• No 10 JAPAN: The bustling streets of Tokyo are among the safest in Asia. Japan scored highly for personal safety and respect between individuals. Franck Robichon / EPA
    No 10 JAPAN: The bustling streets of Tokyo are among the safest in Asia. Japan scored highly for personal safety and respect between individuals. Franck Robichon / EPA
  • No 9 SWITZERLAND: People rest in front of the Jet d'Eau water fountain in Geneva. Switzerland remains one of the safest and wealthiest places in the world. Denis Balibouse / Reuters
    No 9 SWITZERLAND: People rest in front of the Jet d'Eau water fountain in Geneva. Switzerland remains one of the safest and wealthiest places in the world. Denis Balibouse / Reuters
  • No 8 ISLE OF MAN: Located between Ireland and the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man's 84,000 residents boast a high standard of living. Its low tax economy attracts start-ups and a significant portion of the economy is based around off-shore banking, gambling websites and insurance firms. Andrew Barton / Getty Images
    No 8 ISLE OF MAN: Located between Ireland and the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man's 84,000 residents boast a high standard of living. Its low tax economy attracts start-ups and a significant portion of the economy is based around off-shore banking, gambling websites and insurance firms. Andrew Barton / Getty Images
  • No 7 SLOVENIA: Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is said to be the greenest city in Europe. A nation of just two million, Slovenia attracts visitors from across the globe and boasts high employment and low crime. Adam Batterbee
    No 7 SLOVENIA: Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is said to be the greenest city in Europe. A nation of just two million, Slovenia attracts visitors from across the globe and boasts high employment and low crime. Adam Batterbee
  • No 6 HONG KONG: Despite recent protests and an uncertain political future, Hong Kong remains among the safest places in the world and the second safest in Asia. Anthony Wallace / AFP
    No 6 HONG KONG: Despite recent protests and an uncertain political future, Hong Kong remains among the safest places in the world and the second safest in Asia. Anthony Wallace / AFP
  • No 5 OMAN: A family looks over Muscat Bay. Oman was the third safest country in the region and fifth safety in the world. AFP
    No 5 OMAN: A family looks over Muscat Bay. Oman was the third safest country in the region and fifth safety in the world. AFP
  • No 4 GEORGIA: The Old Town in Tbilisi, Georgia. The jewel of the Caucasus has enjoyed a tourism boom in recent years thanks to affordable prices, and a climate allowing for sunny summer holidays and winter snowsports
    No 4 GEORGIA: The Old Town in Tbilisi, Georgia. The jewel of the Caucasus has enjoyed a tourism boom in recent years thanks to affordable prices, and a climate allowing for sunny summer holidays and winter snowsports
  • No 3 UAE: Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road skyline. The UAE was third on the list and scored particularly high for personal safety, with residents feeling the threat of theft, violence or drug problems was very low. The National
    No 3 UAE: Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road skyline. The UAE was third on the list and scored particularly high for personal safety, with residents feeling the threat of theft, violence or drug problems was very low. The National
  • No 2 TAIWAN: Taipei 101 towers over the Taiwanese capital. The Asian nation of 23 million is known for its delicious street food and national parks, which cover much of the island. Craig Ferguson / Getty Images
    No 2 TAIWAN: Taipei 101 towers over the Taiwanese capital. The Asian nation of 23 million is known for its delicious street food and national parks, which cover much of the island. Craig Ferguson / Getty Images
  • No 1 QATAR: Residents walk along Doha's Corniche beneath the city's skyscrapers. Qatar was ranked the safest country in Numbeo's 2020 crime index. Matthew Ashton / Getty Images
    No 1 QATAR: Residents walk along Doha's Corniche beneath the city's skyscrapers. Qatar was ranked the safest country in Numbeo's 2020 crime index. Matthew Ashton / Getty Images

UAE ranked among safest countries in global crime report


Rory Reynolds
  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE was ranked among the safest countries in the world in a global crime report.

Numbeo listed the country in third place, with Qatar in first and Taiwan in second.

Georgia and Oman - two of the most popular holiday destinations for UAE travellers - were fourth and fifth followed by Hong Kong and Slovenia.

Isle Of Man, Switzerland and Japan rounded up the top ten.

The Emirates previously scored in the top countries for safety, and Numbeo has listed Abu Dhabi as the safest city in the world since 2017.

The bottom of the charts was dominated by war zones and several Central American countries, where gun crime and kidnapping is rampant.

The crowd-sourced global data website published its half-year findings for 2020 this week. It provides twice annual snapshots of the safest cities and countries, along with measuring the cost of living.

It measures countries using a 'crime index' and a 'safety index'.

"We consider crime levels lower than 20 as very low, crime levels between 20 and 40 as being low, crime levels between 40 and 60 as being moderate, crime levels between 60 and 80 as being high and finally crime levels higher than 80 as being very high," Numbeo said.

The safety index is the opposite of the crime index. “If the city has a high safety index, it is considered very safe," the website said.

The UAE's crime index was 15.4 and its safety index was 84.5, meaning the average resident feels very safe.

At the bottom of the rankings was Venezuela, once the wealthiest country in South America, which has been beset by political turmoil and hyper-inflation. Murder and kidnappings have risen sharply in recent years and it is regarded as particularly dangerous for foreign travellers and investors.

It was ranked 84.36 for crime and 15.64 for safety, meaning the average resident feels extremely vulnerable to crime.

Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Afghanistan and Honduras were next on the list.

Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Guyana, El Salvador and Syria comprised the bottom 10.

  • NO 129 HONDURAS: Gangs, street violence and corruption have plagued the Central American nation for years. Though the murder rate fell significantly from 87 per 100,000 people in 2011 to 44 per 100,000 in 2019, 13 people are still killed every day on average. Orlando Sierra / AFP
    NO 129 HONDURAS: Gangs, street violence and corruption have plagued the Central American nation for years. Though the murder rate fell significantly from 87 per 100,000 people in 2011 to 44 per 100,000 in 2019, 13 people are still killed every day on average. Orlando Sierra / AFP
  • NO 130 AFGHANISTAN: Violence has marred peace talks between the Taliban and the government this year. The UN said at least 800 people have died in deliberate attacks on civilians in 2020. EPA/JALIL REZAYEE
    NO 130 AFGHANISTAN: Violence has marred peace talks between the Taliban and the government this year. The UN said at least 800 people have died in deliberate attacks on civilians in 2020. EPA/JALIL REZAYEE
  • NO 131 SOUTH AFRICA: Women protest against gender violence outside parliament in Cape Town on June 30, 2020. Crimes such as carjacking, ATM robbery, home invasion and rape remain very high, making the country among the most dangerous in the world. Nic Bothma / EPA
    NO 131 SOUTH AFRICA: Women protest against gender violence outside parliament in Cape Town on June 30, 2020. Crimes such as carjacking, ATM robbery, home invasion and rape remain very high, making the country among the most dangerous in the world. Nic Bothma / EPA
  • NO 132 PAPUA NEW GUINEA: The Pacific island is known for its biodiversity and beaches. But its cities are beset by gang warfare, while tribal areas have seen savage violence and massacres in recent years. It is described by activists as the worst place in the world for sexual violence. EPA
    NO 132 PAPUA NEW GUINEA: The Pacific island is known for its biodiversity and beaches. But its cities are beset by gang warfare, while tribal areas have seen savage violence and massacres in recent years. It is described by activists as the worst place in the world for sexual violence. EPA
  • NO 133 VENEZUELA: Once the wealthiest country in South America, it has faced political turmoil, hyper-inflation and allegations of political mismanagement of the economy. Murder and kidnappings have risen sharply in recent years and it is regarded as particularly dangerous for foreign travellers and investors.
    NO 133 VENEZUELA: Once the wealthiest country in South America, it has faced political turmoil, hyper-inflation and allegations of political mismanagement of the economy. Murder and kidnappings have risen sharply in recent years and it is regarded as particularly dangerous for foreign travellers and investors.