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Abu Dhabi Secures 8th Rank Among The World’s 10 Most Welcoming Cities

Abu Dhabi has been named the world's eighth most welcoming city based on thousands of traveller reviews

by Deeplata Garde
Abu Dhabi Secures 8th Rank Among The World’s 10 Most Welcoming Cities

Abu Dhabi has quietly picked up another global nod, this time for something visitors tend to remember long after the trip ends. The UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, has been ranked the eighth most welcoming city in the world after thousands of traveller reviews were analysed across restaurants, cafés, attractions and leisure spots.

Abu Dhabi Makes The List Of The World’s Most Welcoming Cities And Lands In The Top 10

More than half of the comments mentioned friendly service, helpful staff and generally positive experiences as reported by Gulf Today.

For a city that has spent years building itself into a tourism hotspot, it’s probably the kind of ranking officials won’t mind showing off.

Visitors Seem To Remember The People As Much As The Places

The study looked at over 100,000 reviews spread across 107 cities around the world. Rather than focusing on landmarks or hotel prices, it paid attention to something a little more personal: how visitors felt they were treated.

Researchers checked between 30 and 50 locations in every city included in the ranking. Around a thousand reviews were analysed for each destination. The idea was simple enough. Did people feel welcome? Were the staff helpful? Was the service good? Those answers shaped the final rankings. Abu Dhabi ended up with 55.3 per cent of reviews highlighting positive interactions and service quality.

Also Read: 8 Amazing Summer Camps In Abu Dhabi Every Parent Should Know About

Edinburgh Took The Top Spot This Time

The Scottish city of Edinburgh came out on top with 59 per cent of visitors mentioning positive service experiences.

Hanoi followed closely behind with 58.6 per cent, while Liverpool took third place with 58.3 per cent.

Paris came fourth, which may surprise some travellers who have heard all the stereotypes over the years.

Dublin landed in fifth place, followed by Montreal and Vienna.

Abu Dhabi secured eighth position overall, placing ahead of Birmingham and Bristol.

For Many Travellers, Small Moments Matter

A smooth hotel check-in. Helpful restaurant staff. Someone giving directions without rushing you.

That said, rankings like this are rarely about one big attraction or headline-grabbing project. They usually come down to everyday experiences. Abu Dhabi has invested heavily in tourism infrastructure over the last decade. But this result suggests visitors are noticing the people behind those experiences too. And honestly, that’s probably harder to build than a new attraction.

Also Read: Abu Dhabi Launches An Exclusive Visa For Indian Couples Planning A Wedding In The UAE Capital

The City Keeps Adding Reasons For People To Come Back

Tourism in Abu Dhabi has grown steadily over recent years, helped by new attractions, expanding flight connections and a packed events calendar.

But getting visitors through the airport doors is only half the challenge. Getting them to leave with good stories is the other half.

Cover Image Courtesy: Visit Abu Dhabi/Website

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First Published: June 27, 2026 12:09 PM

FAQs

Which city came first?

Edinburgh topped the rankings with the highest percentage of positive service reviews.

How many cities were analysed?

Researchers reviewed feedback from 107 cities worldwide.

Why was Abu Dhabi included in the ranking?

Because the study looked at cities around the world that received large numbers of traveller reviews covering service and visitor experiences.