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28 March 2024

Quality of Life: UAE residents of this emirate enjoy work-life balance

91% respondents claim Ras Al Khaimah is a safe city to live in, and 79% are satisfied with their work-life balance (Supplied)

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By Staff

The first in-depth research into the quality of life of Ras Al Khaimah residents commissioned by the RAK Tourism Development Authority (TDA) shows that respondents are very satisfied with the quality of life in the emirate, scoring an average of 72 out of a possible 100.

Conducted by market research company Nielsen, the Ras Al Khaimah Quality of Life Study was commissioned by TDA to examine and evaluate the quality of life amongst local residents.

The study was conducted in a bid to determine any areas of development required to bolster the destination’s offering and ensure efforts are maximised to contribute towards making the UAE one of the happiest countries in the world as per the World Happiness Report. The country currently ranks 28th, out of 156 countries worldwide.

The research offers a qualitative as well as quantitative evaluation of five indicators including: work and material well-being, physical infrastructure, public services / utilities, emotional well-being and social environment, and geography. These factors are key determinants of quality of life, and were selected to provide a holistic view of residents’ lifestyles within the emirate.

More than 1,500 residents across 35 different nationalities, and 5 zoness in northern and southern Ras Al Khaimah were interviewed for the survey.

A vast majority of respondents (91 per cent) claim the emirate is a safe city to live in, and 79 per cent are satisfied with their work-life balance.

Both safety and work-life balance play an important role in ensuring a high quality of life, providing Ras Al Khaimah with an edge over other metropolitan areas globally.

The emirate’s efforts to preserve its culture and heritage, one of its core attributes, is reinforced by survey respondents sentiments – 68 per cent of which believe the architecture and building design in Ras Al Khaimah depicts the heritage of the emirate, with one of the Emirati focus group participants stating: “Ras Al Khaimah is beautiful… it feels like you are still in an Arab country.”

Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah TDA, said: “Ras Al Khaimah’s natural assets clearly shape a high quality of life for our residents, as we continue to develop a leading destination worthy of attracting not only professionals looking to live and work in the emirate, but also global travellers. The emirate offers a peaceful alternative to the hustle and bustle of other cities, providing good value for money and an enviable lifestyle. Access to beautiful beaches, nature, mountains and desert in an authentic Arabian setting is a draw for expatriates, residents and tourists alike.”

As we welcome increasing visitor numbers year-on-year, we are equally keen to ensure that we are constantly enhancing the quality of life of our residents. It is this quality way of life that sets the benchmark in Arabian hospitality, as well as acting as a major draw for international hospitality professionals, eager to sample a taste of life in the emirate.”

The research findings were revealed at an event with more than 20 heads of government entities in attendance, including the RAK Municipality, Environmental & Development Agency, Civil Defence, RAK Police, RAK Transport Authority, Ministry of Public Work and the Department of Economic Development amongst others.

Based on the findings, the government entities and private stakeholders have been provided with an action plan to support Ras Al Khaimah’s development by implementing a strategic plan to enhance the quality of life.

The research will be conducted again in two years to ensure continuous improvement and to measure the success levels of plans put in place. Areas of focus include urban planning, infrastructure development, education and tourism facilities.

The research findings on quality of life in RAK also revealed:

• 82 per cent of respondents believe state of the art healthcare facilities are available
• 79 per cent say they are satisfied with the balance between work and other aspects of life
• 74 per cent believe it is easy and convenient to avail government services in RAK
• 80 per cent agree that ‘RAK is strategically located and is well connected to other emirates’