According to a survey, the happiness of Abu Dhabi residents has improved significantly over the past 12 months.

The emirate’s Community Development Department (DCD) study of quality of life indicators in the capital found increases in happiness and life satisfaction compared to the year’s report the latter, alongside a better work-life balance.

The happiness index increased by 7.8%, from 7.17 to 7.727 points out of 10, according to the quality of life questionnaire.

The life satisfaction index increased by nearly 7%, from 6.68 to 7.1258 points.

And the work-life balance index rose from 36.6% to 52.6%.

In January, the United Arab Emirates introduced a 4.5-day working week for government employees, Monday to Friday noon, becoming one of the first countries to formalize the arrangement.

Most private companies have maintained a five-day work week, although some are allowing employees to work from home on Fridays.

The United Arab Emirates has also continued to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The number of cases has fallen sharply in recent months, allowing authorities to ease some security restrictions.

Wearing masks outside is now optional, although face coverings inside remain compulsory, while border controls on entering the capital from other emirates were lifted at the end of the last month.

Dr. Mugheer Al Khaili, Chairman of DCD, said the country has worked hard to improve the happiness of its people.

“It has led the UAE to become one of the most prominent countries to achieve the highest levels of satisfaction and happiness,” he said.

In the study, residents also expressed an increase in their satisfaction with housing. Abu Dhabi Residence Satisfaction Index increased from 67.9% to 69.8%.

Satisfaction with the current household income index also increased from 33% to 38.5%.

Abu Dhabi regularly tops the rankings of the safest cities in the world, with an index of 88.46 out of 100.

The United Arab Emirates recently rose to 24th place in the UN-sponsored World Happiness Index.

Finland leads the index, being named the happiest country in the world for the fifth consecutive year.

Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland and the Netherlands complete the top five.

Updated: March 21, 2022, 8:40 a.m.