UAE Named Happiest Arab Country; Followed By Saudi, Bahrain
The UAE has been named the happiest Arab country for the sixth year in a row, according to this year’s World Happiness Report. Saudi Arabia ranked the second happiest Arab country at 27, followed by Bahrain at 40 and Kuwait in 48th.
The annual report, issued by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the past eight years, also revealed that Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the happiest cities in the Arab world.
The Cities Happiness Index ranked 186 cities worldwide by assessing their inhabitants’ level of happiness and their general evaluation of their lives in the city.
“The significance of this index is underlined by the fact that half of the world’s population are urban dwellers and live in large cities,” the report said.
The UAE ranked 21 overall out of 153 countries assessed. Finland took the top spot for the third year in a row, with Denmark and Switzerland making the top three.
The least happy countries in the world were Zimbabwe at 151, South Sudan and Afghanistan.
The results were announced on Friday to coincide with International Day of Happiness.
This year’s index also included a study that explores the relationship between the UN Sustainable Development Goals and well-being.
“A comparative analysis between nations listed in the World Happiness Index and the Sustainable Development Goals index, showed a direct relationship between efforts to achieve the SDGs and reported happiness levels,” the report said.
The report also recorded an increase in happiness levels among individuals who live near green spaces, highlighting the importance of access to natural, green spaces as a key contributor of happiness and well-being among societies.
