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Best Countries in the Middle East to Live

The Middle East combines tax-free income, world-class infrastructure, and rapidly modernizing cities. From the UAE's cosmopolitan lifestyle to Oman's safety and natural beauty, we rank Middle Eastern countries using 15 institutional data sources across 7 dimensions — including the financial advantages that attract professionals and entrepreneurs worldwide.

Tax-free income zonesModern infrastructureGrowing expat communitiesStrategic location

Countries Ranked

$2,536

Avg. Monthly Cost

$1,750

Lowest Monthly Cost

Personalize Rankings for Middle East

Top 7 in Middle East

Ranked using balanced quality weights across 7 dimensions. Scores reflect 15 institutional data sources.

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United Arab Emirates

Middle East

InfrastructureHealthcareCareer & Economy

Israel

Middle East

HealthcareEducationCareer & Economy

Qatar

Middle East

InfrastructureHealthcareSafety

Bahrain

Middle East

InfrastructureHealthcareCareer & Economy

Oman

Middle East

SafetyInfrastructureHealthcare

Kuwait

Middle East

InfrastructureHealthcareCost of Living

Jordan

Middle East

HealthcareSafetyLifestyle

34.7

Score

~$1,750/mo

#1 in Middle East

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United Arab Emirates

Middle East

55.53

Overall Score

$2,800

Est. Monthly Cost

United Arab Emirates ranks well by balancing its strong infrastructure with reasonable performance in your highest priority (safety).

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Rankings by Lifestyle

Looking for something specific? Our persona-optimized rankings weight dimensions differently based on your priorities.

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Best Countries for Digital Nomads

Infrastructure · Lifestyle · Cost of Living · Safety

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Best Countries to Retire Abroad

Healthcare · Safety · Cost of Living · Lifestyle

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Best Countries for Families

Education · Safety · Healthcare · Cost of Living

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Best Countries for Career Relocation

Career & Economy · Infrastructure · Lifestyle · Safety

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Best Countries for Entrepreneurs

Career & Economy · Infrastructure · Cost of Living · Safety

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Best Low-Tax Countries to Live

Lifestyle · Safety · Healthcare · Infrastructure

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Middle Eastern countries have zero income tax?

The UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman have no personal income tax. Our rankings weight this financial advantage alongside quality-of-life factors like healthcare, safety, and infrastructure — because a zero-tax country only works if the overall quality of life meets your standards.

How do you score safety in the Middle East?

We use the same Global Peace Index, homicide rates, and political stability indicators as all regions. The UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Jordan consistently score well on safety. Each country page shows the specific safety breakdown.

Are there visa options for remote workers?

The UAE and Bahrain offer dedicated remote work visas. Dubai's Virtual Working Programme and Abu Dhabi's Remote Work Visa are among the most popular. Set your citizenship in the quiz for personalized visa pathway calculations.