Dubai – Mubasher: The UAE has been ranked the world’s fourth best place for expatriates, for the third year in a row, official data showed.

Almost 75% of expats working in the GCC nation earn more than they could in their home country, according to HSBC’s Expat Explorer survey released on Tuesday.

Germany topped the list, followed by Bahrain and the UK, Arabian Business reported, citing the survey, which covers more than 22,000 expatriates from the international bank.

It showed that career ambition is the number one reason why people take the plunge and settle abroad.

“The UAE once again emerges as the destination of choice for ambitious globetrotters looking to expand their careers in 2019,” Marwan Hadi, head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, UAE, HSBC, said.

HSBC said that around 75% of expats working in the UAE receive an annual airfare allowance to their home country, while 85 % receive health and medical allowances compared to global average of 17% and 43%, respectively.

“Better earning potential is the cornerstone of why people seek career opportunities here. It is indicative of the success of UAE’s focus on diversification, which has resulted in the creation of an internationally recognised and sought-after working environment,” the survey highlighted.