Abu Dhabi provides an environment where families can live, work and thrive, supported by access to quality healthcare, education and essential services. Continued investment in community wellbeing and infrastructure contributes to a high quality of life for citizens and residents across the emirate.
Abu Dhabi continues to expand services for families in 2026, including 24-hour primary care in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, increased school and nursery capacity, and a temporary freeze on rent increases. These measures further support the emirate’s position as a leading destination for families in the region.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2026, released on 7 July 2026, ranked the emirate 76th among 173 cities worldwide and first in the Middle East and North Africa. The index assesses 30 indicators across five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
Safety and family wellbeing
Results of the sixth Quality of Life Survey by the Department of Community Development (DCD), launched in 2025 and attracting 115,801 citizens and residents, showed that 94.1 per cent of participants felt safe walking at night.
The survey recorded satisfaction with family life at 78.4 per cent, up from 70.9 per cent in the previous cycle, and satisfaction with social relationships at 75.8 per cent. Housing satisfaction reached 71.5 per cent, satisfaction with work–life balance rose from 46.8 per cent to 51.1 per cent, and the average happiness score reached 7.88 out of 10.
Education and childcare
According to the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), the emirate had 220 private schools and 233 nurseries across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra as of October 2025, offering a range of curricula. Two new private schools added 3,610 seats and seven new nurseries added 929 seats.
Under ADEK’s School Fees Policy, schools must publish their fee payment schedules and obtain ADEK approval before increasing fees. Schools must offer tuition payment in at least three equal instalments per academic year, with options for up to 10 instalments, and registration fees are capped at 5 per cent of ADEK-approved tuition fees.
Healthcare access
In April 2026, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), in collaboration with SEHA Clinics, a subsidiary of PureHealth, extended 24-hour operations to 12 primary care centres in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, with urgent care services at selected locations. The centres provide chronic and acute disease management, vaccination, health education, mental health support and specialist coordination.
Her Excellency Dr Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH, said: “Access to care that is both timely and convenient remains a core principle of quality healthcare, and this initiative will contribute to achieving that, allowing us to deliver improved health outcomes and enhanced patient experience, while strengthening the sustainability of healthcare services and advancing community health and quality of life for all.”
DoH’s designated Centres of Excellence have provided specialised care for more than 3,000 complex cases since their launch in 2023, enabling 1,664 families to access specialised care in the emirate and contributing to a 60 per cent reduction in the need for treatment abroad. Their specialties include adult and paediatric cardiovascular care, stroke treatment, burn care, haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and adult multi-organ transplantation.
Under Law No. 23 of 2005 on Health Insurance in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, employers must provide health insurance for their employees and their family members, including a spouse and up to three children under 18 years of age.
Housing and household costs
According to the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD), the emirate’s Consumer Price Index rose by 0.3 per cent in 2025, following a 0.5 per cent increase in 2024. Food and beverage prices rose by 0.1 per cent and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels by 2.6 per cent, while transport costs fell by 5.7 per cent.
On 3 June 2026, the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) announced that Abu Dhabi Government had reduced the permitted annual rent increase from 5 per cent to 0 per cent for residential, commercial and industrial properties across the emirate, as a temporary measure until further notice. All lease renewals and new agreements reference the rent recorded in the property’s last registered Tawtheeq contract.
ADREC noted that demand had consistently exceeded supply, with new lease prices rising by 15 per cent across the emirate and 23 per cent in investment zones compared with the previous year. Tenants and businesses seeking further information can contact ADREC through its official channels, including adrec.gov.ae.
Families relocating to the emirate can access the services of ADEK, DoH and ADREC through their official channels to support their planning for schooling, healthcare and housing.
