Dubai has been ranked as the fifth best city in the world for the years 2019/2020 in the "Best Cities" index, which evaluates 16 global cities, published by the Boston Consulting Group. The index's concept is based on monitoring the achievements that cities worldwide have made to improve the well-being of their residents and enhance their satisfaction, while working to meet their needs. Cities are ranked based on the progress they have made across a range of indicators, which are continuously verified through surveys of the residents of these cities.
In the second edition of the global ranking of the best cities, a comparison was conducted between various destinations across multiple areas to measure their success in enhancing the happiness of residents, in addition to highlighting their specific rankings compared to other global cities. Dubai scored 55 out of 100 in rankings related to measuring levels of performance in improving quality of life, economic opportunities, social capital, speed of change, and the nature of the relationship with authorities.
Christopher Daniel, the managing partner at Boston Consulting Group Middle East, stated: "Cities are ranked based on the well-being of their residents, and they can improve their ranking by meeting expectations related to improving life standards, focusing on increasing citizen satisfaction, attracting talent to enhance economic competitiveness, building trust, committing to large-scale project development, encouraging actions that address basic living challenges, and aligning the diverse interests of different population groups. These measures have enhanced Dubai's global standing, as the proactive efforts undertaken by the city have had positive effects on various fronts. This includes a series of future-oriented initiatives launched to address the challenges posed by the pandemic, many of which have successfully improved the quality of life and business."
**Economic Opportunities**
Dubai has emerged as a leading city in two main areas: the availability of economic opportunities, which encompasses living standards and professional recognition. Dubai ranked second with a score of 72, surpassing only New York. Additionally, Dubai ranked third among major cities in terms of open and reliable dialogue with authorities, which is considered a central enabling factor for enhancing widespread satisfaction, achieving a score of 73 out of 100, surpassed only by Singapore and Toronto.
**Innovative Approach**
Christopher added: "Resident satisfaction is more susceptible to change than ever, coinciding with the evolution of expectations in line with opportunities for societal advancement. Dubai is renowned for its pioneering innovative approach, which is essential in enhancing happiness levels among its residents in the upcoming period. The city's economic landscape features abundant opportunities and potential, with residents welcoming improvements focused on their well-being and happiness. An improvement in the levels of interaction with authorities has also been noted, leveraging new digital tools to encourage residents to provide feedback and facilitate smooth transactions."
The second edition of the "Best Cities" index, which ranks global cities, includes data collected from residents in 70 cities worldwide and will be published in the coming months.
