65% optimistic on new year in Kuwait

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Kuwait fails to make top 10 list

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 20: The results of a global survey conducted by Britain’s HSBC bank of more than 20,000 people living and working abroad showed nearly two thirds of expatriates (65%) are optimistic about the next year despite the volatility of the past 18 months, reports Al- Anba daily. The United Arab Emirates ranked fourth as the best country in the world to live and work in, as it jumped to 10 places compared to last year’s ranking of 14 on HSBC’s report on expatriates, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Qatar ranked eighth and tenth, respectively, while Kuwait failed to make the top 10 list.

Respectively
Among the top 10, Switzerland was first, followed by Australia and New Zealand in second and third places, respectively, UAE in fourth place, while Guernsey (one of the Channel Islands in the English Channel near the French coast) and Jersey came in fifth and sixth places, respectively, the Isle of Man in seventh, Bahrain eighth and Singapore and Qatar ranked ninth and tenth, respectively.

The main reason for optimism is the hope to live “normally” again (75%), but six in ten (61%) said they also feel positive about the quality of life they can enjoy. Expatriates in Taiwan were the most optimistic (85%), followed by expats in Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam with 83%. As the world was in flux during the pandemic, the study indicates that locations where a sense of stability has maintained high rank on the list.

Desire
Expatriates’ desire to live and work abroad has not diminished due to the pandemic, with the majority planning to stay for the foreseeable future in their place of residence with 80% intending to continue living in the host country for at least the next year, and only 7% planning to relocate.

Findings indicate that expatriates prioritize personal lifestyle choices over traditional resettlement programs such as career advancement (34%) or career network expansion (31%). It showed that the five most important goals the expatriates aspire to achieve in the next 12 months are — getting to know the local area in which they reside (50%); travel (47%); explore the local culture (47%); making new friends (45%) and increasing visits to and leaving the house (41%).

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