Muscat – Oman is one of the best countries for expatriates, according to the Expat Insider 2024 survey. The sultanate is ranked 12th overall in the survey with high scores for friendliness, security and ease of settling in.

This year marks the 11th edition of the Expat Insider survey by InterNations, one of the most comprehensive studies on expat life, gathering responses from over 12,500 expats representing 175 nationalities in 174 countries or territories.

The survey ranks the best countries to live by analysing factors such as Quality of Life, Ease of Settling In, Working Abroad, Personal Finance and Expat Essentials Index. In 2024, the survey ranks 53 destinations, with Panama topping the list followed by Mexico, Indonesia, Spain and Colombia making the top five. Kuwait is placed last, with Turkiye, Finland, Germany and Canada making the bottom five.

Expats in Oman are very happy with the friendliness of locals (ranked eighth), Ease of Settling (12th rank) and also quite satisfied with Personal Finance (12th).

Oman is ranked in the top 15 in Culture and Welcome (12th), Safety and Security (13th), Environment and Climate (13th) and Family Friends (14th) categories.

Oman lands in a fairly average –  28th – place in the Quality of Life Index. It also does not do so well in the sub-indices of Leisure Options (42nd) and Working Culture and Satisfaction (34th).

UAE, ranked tenth, is the highest ranked country in the region in the survey, while Kuwait (53rd) is the last for the seventh time in a row. Expats don’t enjoy a great Quality of Life Index (53rd) in Kuwait. Only 53% of respondents rate the affordability of public transportation as good (vs 70% globally). Expats find themselves grappling with the weather (53rd for climate and weather) and don’t enjoy the natural environment (53rd), either. In healthcare, crucial for a high quality of life, Kuwait is ranked 51st.

Turkiye ranks 52nd. In three out of the five indices used to map out life abroad, it can be found in the bottom ten. And in terms of expats’ overall happiness with their life abroad, Turkiye is in 49th place — 27% of respondents are unhappy (vs 15% globally).

Those considering Turkiye for their professional career will be disappointed as the country ranks last in the Working Abroad Index (53rd). About a third of respondents (34%) don’t believe that moving to Turkiye improved their career prospects, and an even higher number rate their personal career opportunities (40%) and the local job market (45%) negatively — compared to global averages of 25% and 31%, respectively.

South Korea, which ranks 23rd, is the biggest gainer in 2024, managing an impressive recovery from its place in the bottom ten in 2023. Jumping up 20 places in the ranking, Belgium (now 18th) is the second-biggest winner in 2024.