The UAE has just been named the second-best country in the world for digital nomads in the 2025 VisaGuide Digital Nomad Visa Index. That’s a two-spot jump from 2023, placing the Emirates just behind Spain and ahead of destinations like Montenegro, the Bahamas, and Hungary.
This recognition reflects more than good Wi-Fi. According to the index by Immigrant Invest, the UAE scored high in categories like internet quality, healthcare, safety, and tax policy. It also benefits from a relatively low cost of living for the level of services offered — and a high standard of infrastructure and public services.
One key factor behind this rise is the UAE’s digital nomad visa, launched back in March 2021. It allows remote workers employed by overseas companies to live in the UAE for up to a year. Since then, thousands have taken advantage of the offer, combining global work with local living.
With remote work now a USD 800 billion global market, countries are competing to attract this group. And the UAE has made a strong case with its long-term vision, strong digital services, and safe, well-connected cities.
What used to be a fringe lifestyle — working from your laptop while travelling — is now mainstream. An estimated 40 million people currently identify as digital nomads. If they were a country, they’d be the 41st most populous in the world.
By 2035, that number could reach 1 billion people — driven by better connectivity, 5G rollout, smart infrastructure, and a global shift towards flexible working.
This is not the UAE’s only standout ranking in 2025. The country has also ranked:
– among top 15 globally in the UN Human Development Index
– 2nd in the world for attracting greenfield investment — a type of FDI where foreign companies build new operations from scratch
– 5th place in the 2025 World Competitiveness Ranking
As the world’s workforce goes mobile, the UAE is positioning itself not just as a stopover, but as a base — where work, life, and lifestyle are built to move forward.
