Dubai has ranked seventh globally in William Russell’s list of the top 10 most welcoming cities for newcomers, a ranking that measures how easily new residents can settle in and feel a sense of belonging in major cities around the world.
The emirate scored 7.61 out of 10, placing it ahead of Warsaw, Seoul, and Hong Kong, while coming behind Zurich, Singapore, Tokyo, Copenhagen, Munich, and Prague.
Dubai’s presence among the top 10 confirms its position as one of the world’s leading destinations for professionals and expatriates. This status is supported by the high share of foreign residents in the city, along with flexible visa policies and a business environment that has, for years, helped attract international talent and investment.
The study assessed the most welcoming countries and cities for expatriates in 2026 based on six main criteria. These included real expatriate experiences, the size of the migrant population, employment rates among foreign-born residents, local attitudes toward migrants, safety levels, and the openness of visa policies.
Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, topped the global ranking after scoring 9.06 out of 10. It was followed closely by Singapore and Tokyo, which shared second place with a score of 8.97 each.
The tie between Singapore and Tokyo was notable, as it suggests that some cities can offer an organized and welcoming environment for newcomers, even when the process of integration may be more challenging compared with other cities.
Copenhagen came in fourth, in line with its reputation as a European capital that attracts new arrivals, including professionals looking for a different lifestyle. Munich ranked fifth with 8.63 points, followed by Prague in sixth place with 7.86 points, and then Dubai in seventh.
The remaining spots in the top 10 went to Warsaw, which scored 7.52 points, followed by Seoul with 7.44 points and Hong Kong with 7.26 points.
The city-level results also showed a clear gap between the economic status of some major global hubs and their scores in the newcomer welcome index.
London scored only 3.08 out of 10, affected by higher levels of social friction and weaker safety indicators compared with the average. Paris recorded 3.16 points, while New York fell to 1.88 points.
The results indicate that major cities, despite their economic strength and global presence, do not always perform equally well when it comes to helping newcomers feel settled and included. By contrast, Dubai’s advanced position in the ranking reflects its ability to provide a more welcoming and diverse environment for new residents from around the world.
