Revealed: the best expat destinations in 2021

Emirates jumps 16 places in annual Expat Insider survey but UK languishes

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  10. Vietnam - 85% of expats rate the cost of living positively, and 78% are satisfied with their financial situation. Getty Images

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  9. Canada - 85% of expats in Canada are satisfied with the affordability of healthcare, and 90% are happy with the country’s political stability. Getty Images

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  8. Ecuador - 91% of expats say their disposable income as enough or more than enough to cover their expenses. Getty Images

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  7. Australia - Ranks sixth in the Quality of Life Index overall, and is placed first worldwide for its local leisure activities. 97% of expats also praise the natural environment. Getty Images

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  6. New Zealand - 83% of expats enjoy a great work-life balance. Getty Images

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  5. Portugal - 84% of expats are happy with their life in general in Portugal. And 87% are satisfied with the local leisure options. Getty Images

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  4. Malaysia - 77% of expats say they find it easy to settle down in Malaysia. It also ranks first in the Language subcategory with 92% of expats stating it's easy to live there without speaking the local language. Getty Images

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  3. Costa Rica - 87% of expats describe locals as generally friendly, and 70% find it easy to make local friends Getty Images

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  2. Mexico - 85% find it easy to settle down in Mexico, and 78% find it easy to make local friends. Getty Images

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  1. Taiwan - This is the third year in a row that Taiwan has ranked first. 83% of expats are satisfied with their job security and 85% satisfied the state of the local economy. Getty Images

The UAE was commended for its security, stability and excellent transport infrastructure in a survey of top expat destinations in 2021 published on Tuesday.

The Emirates was ranked 18th out of 59 countries, an improvement of 16 places on its InterNations Expat Insider 2020 survey rating of 34.

This performance contrasts to the UK which came in a lowly 45th, its expat community complaining of poor quality of life and miserable weather.

The winner was Taiwan while Kuwait was ranked the worst destination for expats.

A man looks across at the soaring Taipei 101 tower in Taiwan, a country which occupies an equally lofty position in the esteem of expats. Getty

UAE performance in the Expat Insider survey 2021

The UAE finished 17th in the quality of life category but where it really shone was in safety and security where it finished third, bettered only by Finland and Singapore.

Compared to a global average of 80 per cent, 92 per cent of expats said the UAE was peaceful and 89 per cent lauded its political stability.

The Emirates also performed well in the travel and transport subcategory, coming in at seventh with 95 per cent of expats satisfied with its infrastructure compared to a global average of 76 per cent.

Another area of excellence came in the ease of settling in category, with the UAE finishing fourth in the subcategory behind Malaysia, Singapore and Kenya.

Expats told the survey that they feel at home culturally in the UAE and found it easy to get used to.

"Expats consider the UAE to be a peaceful, safe and stable country with a lot of travel opportunities and a good transportation infrastructure," an InterNations representative told The National.

"Most are also very happy with the quality of medical care … and it is an ideal destination for expats who are worried about the language barrier as they find it easy to get by without speaking the local language."

This was affirmed by a Kenyan expat who said “the country is safe for me and my two daughters”.

UK performance dragged down by weather and Covid

Expats in the UK may well view the UAE cohort with more than a tinge of envy.

A mere 10 per cent said they were happy with life in Britain overall, giving the UK a miserable ranking of second from last in this category. Only expats in Kuwait were more downbeat.

One of the reasons given was the UK’s ‘inconsistent’ weather, but if it’s not the cold and rain getting expats in Britain down it’s the cost of living, a category in which the country came 45th.

When it comes to the global pandemic, there was a marked disappointment at the UK government's handling of the crisis, a performance that is now to be investigated in a full public inquiry.

Only 55 per cent of expats were happy with the Covid communications of Boris Johnson and his government, compared to a global average of 66 per cent.

Top 10 expat destinations 2021

The UK has some ground to make up on the top 10 destinations for expats in 2021, which can be seen in the gallery above and are listed below.

1. Taiwan

2. Mexico

3. Costa Rica

4. Malaysia

5. Portugal

6. New Zealand

7. Australia

8. Ecuador

9. Canada

10. Vietnam

1. Taiwan

First overall, the east Asian country also finished top in the quality of life and working abroad categories. Furthermore, it came top of the pile in the friendliness subcategory while expats spoke glowingly of its medical care system.

2. Mexico

Mexico’s appearance so near the pinnacle is arguably surprising but expats even rated it at number one in the ease of settling category. Seventy-eight per cent of respondents said it is easy to make friends in Mexico compared to a global average of 44 per cent.

Mexico also polled well in the personal finance and cost of living categories.

3. Costa Rica

Moving down the Americas and coming in third is the wildlife paradise of Costa Rica. Expats rated it very highly in both the ease of settling in and quality of life categories.

It even came in first place in the personal happiness subcategory with 96 per cent of expats thrilled by its natural environment, some way ahead of the global average of 84 per cent.

The National Theatre of Costa Rica in San Jose is one of the country's many attractions for expats. Alamy

4. Malaysia

Malaysia ranks above the global average in every single category polled.

It did exceptionally well in the ease of settling in category with one US expat saying “the people are wonderful”. It also finished top in the language subcategory.

5. Portugal

Recently placed on the UK’s travel green list, Portugal isn’t just popular with tourists – expats love it, too.

The temperate country performed best in the quality of life category, with its weather and lifestyle propelling it to third place.

It also performed very well in the ease of settling category. Eighty-three per cent felt at home compared to a global average of 62 per cent.

8. New Zealand

Peter Jackson saw so much potential in this breathtaking Pacific island he decided it was good enough for Tolkein’s Middle Earth. Whilst expats didn’t mention living on the Lord of the Rings set as a factor in their happiness, they did highlight the quality of life and work opportunities New Zealand provides.

“I love my peaceful, calm and safe existence in New Zealand,” said one US expat.

7. Australia

Just a single place behind its antipodean neighbour came Australia, where expats were most pleased with its range of leisure activities and natural environment.

“Living in close proximity to nature, close to the beach and the rainforest, is so amazing!” said one expat.

Australia ranked highly in the digital life subcategory, with 89 per cent of expats appreciating the availability of government services online compared to a global average of  63 per cent.

8. Ecuador

Another entry from the Americas, Ecuador performed best in the personal finance category where it ranked fifth. More than 91 per cent of expats said their disposable household income was more than enough to cater for their expenses, compared to a global average of 77 per cent.

Linked symbiotically to personal finance is the cost of living, and Ecuador performed admirably here too, coming in seventh.

9. Canada

Canada is a perennial presence on living and working abroad lists and as expected it performed well across all categories. It finished fifth in the quality of life category with expats particularly impressed by its connectivity and cashless payments infrastructure.

Canada’s healthcare and political stability were also lauded by its expat community.

10. Vietnam

Countries from east Asia bookended the top 10 with Vietnam taking the final place. It ranked first in both the personal finance and cost of living categories, with expats also rating it in ninth in the working abroad category and finding friends subcategory.