Dubai continues to inspire people

Why aren't we really surprised to hear that Dubai has - yet again - been placed at the top of the heap in Mercer's Quality of Living survey, among Middle Eastern/African cities? It's the MENA region's go-to place when it comes to living standards, and even the current de-escalation of the global economy has not been able to make a dent into how the world, and (its own) residents, sees Dubai. Globally, too, Dubai has been placed an impressive 75th place out of 230 cities covered in the Mercer rankings (Abu Dhabi follows at 81st position). The cities that have emerged in top positions are mostly from Europe, Australia/New Zealand and Canada, and they all adhere to the principles of safety, security, freedom and tolerance - qualities which Dubai is known to showcase (take the case of the recent appointment of a Minister for Tolerance).
To counter and take in its stride the cascading effects of market conditions the world over, the emirate has continued to evolve in other areas, regularly holding debates, talks, conferences - which add to the aura of a new-age thinking, espousing values of a truly modern world, while not treating moral code as a baggage. Thinking has been getting more progressive and inclusive, developmental policies have never been stronger, gender roles are being redefined, and this overriding sense of collaboration on all fronts has been at the heart of the charge driving the UAE - and particularly Dubai. At the ongoing Global Women's Forum in Dubai, Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan paid the ultimate compliment when she said there is no better place than the UAE to inspire people to innovate and inspire the world to empower women.

• Dubai