If you’re travelling somewhere new, the first thing you do is ask someone who knows it well for recommendations. Locals always know best, which is exactly why when we set out to name the world’s happiest cities, we went straight to the source, polling over 18,000 people on how highly they rated their hometowns.
We assessed respondents against several key criteria. Things like nightlife, food, walkability, and quality of life were all in there, allowing us to crown the world’s best cities overall back in January. But we specifically also asked about happiness, asking people to rate how highly they agreed with the following statements: My city makes me happy; I feel happier in my city than other places I’ve visited or lived; The people in my city seem happy; I find joy in the everyday experiences my city offers; The sense of happiness in my city has grown a lot recently.
After some number-crunching, we were able to determine that the happiest city in the world, according to the people who live there, is… Abu Dhabi! A whopping 99 percent of people in the Emirati capital told us that their city makes them happy. You can’t please everyone, but Abu Dhabi gets pretty close.
Ninety-three percent of Abu Dhabi locals said they were happier at home than anywhere else in the world, while 96 percent agreed that their neighbours also seemed upbeat. It’s no surprise that people here are so positive when their city also made it into the charts for walkability, access to green spaces and culture.
Mariana Cerqueira, Time Out Abu Dhabi’s editor, also highlighted the city’s culinary scene and brilliant beaches, saying: ‘Abu Dhabi may be a little more tranquil than Dubai, but trust us – there’s nothing boring about it’. She recommends Saadiyat Island for a seaside holiday, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi for any art lovers, and relaxing evenings watching ‘epic sunsets over the Arabian Gulf’.
Colombia’s second city Medellín was the second happiest on the list, with 97 percent of people finding ‘joy in everyday experiences’, and Time Out’s top city for 2025, Cape Town, claimed the bronze.
Check out Time Out’s brand-new ranking of the world’s happiest cities, according to locals.
Did you see that this underrated European country was named the friendliest on the continent?
Plus: These are the world’s coolest neighbourhoods right now.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.