The United Arab Emirates has once again secured a prominent first place in an international survey. A large-scale Gallup poll presented at the World Government Summit reveals that residents of the UAE are the most satisfied among all 107 countries surveyed. Nearly one-third of residents indicated they have no major concerns about their country. No other country came close to that percentage.
The survey, titled “The World’s Most Important Problem: What People Need Leaders to Hear in 2026,” was recently presented and asked adults in 107 countries what they see as the biggest problem in their country.
The results for the UAE are remarkably positive and stand in stark contrast to global trends. While economic concerns top the list in 71 of the 107 countries, the concerns in the UAE are of a completely different nature.
No Concerns About Safety and Minimal Economic Disruption
UAE residents who did mention concerns primarily spoke about the environment (19%), work and employment (12%), infrastructure (12%), and the economy (7%). Notably, safety does not even appear on the list of primary concerns. In many other countries, crime or insecurity is one of the biggest sources of anxiety, but in the UAE, this simply does not play a role.
The fact that safety is not a concern for residents is telling. According to the Gallup survey, safety only dominates in countries with active or recent armed conflicts. The fact that the UAE falls completely outside this category confirms the image that the country is one of the safest places in the world to live and work.
Economic concerns in the UAE are only at 7%, while the economy is the biggest problem globally. In 71 of the 107 countries, residents named the economy as their greatest concern. Young adults between 15 and 34 years old are particularly worried about economic prospects worldwide. In the UAE, this picture is completely different, suggesting that young people there have significantly more confidence in their financial future.
Kuwait and Bahrain finished in second and third place in the survey, indicating that the Gulf region as a whole scores well on resident satisfaction. But the UAE clearly stands out with the highest percentage of residents indicating they have no major concerns at all.
Trust in Government and Optimism About the Future
The Gallup survey does not stand alone. The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer, published last month, also placed the UAE first globally when it comes to trust in government. This combination of high satisfaction and great trust in the government is rare and points to a country where residents feel their leaders are making the right decisions.
Perhaps even more impressive is the optimism about the future. A full 63% of UAE residents believe the next generation will be better off than the current one. Globally, that percentage is only 32%. That difference is enormous and says a lot about the confidence people have in the direction the country is developing.
That optimism is not unfounded. The UAE is investing heavily in diversifying the economy, technology, education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi continue to develop with new projects, better facilities, and more opportunities for both local and international residents. The strategy to make the country less dependent on oil revenues is beginning to bear fruit, and residents are noticing this in their daily lives.
For expatriates considering a move to the UAE, these figures are relevant. They confirm what many people already living there experience: a safe country with good facilities, economic stability, and a government actively working to improve the living environment. Of course, no country is perfect, and the concerns about the environment and employment show that there is also room for improvement in the UAE. But the overall picture is one of a country where residents feel safe, satisfied, and optimistic about the future.
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