Abu Dhabi has been named the second-best city in the world to live, work and do business in, overtaking both London and Paris and moving up two places since the last Ipsos City Index. More than 18,000 people, aged between 16 and 64, in 26 countries worldwide were interviewed for the Index, with New York maintaining the overall world number one spot.

The leading destinations were chosen from an overall list of sixty cities, including major hubs like Sydney, Hong Kong, Cape Town, Moscow, Toronto, and many more.

The results highlight the significant increase in the global perception of Abu Dhabi as a commercial destination, with 21 percent of survey participants listing Abu Dhabi as a top city to do business in, just 2 percent below the leader, New York. Abu Dhabi ranked highest among participants from the three younger generations – Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z, which were all consistent in placing New York and Abu Dhabi as their top two cities.

Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, TCA Abu Dhabi, said: "The rise of Abu Dhabi in this global ranking is testament to the ongoing efforts to establish the emirate as not only a tourist destination of distinction, but a location that international communities want to work, live and do business in. It’s distinct popularity among the younger generations highlight the need for global cities to diversify and innovate to sustain their position and strength as business and tourism hubs."

Ghobash continued, "With the ongoing rise of tourism in Abu Dhabi, we are confident that Abu Dhabi’s international reputation will grow from strength to strength as more international visitors experience what the emirate has to offer. As we leverage the wealth of Abu Dhabi’s cultural heritage sites, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Al Ain, and the forthcoming opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi, we are confident that our position on the map of leading cities will continue to be cemented."

In the period January to May, 2017, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi recorded nearly 2 million hotel guest arrivals, 4 percent growth compared to the same period in 2016.

Domestic visitors accounted for more than 600,000 hotel guests across the emirate’s 167 hotels and hotel apartments in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain Region and Al Dhafra Region.

Adding to Abu Dhabi’s growing international appeal is the recent accolade for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which was ranked by travellers as the world’s no. 2 favourite landmark for the second year in a row by travel planning and booking website, TripAdvisor.

Ipsos is a leading international market research firm, with a presence in 88 countries worldwide. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is controlled and managed by research professionals.