In the interest of balance, considering all the recent talk of a Middle East expat exodus, it’s worth pointing to a new report which suggests they are still able to live the high life in the region and have no desire to leave.

Four GCC states were in the top ten of the latest HSBC Expat Explorer, with Qatar the highest ranked at number two. The survey is, however, based around such things as spending power and earning potential rather than other, less money-oriented, aspects that contribute to quality of life.

If this is your primary concern though, you might be interested to know that Qatar and the UAE are home to some of the world’s wealthiest expats – those earning over $200k or having more than $3k a month in disposable income.

A hefty 62% of UAE-based respondents employ at least one member of staff and 55% own more than one car. Perhaps not surprisingly, 82% said they had not considered moving home.

Top expatriate destinations:

Source: HSBC