Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, remains in first place for the second consecutive year in Savills' Executive Nomad Index report, which ranks the top 25 destinations for remote workers, known as "digital nomads". The destinations on the list offer pleasant climates year-round, high quality of life, and well-structured residential property markets, along with various benefits, such as specific programmes for those who need to reside abroad for extended periods. Some European countries and the United States have already established economic agreements that facilitate free movement for personal or work reasons. Italy also features in the ranking, with Palermo standing out as one of the world's best cities for remote workers.
In second place is Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, which has rapidly climbed the rankings from 4th place in 2023, allowing the UAE to occupy the top two positions. Numerous coastal cities continue to perform well, including Malaga (3rd), Miami (4th), Lisbon (5th), Barcelona (6th), and Palma (7th). The highest-ranked Italian city is Palermo (22nd): the Sicilian city, with its rich historical and cultural heritage, boasts the most affordable prime rental market in Italy, with rents up to 70% lower than, for example, those in Florence. However, Tuscany also appears at the bottom of the list as a region for digital professionals to relocate to.
"Over the past two decades, Palermo has benefited from significant public and private investment, and the city is now experiencing cultural and economic regeneration," says Danilo Orlando, Head of Residential at Savills Italy. "This also presents opportunities for startups in the city's commercial spaces, which generally have lower rents compared to other Italian locations."
At the top of the rankings, both Dubai and Abu Dhabi score highly in various categories. However, Dubai stands out due to the efficiency of its air connections, allowing it to surpass the capital. Dubai International, the city’s main airport, is the busiest in the world for international passengers, while Al Maktoum Airport, the city's second airport, is set to become the largest in the world following the recently announced expansion.
“Dubai and Abu Dhabi are highly attractive destinations for executive nomads because they offer everything needed to lead a comfortable lifestyle both personally and professionally, from modern infrastructure to high quality of life,” says Andrew Cummings, Head of Residential Agency Middle East at Savills.
Although these cities are known for their tourist attractions and luxury hotels, Dubai and Abu Dhabi offer much more: “We have observed a particular focus on creating a dynamic economic framework, where there are many opportunities to grow, build networks, and create lifelong connections,” adds Andrew.
“The typical digital nomad is often depicted as a young backpacker; however, executive nomads tend to be more mature and often travel with their families,” explains Kelcie Sellers, Associate Director of Savills World Research. This places greater emphasis on aspects related to quality of life that these international destinations can offer, such as safety and access to healthcare or schools. For these individuals, both in-person networking and digital connectivity are important and must be considered: “Executive nomads are more likely to rent a home and value extra space and proximity to amenities. Prime rents have increased by an average of 5% over the past year in the 25 locations monitored, with some urban markets experiencing increases of over 15%.”
Other highlights of the 2024 Index include Cape Town – which introduced the Digital Nomad Visa programme in May 2024 – the Caribbean island of Grenada (11th), Bali (12th), and Costa Rica’s capital San José, the first Central American destination to rank at 13th place.
Find out more about Italy's DIgital Nomad Visa
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