Best country in the world for British expats is in the Middle East - full list
Moving abroad is an exciting experience, but it can also bring a lot of challenges. However, the best destination for expats makes it easy to settle in.
A new report from expat experts, InterNations, has named the best destinations in the world for expats. According to the rankings, the best country in the world for foreign residents is in the Middle East. The team looked at factors including the ease of finding housing, affordability and language.
Best destinations for expats
- Bahrain
- UAE
- Singapore
- Estonia
- Oman
- Indonesia
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- Kenya
- Canada
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The small island of Bahrain topped the rankings and was named the best country for expats to settle in.
Around two in three expats thought it was easy to deal with local authorities in Bahrain, compared to the global average of under half.
One in seven expats also said it was easy to get a visa to settle in Bahrain, making the moving process simple.
British tourists who want to visit Bahrain can be issued a visa for up to six months depending on their needs but will not be able to take up employment.
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If an expat is moving to Bahrain for work, their company may be able to assist them with the visa process.
Around 82 percent of expats said it was easy for them to find housing in Bahrain, much higher than the global average of 54 percent.
Many expats live in apartments which is the most popular type of housing in Bahrain. The size and cost of an apartment varies hugely depending on location.
Expats who move to Bahrain with a family may prefer to live in a villa, many of which are in gated compounds.
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The compounds often have shared facilities such as swimming pools, playgrounds and expansive gardens.
Although many expats thought it was easy to find housing in Bahrain, only 39 percent found it affordable.
When it came to language, expats found it easy to get by without speaking the local language of Arabic.
Although Arabic is the country’s official language, English is also widely spoken and displayed on road signs.
Middle Eastern destinations scored highly in the rankings, with the UAE taking second place overall.
Dubai is one of the UAE’s leading expat destinations and scored highly when it came to housing and getting by without the language.
Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar also made the top 10 while Singapore was rated third best for expats.
At the other end of the scale, expats found it hardest to settle in Germany and said it took “forever” to get in touch with local government.