British expats prefer Dubai over Europe and the USBritish expats are abandoning traditional European hotspots such as Spain in favour of a new life in the UAE.
The Emirates has ranked third in the sixth annual NatWest International Personal Banking Quality of Life Report, a global study of British expats' opinions and attitudes to living abroad.
Alongside European destinations such as France and Spain, the UAE also beat the US, Hong Kong and South Africa on the list. Career opportunities were listed as "the key driver" for expats heading to the UAE by 75 per cent of Brits polled.
"The most notable shifts in our Quality of Life results this year is the rise of the UAE as an expat destination," said Dave Isley, the head of NatWest International Personal Banking. "It seems expats are willing to adjust their lifestyle in exchange for a stronger economy and better job opportunities."
Thoughts very much echoed by Dubai-based British expat Daniel Walsh, 26, who insisted: "At least five friends I know back in the UK are planning to move here for work as we speak - and loads more are asking me how it is here and are thinking of relocating."
The NatWest report examines attitudes to lifestyle, employment and financial status among 1,800 British expats worldwide. The UAE ranked sixth in 2012, ninth the year before that and 10th in 2010.
Interestingly, however, only eight per cent of respondents polled in 2013 said they would choose to live in the UAE permanently. The remaining majority - 92 per cent - said that they consider their stay in the country to be a "temporary assignment".
Housewife Eileen Hall, who has been living in Abu Dhabi for 10 years, being one. She said that although she loved life in the UAE, she would "definitely" move back to the UK some day. Hall also said, though, that she isn't surprised Europe is becoming less popular for British expats.
"Europe has just become second rate in comparison to the UAE," she said. "European countries don't hold a candle to the great weather, job opportunities, no tax and the luxurious lifestyle that you have access to here.
"There's also a huge British expatriate community here, so you don't feel too far away from home."
Figures reported in 2012 said that there were 240,000 British expats living in the UAE. Traditional Brit expat favourites Australia and Canada took spots one and two in the NatWest report.
© 7Days 2014
