The United Arab Emirates has strengthened its position as a global leader in the digital nomad economy, securing second place worldwide in 2025 as a preferred destination for remote professionals.
This significant progress from fourth place in 2023 as reported by the VisaGuide Digital Nomad Visa Index demonstrates the UAE’s long-term vision that prioritises investment in people and digital infrastructure over short-term economic returns.
Immigrant Invest ranked the UAE second globally, just behind Spain and ahead of nations such as Montenegro, the Bahamas, and Hungary. The assessment considered rigorous criteria, including internet quality, taxation policies, cost of living, healthcare standards, and the country’s exceptional levels of safety and stability.
As remote work evolves into a mainstream economic driver—estimated to be worth nearly USD 800 billion annually governments around the world are competing to attract this increasingly influential workforce.
Mohammad Alard, a digital nomad and founder of the Arab Digital Nomads community, emphasised the UAE’s regional leadership: “The UAE is not merely joining the race; it is setting the pace. I visited several times and lived in Sharjah, where I witnessed the nation’s advanced digital infrastructure, widespread high-speed internet, abundance of co-working spaces, and rich cultural diversity.”
He highlighted the country’s strong appeal among entrepreneurial digital nomads and tech startup founders, drawn by its legal clarity, personal security, and high standard of living. “Cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai are now firmly established as top global destinations,” he added.
Alard elaborated further: “Dubai stands as a global digital business hub on par with cities such as Bangkok, Barcelona, or Cape Town.” He pointed to targeted initiatives like Abu Dhabi’s Virtual Working Programme and Dubai’s Remote Work Visa, both designed to attract skilled international professionals. Global rankings reflect this effort, with Dubai leading as the best city for remote work and Abu Dhabi in fourth place, as per RemoteWork360.
