Burj Khalifa

United Arab Emirates

Name: World Residence Index 2026 scores for United Arab Emirates
Published: 2026

Region: Middle East
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Currency: UAE Dirham (AED)
Density: 136 / km²

WRI Score 2026

80.36

scale 1–100 · higher is better

Global rank: 21st
In Middle East: 2nd
Ranked: 211

Parameter Breakdown · 2026

The nine components behind the score.

Every parameter is scored 1–100, higher is better, equally weighted; their sum normalises to the 0–100 WRI Score.

Personal Income Tax · 100 = no income tax Top rate 0%· KPMG / EY
100.0
No personal income tax is levied.
Population Density · 100 = uncrowded 136 / km²· UN WPP
47.1
Densely populated relative to land area.
GDP per Capita · 100 = highest output per resident $53,842· IMF WEO 2026
84.3
Strong output per resident, well above the global median.
Life Expectancy · 100 = longest life expectancy 78.7 years· WHO / UN
75.1
Moderate life expectancy relative to peers.
Tourism & Lifestyle · 100 = strongest lifestyle appeal 1.5 arrivals per capita· UNWTO
86.4
Strong inbound tourism relative to population.
Unemployment · 100 = lowest unemployment 2.6%· ILO / SECO
97.4
Among the lowest unemployment rates globally.
Warmongering · 100 = least militarised 4.5% of GDP· SIPRI
58.3
Moderate defence spending relative to GDP.
Safety & Rule of Law · 100 = safest Composite· UNODC · WJP · TI
80.4
Strong safety and judicial quality.
Ideological Neutrality · 100 = most ideologically neutral WRI rubric composite· WRI rubric
96.0
Among the highest ideological-neutrality scores on this list.

Where it sits

Among the world's elite tier.

United Arab Emirates holds 21st of 211 with a WRI Score of 80.36 — ranks just behind the very top tier. The score is driven by near-perfect its tax treatment (100) and unemployment (97.4), with population density standing out as a moderate constraint.