Expat Insider - The World Through Expat Eyes

Expat Insider 2021
The GCC States

Expat Insider 2021

From Great to Worst, the GCC States Have It All

From Bahrain narrowly missing out on a spot in the top 10 to Kuwait placing last, results across the GCC States vary a lot.

Top Findings

Bahrain performs best in the Ease of Settling In Index, ranking 5th.

For the seventh time in eight years, Kuwait comes in last place.
Nearly all expats in Oman rate the peacefulness positively.
Qatar does especially well in the Health & Well-Being subcategory (4th).
Only 48% of expats find it easy to settle down in Saudi Arabia.
93% agree it’s easy to live in the UAE without speaking the local language.

Comparing Life in the GCC States

Though results in the region may vary, there’s at least one thing that expats seem to agree on: the language, at least, is not an issue. In Saudi Arabia, a still above-average 56% of respondents agree that getting by without local language skills is not a problem (vs. 54% globally).

In nearly every other regard, the gulf between the best- and worst-rated GCC State, respectively, is much wider. This is particularly noticeable in the Ease of Settling In Index. Here, Bahrain and Oman land in a 5th and 6th place out of 59 destinations, while the UAE’s ratings put it at a good 17th place. Continuing on, Qatar finds itself in the middle of the list (29th), Saudi Arabia already sees less favorable results (36th), and Kuwait ranks last worldwide. Expats in the region perceive the friendliness of the local population, for example, vastly differently: 86% of respondents in Oman agree that local residents are generally friendly, while only three in ten expats in Kuwait (30%) would say the same.

However, Oman joins Kuwait when it comes to receiving less than favorable results in the Working Abroad Index, where the two countries rank 49th and 56th out of 59 destinations, respectively. In this respect, expats in Bahrain are the happiest too, affording the small nation a 15th place in the index, with Qatar not far behind in 19th place. However, even in these two GCC States, expats in full-time positions spend longer hours at the job than the global average: in Bahrain, the average work week is even six hours longer (49.2 hours per week vs. 43.2 hours globally)!

Does all this time spent at work at least translate into plenty of financial security? Not necessarily: Up to 35% of respondents in the region say that their disposable household income is not enough to cover all their living expenses (vs. 23% globally). Though in Bahrain, a slightly above-average share of 66% are at least satisfied with their financial situation in general (vs. 64% globally), helping it to a 29th place in the Personal Finance Index, the best result in the region.

When it comes to the quality of life, it is a different country that shines: the UAE ranks 17th in this index, with top 10 results in the Travel & Transportation (7th) and Safety & Security (3rd) subcategories. Oman (5th) and Qatar (9th) receive similarly good results in the latter subcategory, which combines the ratings for the peacefulness, political stability, and personal safety in the country. However, Qatar stands out even more in the Health & Well-Being subcategory, where its fourth place is by far the best result in the region.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Expat Life

Across the world, 63% of survey respondents state that COVID-19 has not disrupted their relocation plans. Across the GCC States, however, this share is at times much lower. Expats in Kuwait, for example, are around three times more likely to move back home sooner than originally planned (14% vs. 5% globally) or to move to another foreign country (19% vs. 6% globally). An additional 17% had to change existing plans to relocate (vs. 8% globally), and less than half the global average agree that the pandemic hasn’t had an impact on their stay abroad (30% vs. 63% globally).

While results are not quite as dire across the region, the share of expats who say they will now return home sooner than originally planned is usually above the global average of 5%, with results ranging from 9% to 12% in all but Qatar (4%). In Oman and Saudi Arabia, close to double the worldwide share of respondents are also planning to move to another foreign country due to COVID-19 (11% and 12%, respectively). And interestingly, over a quarter of respondents in the UAE (26%), Qatar (28%), and Bahrain (30%) have decided not to move back home in the near future due to the pandemic.

Bahrain: Easy to Settle Down In…

Ranking 12th out of 59 countries, Bahrain performs best in the Ease of Settling In Index (5th) — just behind Colombia (4th), Costa Rica (3rd), Malaysia (2nd), and Mexico (1st). Most expats (87%) find it easy to live in Bahrain without speaking the local language (vs. 54% globally). Moreover, 77% of expats feel at home in the local culture (vs. 63% globally), and 70% say it is easy to settle down in Bahrain (vs. 62% globally). A German expat says: “The people — locals and expats — are among the highlights of living in Bahrain.” More than half the expats in Bahrain (55%) have a social circle that consists of both expats and locals (vs. 48% globally), but another 40% are mostly friends with other expats (vs. 32% globally), and just 5% mainly socialize with locals (vs. 20% globally).

The people are among the highlights of living in Bahrain.

…with Good Career Opportunities…

With Bahrain receiving good results in the Working Abroad Index (15th), more than half the expats (54%) are happy with the local career opportunities, almost ten percentage points more than the global average (45%). A Pakistani expat shares: “Bahrain offers an equal opportunity to everyone who wants to succeed and develop in any field of life or work. This is the place for anyone to try their luck.” Additionally, 69% are satisfied with their job in general (vs. 68% globally), and 63% rate their job security positively (vs. 61% globally). In Bahrain, the most common fields expats work in are healthcare (11% vs. 6% globally), energy and utilities (9% vs. 2% globally), education (8% vs. 12% globally), and hospitality (8% vs. 3% globally).

…but a Dissatisfying Environment & Low Incomes

Placing 27th in the Quality of Life Index, Bahrain performs poorly in the Quality of the Environment (43rd) and Leisure Options (42nd) subcategories. In fact, 24% of expats are unhappy with the natural environment (vs. 8% globally), and 17% are dissatisfied with the local leisure options (vs. 14% globally), placing the country among the bottom 10 for both factors (55th for both). On the upside, most expats are happy with the availability of government services online (83% vs. 63% globally), the country’s political stability (84% vs. 64% globally), and the quality of medical care in Bahrain (81% vs. 71% globally).

With regard to the financial aspects of expat life, Bahrain comes in mid-field in the Cost of Living (26th) and Personal Finance (29th) Indices. Exactly half the expats (50%) rate the cost of living positively (vs. 48% globally). But while 66% of expats are generally satisfied with their financial situation (vs. 64% globally), another 31% say their disposable household income is not enough to cover all expenses (vs. 23% globally). In fact, 46% of expats in Bahrain have an income of up to 25,000 USD per year (vs. 30% globally), while just 8% of respondents report an annual income ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 USD (vs. 20% globally).

Kuwait: Ranking Last for Quality of Life & Ease of Settling In…

For the seventh time in eight years, Kuwait (59th out of 59 countries) comes in last place. The country ranks last in the Quality of Life Index (59th), with especially poor results in the Leisure Options, Personal Happiness, and Travel & Transportation subcategories (59th for all). In fact, 58% of expats in Kuwait are unhappy with the local leisure options (vs. 14% globally), and half the respondents (50%) rate the climate and weather negatively (vs. 17% globally). A Lebanese expat says they do not like the “very hot summer”. Additionally, 29% rate their personal happiness in Kuwait negatively (vs. 10% globally), and just 45% are satisfied with their travel opportunities (vs. 84% globally).

Kuwait also places last in the Ease of Settling In Index (59th), with 46% of expats not feeling at home in the local culture (vs. 20% globally) and 45% finding it difficult to settle down in this country (vs. 22% globally). Moreover, 51% have trouble finding new friends (vs. 32% globally), and 62% find it difficult to make local friends in particular (vs. 36% globally). In Kuwait, 64% of expats are mostly friends with other expats, which is twice the global average (32%). The country also comes last for friendliness (59th), with 36% of expats rating the general friendliness of the population negatively (vs. 16% globally), while another 44% describe the people as unfriendly towards foreign residents (vs. 18% globally). On the upside, 58% of expats find it easy to get by without speaking the local language (vs. 54% globally).

… with Working Life & Finances as Further Sore Spots

Placing 56th in the Working Abroad Index, Kuwait performs especially poorly in both the Work & Leisure (58th) and the Career Prospects & Satisfaction (57th) subcategories. Almost one-third of respondents (31%) are dissatisfied with their job in general (vs. 16% globally), and 34% are unhappy with their work-life balance (vs. 17% globally). The three most common fields that expats in Kuwait work in are education (23% vs. 12% globally), energy and utilities (9% vs. 2% globally), and healthcare (9% vs. 6% globally). Just over half the expats (54%) rate their working hours positively, compared to 66% globally. Indeed, expats with full-time jobs in Kuwait work longer hours than the global average (44.4 hours per week vs. 43.2 globally).

Kuwait is second to last in the Personal Finance Index (58th) — only ahead of Italy (59th). More than one-third of expats (34%) are dissatisfied with their financial situation (vs. 19% globally). Moreover, 35% state that their disposable household income is not enough to cover their living expenses (vs. 23% globally). A large share of expats has a yearly income ranging from 12,000 to 25,000 USD (19% vs. 15% globally) or even one below 12,000 USD a year (17% vs. 15% globally). The cost of living in Kuwait does not make the situation any better: 55% of respondents rate the cost of living negatively (vs. 34% globally). A Pakistani expat says the “high living expenses and rent prices” are their least favorite things about living in Kuwait.

I don’t like the high living expenses and rent prices in Kuwait.

Oman: A Safe & Friendly Destination…

Coming in 24th place out of 59 countries, Oman performs best in the Ease of Settling In Index (6th). The majority of expats (83%) is happy with the friendliness of the local population towards foreign residents (vs. 67% globally). Another 86% rate the general friendliness positively (vs. 69% globally). An expat from the Philippines likes that “the locals are very friendly and hospitable”. Additionally, 58% of expats find it easy to make local friends (vs. 44% globally). In Oman, most expats (60%) have a fairly mixed group of friends and acquaintances that includes both expats and locals (vs. 48% globally). However — perhaps owing to Oman’s huge expat population — just 1% are mostly friends with locals (vs. 20% globally), while 39% mainly socialize with other expats (vs. 32% globally). Most expats feel at home in Oman’s local culture (69% vs. 63% globally) and find it easy to live there without speaking the local language (84% vs. 54% globally).

…Where Work & Money Are the Downsides…

Oman ranks in a low 49th place in the Working Abroad Index. Only 24% of expats are happy with the local career opportunities (vs. 45% globally), and a further 31% are dissatisfied with their job security (vs. 20% globally). An Indian survey respondent says that “as an expat, there is not much room for career development”. Just 58% of expats are satisfied with their jobs in general (vs. 68% globally). Many expats in Oman work in the field of education (20% vs. 12% globally), followed by construction (14% vs. 3% globally), and finance (10% vs. 8% globally).

The country also performs poorly in the Personal Finance Index (45th): 28% of expats say their disposable household income is not enough to cover all their expenses (vs. 23% globally). While just 30% of expats worldwide report an annual income of less than 25,000 USD, this is the case for 40% of expats in Oman. A large share (24%) even has an income of less than 12,000 USD yearly (vs. 15% globally). This may be the reason why only 54% of expats are satisfied with their financial situation, compared to 64% globally.

…and Results for the Quality of Life Are Mixed

In the Quality of Life Index, Oman places 32nd, doing best in the Safety & Security subcategory (6th). Nearly all expats (97%) rate the peacefulness positively (vs. 80% globally), placing the country second worldwide for this factor — just behind Finland (1st). An expat from Sri Lanka shares: “It is a very peaceful place to live and raise a family.” Moreover, 91% of expats are happy with the country’s political stability (vs. 64% globally). On the other hand, 17% of expats in Oman rate the unrestricted access to online services negatively (vs. 7% globally). And Oman lands among the bottom 10 in the Health & Well-Being subcategory (50th): just 43% of respondents find the healthcare affordable (vs. 61% globally), and 21% rate the quality of medical care negatively (vs. 14% globally). However, the country receives better results in the Quality of the Environment subcategory (17th), with 79% of expats being satisfied with the air quality (vs. 66% globally).

Oman is a very peaceful place to live in.

Qatar: High Safety & Great Healthcare…

Overall, Qatar comes 17th out of 59, placing 23rd in the Quality of Life Index. It does especially well in the Health & Well-Being subcategory (4th), with 92% of expats rating the quality of medical care positively (vs. 71% globally). Additionally, 82% consider healthcare in Qatar affordable (vs. 61% globally). The majority of expats feels safe in Qatar (93% vs. 84% globally) and rates the country’s political stability positively (86% vs. 64% globally). Due to these results, the country places 9th in the Safety & Security subcategory. A British expat says that “it is a very safe place, crime rates are very low, and people are treated respectfully”.

However, Qatar does poorly in the Leisure Options (49th) and Quality of the Environment (47th) subcategories. In fact, 21% of expats are dissatisfied with the local leisure options (vs. 14% globally). And while 89% of expats rate the water and sanitation infrastructure positively (vs. 77% globally), 29% are unhappy with the natural environment (vs. 8% globally). More than one in three respondents (34%) agree, rating the air quality negatively (vs. 20% globally).

…with a Stable Economy, but High Living Expenses…

Qatar performs better than average in the Working Abroad Index (19th), with more than half the expats (51%) rating the local career opportunities positively (vs. 45% globally). What is more, 69% give their overall job satisfaction a good rating (vs. 68% globally). Most expats (86%) are also happy with the state of the local economy (vs. 62% globally). Interestingly, 84% of expats in Qatar are currently working full time, compared to just 55% globally. And just 2% have a part-time job (vs. 12% globally). The top 3 fields that expats in Qatar work in are education (22% vs. 12% globally), construction (11% vs. 3% globally), and transportation and logistics (10% vs. 4% globally).

On the other hand, Qatar places 38th in the Personal Finance Index, with 23% of expats saying their disposable household income is not enough to cover their expenses (vs. 23% globally). This may also be due to the cost of living in Qatar (49th), which 47% of expats rate negatively, compared to just 34% globally. “The cost of living is very high, and people here are mostly money oriented,” says an Indian expat.

…and Connecting with Locals Is a Challenge

Qatar lands close to mid-field in the Ease of Settling In Index (29th), with 64% of expats feeling at home in the local culture, about the same as the global average (63%). However, the country still performs below average in the Feeling at Home (36th), Friendliness (36th), and Finding Friends (39th) subcategories. A Japanese expat says that “it is difficult to connect with the locals in Qatar”. Indeed, more than half the expats in Qatar (53%) are mostly friends with other expats, 21 percentage points more than the global average (32%). The majority of expats (91%) at least finds it easy to get by without speaking the local language (vs. 54% globally), placing Qatar second for this factor.

It is difficult to connect with the locals in Qatar.

Saudi Arabia: Unhappy Expats…

Saudi Arabia ranks 42nd, trailing behind most other GCC States, except for Kuwait (59th), and performing below average in most indices. For example, it places 41st in the Quality of Life Index. While 78% of expats are happy with the availability of government services online (vs. 63% globally), 19% are dissatisfied with the access to online services in general (vs. 7% globally).

Saudi Arabia ranks 58th in both the Local Leisure and the Personal Happiness subcategories — only ahead of Kuwait (59th for both). One out of four expats in Saudi Arabia (25%) is dissatisfied with the local leisure options (vs. 24% globally), and 29% are dissatisfied with their socializing and leisure activities (vs. 18% globally). “There is not much to do, and there are no social venues,” shares a British expat. Another 22% are unhappy with the weather and climate (vs. 17% globally). A German expat says: “The weather is hot and humid, and there are hardly any green spaces.” All in all, 16% of expats in Saudi Arabia are unhappy with their life in general (vs. 10% globally). On the plus side, the country ranks 20th in the Health & Well-Being subcategory — 77% of expats rate the quality of medical care positively.

There is not much to do in Saudi Arabia.

… Where a Good Economy Meets Long Hours…

Placing 35th in the Working Abroad Index, Saudi Arabia receives its best results for the state of the local economy (15th) — 69% of expats rate this factor positively (vs. 62% globally). Additionally, 44% are satisfied with the local career opportunities, just slightly less than the global average (45%). However, 25% of respondents are unhappy with the work-life balance in Saudi Arabia (vs. 17% globally), and 23% rate their working hours negatively (vs. 16% globally). Expats with full-time jobs in Saudi Arabia work about two hours more than the global average (45.0 hours per week vs. 43.2 hours). “I do not like the unpaid overtime and understaffing at work,” explains an expat from the Philippines.

… and Expats Struggle to Settle Down

Saudi Arabia also performs below the global average in the Ease of Settling In Index (36th), with its worst results in the Feeling at Home subcategory (45th). Less than half the expats (48%) find it easy to settle down in this country (vs. 62% globally). Additionally, 22% do not feel at home in the local culture (vs. 20% globally). Only 41% of expats find it easy to make local friends (vs. 44% globally), and 59% describe the local population as friendly towards foreign residents (vs. 67% globally). When it comes to the ease of settling in, Saudi Arabia does best in the Language subcategory (27th): 56% of expats find it easy to get by without speaking the local language (vs. 54% globally).

UAE: Safe, Peaceful, & Easy to Settle In…

The UAE performs better than average in the Expat Insider 2021 survey, coming in 18th place out of 59 countries. Placing 17th in the Quality of Life Index, the UAE receives especially good results in the Safety & Security subcategory (3rd), where only Finland (1st) and Singapore (2nd) do even better. Nearly all expats (95%) feel safe in the UAE (vs. 84% globally). “The best part about living in the UAE is that the country is safe for me and my two daughters,” shares a Kenyan expat. Additionally, 92% of expats find the destination peaceful (vs. 80% globally), and 89% rate its political stability positively (vs. 64% globally). The country also ranks among the top 10 in the Travel & Transportation subcategory (7th): 95% of expats are satisfied with the transportation infrastructure (vs. 76% globally), and 90% rate their travel opportunities positively (vs. 84% globally).

The UAE also performs well in the Ease of Settling In Index (17th), placing fourth in the Language subcategory, just behind Malaysia (1st), Singapore (2nd), and Kenya (3rd). In fact, 93% of expats think it is easy to live there without speaking the local language (vs. 54% globally), placing the UAE first for this factor. Moreover, 67% of expats feel at home in the local culture (vs. 63% globally), and 69% describe it as easy to get used to (vs. 65% globally). On the other hand, 39% of expats find it difficult to make local friends in the UAE (vs. 36% globally). Actually, just 2% of expats in the UAE describe their friends and acquaintances as mostly locals (vs. 20% globally), while 59% mainly socialize with other expats (vs. 32% globally).

…but Financial Aspects Drag It Down…

The UAE lands among the bottom 10 in the Personal Finance Index (56th): 28% of expats are dissatisfied with their financial situation (vs. 19% globally), while a further 32% say their disposable household income is not enough to cover their daily living expenses (vs. 23%). In the UAE, 21% of expats have a disposable income of less than 12,000 USD per year, six percentage points more than the global average (15%). The country’s results in the Cost of Living Index (44th) are hardly any better: 42% of expats are unhappy with the cost of living in the UAE (vs. 34% globally). A German expat even claims that “the cost of living is impossibly high”.

The cost of living is impossibly high in the UAE.

…and Good Job Opportunities Require Long Hours

The UAE lands roughly in mid-field in the Working Abroad Index (28th). Three in four expats (75%) rate the state of the local economy positively (vs. 62% globally), and 47% are happy with the local career opportunities (vs. 45% globally). However, an Indian expat says: “I do not like the work culture. It is all just about making money.” Moreover, 28% of expats rate their job security negatively (vs. 20% globally), and 21% are unsatisfied with their work-life balance (vs. 17% globally). In the UAE, expats with a full-time job work 46.9 hours per week (vs. 43.2 globally). Perhaps this is one reason why 19% of expats are dissatisfied with their working hours (vs. 16% globally).