Abu Dhabi has been ranked first on the world’s safest cities list in 2025, the ninth consecutive year it has topped the list since 2017, according to online database Numbeo, reflecting the emirate’s efforts to develop pioneering security plans, strategies, and initiatives.
Ranking first out of 382 global cities in the 2025 standings, Abu Dhabi has held Numbeo’s title of the world’s safest city for almost a decade, which demonstrates the emirate’s ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of life for citizens, residents, and visitors. Promotion by Abu Dhabi Police of the sense of safety and security in the city, while strengthening the trust of community members, has contributed to Abu Dhabi’s recognition in the Numbeo list, reinforcing the city’s position as a preferred place to study, work, and live.
In January 2024, Abu Dhabi Police revealed that Abu Dhabi has been ranked first on the world’s safest cities list in 2024, according to online database Numbeo, reflecting the emirate’s global leadership in implementing 
best security standards, enhancing the quality of life for citizens, residents, and visitors. Ranking first out of 329 global cities in the 2024 standings, Abu Dhabi has held Numbeo’s title of the world’s safest city since 2017, reflecting the emirate’s ongoing efforts to ensure a good quality of life for citizens and residents.
Read more: Abu Dhabi claims top spot as world’s safest city in 2024
Global liveability index highlights Abu Dhabi and Dubai
In August 2024, a report from the Global Liveability Index of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) highlighted that Abu Dhabi and Dubai remained top liveable cities in the Middle East and Africa, and improved their scores in health care and education. The index ranked Dubai closely behind in the second spot, highlighting its achieved progress in the same areas. According to the “Crime and Safety Indexes” provided by the Numbeo website, Abu Dhabi is considered one of the safest cities globally. The city ranked first globally on the Safety Index with a score of 88.2 points and had the lowest score on the Crime Index with 11.8 points. Meanwhile, Dubai ranked fifth on the list of the world’s safest cities.
In the field of health, recent data from a report by the Dubai Health Authority showed that the total number of licensed and operational healthcare facilities in the emirate reached 5,020 during the first quarter of 2024, with the number of licensed doctors totaling 13,370. Meanwhile, the number of healthcare facilities in Abu Dhabi, during the same period, reached 3,323, including 67 hospitals, 1,136 health centres, 765 clinics, 1,068 pharmacies, and 287 other facilities classified as healthcare establishments. At the same time, the number of licensed doctors in Abu Dhabi reached 12,922 by the end of 2022.
In the field of education, the number of schools in Abu Dhabi reached 459, including private, public, and mixed schools, during the 2023-2024 academic year, while the number of private schools in Dubai reached 220.
