The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been ranked as the country with the best quality of life in the Middle East and North African region, a local business journal reported on Sunday.
The Gulf nation has been globally ranked as the 15th best in the world, out of 160 countries or regions evaluated, Arabian Business said, citing the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)'s 2009 Quality of Life Index.
The ranking is a reflection of the prosperity enjoyed by the UAE over the past years and the result of ongoing strategic initiatives proposed by the government across all sectors, including economy, security, health and education, the report said.
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The UAE's ranking was based on its impressive civic development and administration and high GDP growth, as well as family and healthcare services, life expectancy and safety and security, it added.
The government's development plans have also significantly improved the country's ranking in several international reports and indexes across different areas, such as competitiveness, economic and international investment, tourism and security, reflecting an upwards trend in the UAE's competitiveness and quality of life, the report said.
“Being ranked number one in the Middle East and North Africa by the EIU is an achievement we are proud of, but our goal is to be on par with the best countries in the world,” Abdullah Nasser Lootah, secretary general of Emirates Competitiveness Council, was quoted as saying.
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The EIU, part of the London-based Economist Group, a group of companies that sell publications and services under The Economist brand, is a research and advisory firm providing country, industry and management analysis worldwide.
The EIU's Quality of Life Index relates subjective life satisfaction surveys to objective determinants of the quality of life across 160 countries or regions, according to Arabian Business. — Xinhua