The National · 22 Oct, 16:41 · Business briefing

UAE ranks third globally for quality of life satisfaction among the affluent

Recent findings indicate the United Arab Emirates has secured the third position globally for quality of life satisfaction among affluent individuals.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Recent findings indicate the United Arab Emirates has secured the third position globally for quality of life satisfaction among affluent individuals. This ranking, reported by The National, highlights the region’s growing appeal to high-net-worth individuals and senior professionals. The data suggests that beyond financial metrics, factors such as infrastructure, safety, and lifestyle amenities are driving significant satisfaction levels. For working professionals considering international relocation or expatriate assignments, this statistic underscores the Emirates as a premier destination. It reflects a mature market environment where personal well-being and professional success are increasingly aligned, offering compelling non-monetary incentives for global talent acquisition and retention strategies.

Employer demand for Tourism And Hospitality skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This ranking signals a surge in high-end service demand, from luxury hospitality to premium real estate. You should prioritise skills in managing affluent client expectations and cross-cultural leadership. Professionals in tourism, finance, and property development will find heightened opportunities. Consider upskilling in strategic marketing to capture this demographic effectively. If you are in human resources, focus on retention strategies that leverage these lifestyle benefits. A smart move is to analyse local market trends in wealth management or high-end retail. You might also explore compliance and governance roles, as regulatory frameworks evolve to support this affluent ecosystem. Ultimately, align your career trajectory with sectors benefiting from this demographic shift, ensuring you deliver exceptional service quality that matches the region’s elevated standards.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Tourism And Hospitality, Strategic Marketing, Leadership and Finance and Accounting — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.