Abu Dhabi and Dubai have placed third and fourth respectively in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 ranking of the most preferred tourist destinations in the Middle East and Africa region, based on the magazine’s annual World’s Best Awards.
Abu Dhabi scored 87.92 points in the reader survey, finishing marginally ahead of Dubai, which recorded 87.74 points. The rankings reflect traveller satisfaction across more than 10,000 destinations and tourism facilities worldwide, covering cities, hotels, resorts, islands, airlines, cruise lines, and wellness centres.
This year’s survey drew responses from more than 207,000 readers who collectively submitted over 661,000 ratings. Now in its 31st year, the Travel + Leisure awards are designed to capture which destinations and experiences earn the highest regard from active travellers. The magazine noted that cities performing well in the ranking tend to share a common profile: varied tourism offerings, high-quality hospitality infrastructure, advanced services, and strong food and entertainment options.
Separately, Dubai placed seventh globally in William Russell’s ranking of the ten most welcoming cities for expatriates in 2026, which assesses major cities on how easily new arrivals can settle and feel a sense of belonging. The emirate scored 7.61 out of 10, placing ahead of Warsaw, Seoul, and Hong Kong, though behind Zurich, Singapore, Tokyo, Copenhagen, Munich, and Prague.
William Russell evaluated cities across six criteria: actual expatriate experiences, size of the migrant population, employment rates among foreign-born residents, local attitudes toward immigrants, safety levels, and openness of visa policies.
Dubai’s position in the top ten is consistent with its long-standing reputation as a hub for international professionals. The city’s high proportion of foreign residents, combined with its visa frameworks and business environment, has supported that standing for several years.
