A study by Remitly in 2023 found that Dubai was the most searched for city by people looking to move abroad. It topped the list in a staggering 60 countries, while second place Miami was a favorite in only 12.

The appeal is obvious. Year-round sunshine, pristine beaches, infamous shopping malls, entertainment, and restaurants – and a low tax rate that leaves you with more disposable income to enjoy it all.

But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find an ambitious city that is doing everything it can to support its citizens in building meaningful lives – in and out of the office.

A city for ambition

Dubai has latterly emerged as a major global business hub, offering an ideal launchpad for its residents’ success.

The emirate is an especially strong supporter of innovation, reflected in its Dubai 10x program, that aims for the city to be “ahead of the world by ten years”, by directing public policy and investment towards research and technology-led “holistic growth”. This future focus is reflected in the wealth of startup incubators, accelerators and business hubs that pour resources towards innovative SMEs – which also benefit from the emirate’s advanced physical, digital, and regulatory infrastructure.

And the level of support is growing. The Dubai Economic Agenda 2033 (‘D33’) aims to double the emirate’s GDP within the decade, with 100 initiatives that range from nurturing 30 unicorns to expanding the city’s trade corridors and launching an emirate-wide regulatory sandbox.

This dynamic landscape attracts private investment from across the globe. Dubai is the number one destination for greenfield FDI, and home to the world’s fastest growing VC ecosystem.

The result is an extraordinary environment for entrepreneurs to build their business – and expansive opportunities for talented individuals seeking inspiring employment. Dubai has consistently ranked in the top 3 most desirable cities to move to for work in Boston Consulting Group’s flagship global mobility survey.

But it’s not all work in the emirate. The city is just as invested in its residents’ quality of life.

A City for living

The postcard version of Dubai is enough to make the city desirable. But its world-class amenities – the infrastructure that underpins the day-to-day – are arguably more important for building a life.

The UAE is ranked 1st globally for healthcare coverage and preventative screening programs. Dubai is the 4th safest city in the world. Its private schools are within the top 15 globally for mathematics, science, and reading.

And the emirate is continuing to invest, heavily. The Quality of Life Strategy 2033 seeks to further improve life in the emirate across ten pillars, including culture, the natural environment, employment, education, and mobility.

Initiatives range from organizing over 1,000 arts, community, entertainment and sports events, to extending night swimming beaches and “developing Dubai’s outlying areas,” with view to “transforming Dubai into a pedestrian, environment and family-friendly city.”

A key component of the strategy is making Dubai a “20-minute city”, where 80% of essential services will be accessible within a 20-minute journey from anywhere in the city, using sustainable modes of transport.

To achieve that goal, the city is extending cycle lanes, expanding bus routes, and building more railway tracks – alongside increasing the availability of self-driving electric vehicles.

Such easy mobility is vital for life in the city. But for foreigners, international connections are just as important.

A city for expats

Dubai could hardly be more welcoming to expats. The UAE is home to a vibrant international community: 88% of the population are foreigners, from more than 200 nationalities.

Facilitating this kaleidoscopic melting-pot, English is widely used as lingua franca, including for official purposes. And the city is hyper-connected to the rest of the world.

Dubai International Airport is the busiest international airport on the planet, and the second most connected – making it easy to visit home(or for home to visit you), wherever you’re from.

The emirate also boasts the world’s 10th busiest cargo port by volume, supplying goods from all four corners of the globe.

And the UAE has made it relatively easy to secure a residency visa. Digital nomads can stay for a year with a qualifying work contract.Self - employed and skilled workers can self- sponsor for a five-year green visa.

Entrepreneurs, investors, and skilled individuals can obtain increasingly popular ‘golden’ visas for up to ten-years – applications for which skyrocketed 52 % in the first half of 2023.

The world’s dream home

It’s common for Dubai’s expat residents to say they only meant to stay for a short time, but now it’s ten-years on and they’ve put down roots.

With the care and attention being lavished on the city’s quality of life, it’s easy to see why.