executive from Lebanon and i can feel the difference when i visit my other friends living in Europe or USA or Asia or even other GCC countries. Whoever does not like UAE should leave immediately (today rather than tomorrow). Yes, it's incredibly expensive but overall the standard of living is second to none. Even my friends in Japan, New York, London, Paris envy me. They have been to Dubai and they know how to compare very well. There are rich and middle and poor everywhere. Obviously, education, profession, experience, exposure, personality, and etc... play a major role in shaping your standard of living. Naturally, locals should be the 1st beneficiaries of any country's wealth. It's the case in Iceland, NZ, Sweden, Canada, Brunei, Denmark and all over. Stop envying the nice Emiratis and work on improving yourselves. Canadians enjoy their extra generous welfare system, and many other people in different countries.

Sham, lies and trash
Posted by Trojan on Monday 28 July 2008 at 11:36 UAE time

These rankings regularly published by the press in the UAE are a total sham designed to prop up the country and entice more suckers to buy condos and villas. As others commented, the claims made apply to a tiny fraction of the expat community, and mainly to the upper class of the locals. What's more, you have to know how the questions were framed and who was asked, i.e. what is the background of the people who were surveyed. Did they come from a country with high taxes? What kind of opportunities are available for them in their country? What other options do they have?

Everything in life is relative. The true value of an opportunity is measured only in relation to other available opportunities.

I am an expat myself, and I can tell you, regardless of the supposed high income and displays of wealth, the quality of life in the UAE (and the rest of the Gulf for that matter) is LOUSY. That's what everyone should focus on, the quality of life, not how little taxes you pay or what superficiality you can add to your life.

This looks like another attempt by HSBC to gain favour with the powers-to-be in the UAE.

Instead of publishing such trash surveys, why didn't the local press talk about the recent survey by Mercer Consulting on the quality of life rankings across the globe? Not a single Arab capital was in the top 50! But now, we don't want THAT to be publicized, do we?

Editor's note: that story is also published on our website.

There was al time
Posted by Nafees Ahamed, Abu Dhabi, UAE on Monday 28 July 2008 at 09:53 UAE time

Well, there was a time before to say this, but not now. It is luxurious for those who have money. Specifically, these days people are suffering in this bubble economy. I feel HSBc should learn how to select a population for sample in a survey that reflects the real picture of the people living in UAE. I guess they have circulate this to only wealthy individuals!

UAE most luxurious country for Expats?
Posted by Hombil, Muscat, Oman on Monday 28 July 2008 at 09:52 UAE time


Let us not mix up luxury with standard of living. In UAE, one can say that the standard of living for a small segment of expats is good (not high!), but definitely not luxurious. For majority of the expats living in UAE (labourers and workers), there is no luxury nor a decent standard of living!

Looks like, HSBC conducts surveys amongst Western Expats, or amongst the so called "cream of society" and have no idea about the living standards of the majority of expats living in UAE.

Believe it or not!!!!
Posted by Saeed Iqbal, Sharjah, UAE on Monday 28 July 2008 at 08:12 UAE time

This article did make me laugh. I can't say for others but I am much better here than what I'd be in my country (at least in some ways). Though it is getting very expensive for my pocket and I don't own a pool or a speed boat but I can sure rent one for a day. The life style here is good as per my standards.

UAE most luxurious for expats
Posted by Mike, Abu Dhabi on Sunday 27 July 2008 at 22:53 UAE time


Having residing in Hong Kong for more than two decades and now witnessing the attraction of Abu Dhabi the headline is a false dream. High rental for accommodation, lack of freedom in the employment market, indirect taxation, shortage of schooling, etc..
Maybe true for South East Asia expats, but not from English speaking countries.

Joke
Posted by Sundoon, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 27 July 2008 at 19:33 UAE time

It's too funny and unreal to believe...as voiced by many i would like HSBC to go down to Alquoz and interview people. It will give a few lucky boat owners in Dubai about the real picture of expats living conditions.

May be this is true!!!
Posted by SR, Dubai on Sunday 27 July 2008 at 19:32 UAE time


I seriously can not believe HSBC has come out with something so outrageous!
Or may be this is true and the only expats who don't own a boat may be the ones who have commented!
Guys, quick grab a boat and a house with a swimming pool (you might as well get a personal loan from HSBC to finance it in case you do not want to move any of the thumping investments / savings dumped elsewhere!).
Since you have the boat you can also use it to travel via the waterways so that traffic will be avoided. Whats more, you can be back home in time to have a dip in the pool!!!

UAE land of Luxury?
Posted by Lee, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 27 July 2008 at 16:09 UAE time

Well this article made me laugh and I think it's an irony and a mockery of 70 percent expatriates who are either middle class employees or lower class workers who probably who never know what luxury really means with the current living standards in UAE rent hikes and increasing cost of consumer goods. I think your article is probably focused on the high class expatriates who in any case dont need to spend their income as they get the benefits through their employers like swimming pool, domestic help etc..etc.

Expat.. totally phat!
Posted by yatz on Sunday 27 July 2008 at 15:24 UAE time

Bingo. 90% of the UAE's population are expats and we all own speedboats to get to our private islands while our chauffeurs follow with cold cuts and bubbly. I love the story, HSBC. We're the best. Keep it up.

Expat?
Posted by Ahmed, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 27 July 2008 at 13:30 UAE time

I suppose it was meant to say "most luxurious country in world for citizens", then it would make sense.

Living standards
Posted by Roger Woodward, Dubai on Sunday 27 July 2008 at 13:16 UAE time

The high standards may be available for those who work for foreign companies and have housing, maids, cars and schools provided. However those who are not on contracts with these benefits are suffering severely. (200,000+ rent for a 3BR Villa. 12,000 to 60,000+ per student (Nursery to High school)) For a 3 child family this could add up to over 300,000 per year. How many people could buy a boat on top of that.
The US has much better standards even with paying taxes. The flexibility (and variety) of climate, cultural life (virtually non existent in the Gulf), religious freedom (certainly not universal in the Gulf).

UAE most luxurious country in world for expats
Posted by Darryl Hutchison, Dubai on Sunday 27 July 2008 at 11:09 UAE time

What were the parameters of the survey and which segment of the population were these results derived from.

I agree with the previous post by Rainigade that such replies must have come from the HSBC Private Wealth Management programme. They are probably the top 5% who are not likely to be affected by the soaring rent increases and day to day expenses that the rest, 95% of us have to endure. These 5% have all there expenses paid by the companies that they work for anyway.

Are we dreaming!
Posted by SR, Dubai on Sunday 27 July 2008 at 10:57 UAE time

I agree with the others who have opined before. HSBC has been issuing these kind of statements lately, probably based on sampling errors!!
Can an average middle class family earning USD 120K p.a. afford a boat / swimming pool? I doubt very much! Moreover, for decent accommodation alone one will have to pay around USD 20-40K p.a. Do you think this compares with the US / European countries, or even some sub-continent cities!

life of hand to mouth or luxury
Posted by Raj, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 27 July 2008 at 10:47 UAE time


Under circumstances where majority of expats are struggling to live a life of hand to mouth, not sure what kind of luxury the article is speaking about. Owning a swimming pool, owning 5-6 cars, easy access to a million dollar property, I wonder what is the definition of luxury?

Why is that only such surveys come in news and not those of the deprived.

Who was polled?
Posted by Rainigade, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 27 July 2008 at 10:40 UAE time


I'm sure the survey was conducted amongst the clients of the HSBC Private Wealth Management programme. They're the only one's who could afford to buy boats.

Let the survey be conducted in areas such as Karama, Satwa, Deira, Ghusais... or lets face it, even Barsha and Sheikh Zayed Road. How many expats living in these areas have boats?

People in Europe take many more holidays than expats living here, simply based on the fact that you can go to a neighbouring country over the weekend and experience something different. Plus low cost airlines and railway networks are highly developed.

People in the Sub-Continent have been employing domestic help for years now.... so thats no great accomplishment.

I dont deny that life here is very good. But lets not fool ourselves... there are pros and cons that balance things out. There may be luxury here, but its not for everyone. And there is a LOT of hardship here too.

Expat luxury
Posted by matt blair, dubai, uae on Sunday 27 July 2008 at 09:37 UAE time

First I would like to see their definition of "expat". The majority of the UAE community is expat but only a minority of them have the luxury life style described in the article. Next time they do a survey they need to visit the work camps where the majority try to survive.

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