The world’s most, and least, livable cities in 2026 - shared by Fouad Kronfol

Some useful information for retiring UNICEF staff. Wonder if Personnel, or DHR or DPC, convey something like that in their separation letters?

The world’s most, and least, liveable cities in 2026

See how 173 cities compare in EIU’s annual ranking

FOR A CERTAIN type of person, Dubai had it all. Vast, air-conditioned shopping malls, good schools for the kids, low rainfall and even lower taxes. Before the Iran war, it was exceptionally safe too. But cities across the Gulf have recently become much less appealing for expats. In fact, no other region’s liveability has taken such a big hit this year, according to an annual index by EIU, our sister company.

The ranking is designed to help HR departments calculate hardship allowances for overseas staff. It scores 173 cities across five categories: health care, culture and environment, education, infrastructure and stability.

The most liveable city in the world this year? Copenhagen, which can celebrate its second consecutive year at the top. Vienna and Melbourne are close runners-up. Vancouver (9th) is the only city in North America to reach the top ten; Tokyo (10th) is the only megacity to make the cut. (Congested roads and crime tend to punish the index’s biggest cities).

Damascus, Syria’s war-torn capital, remains at the bottom, where it has sat since 2013. Tehran, another capital ravaged by war, fell two places and into the bottom ten. All of this year’s steepest falls were in the Middle East. After a series of Iranian drone strikes, Muscat fell 14 places to 123rd—the biggest drop of all. Doha, a magnet for expats, dropped seven spots to 108th. Dubai and Abu Dhabi each fell four places to 79th and 76th, respectively.

China led the improvers. After years of public investment, every Chinese city in the index raised its health-care score. Improvements include expanded health coverage and progress towards a government target to have medical facilities accessible within a 15-minute walk of every resident.

Chinese shopping malls even rival Dubai’s. But the country’s rankings are held back by a culture of surveillance and environmental problems. China is also one of the lowest-ranked countries in EIU’s democracy index. It is unlikely to draw an influx of tax-averse Westerners any time soon.■