UAE is one of the best places for digital nomads in the world
The country just ranked second in the world for digital nomads in 2025, edging out the likes of the Bahamas and Hungary and landing just behind Spain.
Not bad for a place where winter means 25°C and your local café serves camel milk lattes (trust us, they're delish).
Thanks to top-tier internet, excellent safety, sunshine all year round and a slew of forward-thinking visa policies, the UAE has become a remote work magnet. According to the VisaGuide Digital Nomad Visa Index, the country jumped from fourth in 2023 to second in 2025, proving it's not just chasing the trend – it's leading it.
Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai are now locked in as must-consider destinations for anyone living the laptop lifestyle. Abu Dhabi ranks as the world's #4 city for remote work, while Dubai is #1.
So why is the UAE so attractive for digital nomads?
Besides the obvious draws (luxury living, beach clubs, world-class coworking spaces), the UAE was one of the first to launch a remote work visa back in 2021.
This visa lets you live in the UAE while working for companies abroad – meaning you get all the perks of city life, without the local job hunt.
There's more:
Ultra-fast internet (because buffering is a buzzkill)
A diverse, multicultural expat community
Top-notch healthcare
Zero income tax
Next-level safety and stability
And then there's the lifestyle – from early morning runs along the Corniche to late-night shawarma runs in Reem and lazy Sundays on the beach in Saadiyat.
Digital nomadism is no longer niche
Fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, the remote work movement has gone mainstream. Nearly 40 million people now identify as digital nomads – that's more than the population of Canada.
By 2035, that number could balloon to 1 billion, thanks to 5G, smart tech and a global craving for flexible work-life balance.
And entrepreneurs and remote professionals are already flocking here – and leaders say the country is just getting started.
Whether you're a startup founder, freelance creative, or Zoom call warrior, the UAE is open and welcoming to digital nomads from around the globe.
With smart policies, next-gen infrastructure and a world-class lifestyle, this country isn't just on the map – it is the map.
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Daily Mirror
39 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Brit couple's 'terrifying' life caged in Iran prison unable to walk properly
It has been over six months since Lindsay and Craig Foreman were detained in Iran on charges of espionage whilst on a trip of a lifetime - and their terrified family still don't know what conditions they are enduring British couple Lindsay and Craig Foreman have spent over six months detained in Iran after being arrested on charges of espionage - despite the fact their family insists they are "not spies". The couple embarked on what was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime, taking a motorcycle trip across the world from Spain to Australia to learn about what makes a good life, from forging connections and building strong communities. Lindsay and Craig's frantic four children have been tirelessly campaigning for their "generous and fun" parents' release, and are determined to do everything they can to bring the couple home. But adding to their fear, the family knows very little about the conditions Lindsay and Craig are facing, but they believe they are currently held in Kerman Prison. The couple was due to be transferred to Tehran's infamous Evin Prison in early June, before Israeli strikes hit the facility. Their children didn't have any confirmation for weeks about their parents' whereabouts, including if the planned transfer had gone ahead, or if they were even safe or alive - however, they have since been told through the Foreign Office that they are in Kerman. Craig's son Kieran has described the family's situation to the Mirror as feeling "like you are falling down a pit and you can't get up" - as they struggle with "limited" information about their mum and dad. "We are limited on the information we are given on the condition and we were told they are in a rather small cell together. We think they had a bed, but before they were sleeping on the floor and apart," Joe and Kieran have told the Mirror. "They are trying to keep fit by running in a figure of 8 around that room, but we know that at one time Mum (Lindsay) had problems with her back and Dad (Craig) also wasn't walking right." The main information we have about what conditions are like inside the Iranian prison system is from former hostages like Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori - who was released alongside Nazanin in 2022 - who were detained in Iran for six and five years respectively. Anoosheh bravely gave a "glimpse" of what he endured during his ordeal to the Mirror, describing his time in Evin Prison as "unbearable". "The food was foul and sub-standard, especially for those who couldn't afford to pay for slightly better meals through the prison shop," he said. "The rooms were cramped - around 15 people per room, though numbers would rise significantly during times of crisis. We battled constant infestations of bed bugs, cockroaches, and even rats. Sometimes, rat droppings and body parts of cockroaches would even end up in our food. "Sanitation was poor, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical care was severely lacking - the so-called clinic was little more than a façade. Medicine was scarce. Prisoners had to rely on loved ones to bring medications, and even then, some of it would mysteriously go missing before reaching us." The former hostage explained that, "The regime created an environment of chronic pressure. Tensions ran so high that arguments and fights among prisoners became common. I call it 'passive torture' - a method of inflicting suffering indirectly by fostering an atmosphere where inmates, under extreme stress, begin to turn on each other." Anoosheh added, "I was fortunate that, after being moved from the interrogation centre to the main prison, I could call my wife Sherry almost every day. But during interrogation, communication is nearly impossible. "You are completely at the mercy of your captors. If you're allowed a short call, a guard stands beside you, dictating what you're allowed to say - and warning you about what not to say. Every word is monitored." In a moving lecture she gave last year, Nazanin - who was detained in both Kerman and Evin Prisons - explored the differences between the two facilities. When she was first arrested, she spent 45 days in solitary confinement in Kerman Prison. "The cell had tall walls and cold floor. There was no bed but only thin blanket. I didn't shower for days as I wasn't allowed to leave the cell. The walls were towering and the constant light in the cell was blinding. I was terrified, lost and emotionally traumatised." She described Kerman as incredibly overcrowded, with "the number of prisoners living there was almost three times more than its actual capacity," and only enough showers for every prisoner to wash for a few minutes. However, once she was moved out of her solitary cell, she found kindness amongst the other women, and was able to phone her parents, though she told how, devastatingly, "the majority of women in Kerman Prison had given up." When she was transferred to Evin, she again found solidarity amongst the prisoners - who she said often had higher education levels than those in Kerman and were determined to find routes to hopefulness to bring each other strength. Lindsay and Craig's family hope that people will join their campaign and write to their MPs to help secure the release of the couple.
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful part of UK social media has turned into a 'densely crowded theme park'
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Nearby, Newborough on Anglesey has become an infamous example of overtourism, with beach parking fees doubled to tackle the queues that frequently transform the village into an impromptu car park, according to North Wales Live. The areas around Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and Dyffryn Ogwen have long suffered from illegal parking. But perhaps no place better illustrates the problems of overtourism than Andy's hometown of Bala. As one of the entry points to Eryri (Snowdonia), it boasts breathtaking views upon entering the national park, centred around Llyn Tegid, the largest natural lake in Wales. Since the Covid lockdowns, Bala has firmly established itself as one of Snowdonia's top attractions. The area has always been a favourite, particularly among watersports enthusiasts, but in recent years it has escalated to an entirely new level. Parking data from 2021 provided a glimpse into the future. That year, car park usage soared by 70.5% compared to the pre-Covid year of 2019. Since then, the town's influx of visitors has continued to rise, fuelling local tensions. In some ways, this has been beneficial for the local economy. Llyn Tegid is now encircled by campsites and caravan parks. "The lake attracts hundreds of cars and visitors every day," said Andy, a senior partner at relocation firm ALS World Movers. "We're left with huge mounds of litter. Benches are vandalised - one was set on fire - and access for locals becomes almost impossible for part of the year. Campervans park illegally and empty out their chemical toilets - and no one ever does anything about it. "Tegid is only an hour-and-a-half from places like Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham, so within easy reach. I can understand the attraction: life is tough for many people in the cities, so the idea of travelling to the hills of north Wales is appealing. "Yet these visitors park up, fire up a BBQ, admire the scenery, then go home. Even many of the campsite visitors bring their own food, or place deliveries with Tesco and Sainsbury's. Occasionally, they come into the town and strip the shelves bare. Otherwis,e there are few benefits for the local area." Bala isn't the only place buckling under tourism pressure, he explained. Destinations such as Dolgellau and Barmouth are "under siege" throughout the summer months, frequently struggling with insufficient amenities. Northeast Wales isn't escaping either. A fresh national park is being planned for the area, focusing on the Dee Valley, while visitor numbers to Wrexham have surged 20% following the Hollywood acquisition of its football team. Andy believes that inadequate infrastructure to handle these demands is letting down both residents and tourists alike. Having relocated to Bala from West Sussex seven years back, he understands both perspectives. "Some places, like Bala and Barmouth, have relatively large car parks, but elsewhere parking is either small or non-existent, like in Capel Curig. I don't think many visitors realise that Eryri is just mountains, lakes and bogs, with small communities and very little else. "The signage is poor and the pubs are all shutting. Toilet provision is awful. The few facilities are poorly policed, so it becomes a free for all. If you're not into walking, there's little to do. You see people descending on Bala at 11am-12pm and wandering around before realising there's nothing for them there. "And it's very expensive - £4 for an ice cream, £15 for fish and chips. For families, it becomes unaffordable. Visitors themselves deserve much better, never mind the locals." Cooler holidays Despite soaring staycation prices and weather that doesn't always live up to the social media hype, some experts reckon areas like north Wales should prepare for an influx of tourists. Trainline figures show rail bookings to the UK's 12 most beloved seaside destinations jumped by 25% this month. One reason could be the stable British weather we've been enjoying. Research company Place Informatics reckons traditional favourites like Spain, Italy and Greece are losing their shine, especially with families and older holidaymakers, as scorching summers become more unbearable, dangerous or simply impractical. Mintel research from 2024 revealed that over half of British holidaymakers say they're inclined to pick a staycation for climate reasons, with 28% claiming warmer UK summers are making domestic getaways more attractive. Demand is also expected to climb from European tourists seeking refuge from the sweltering heat. Place Informatics is already witnessing changes across Britain's tourism magnets. The firm reports that people are venturing to alternative and unconventional spots, hidden gems and rural locations, or eco-retreats away from the bustling coastal favourites. Clive Hall, chief executive of Place Informatics, warned that UK destinations must evolve by controlling numbers at packed hotspots or boosting facilities in quieter, overlooked areas. "We're witnessing a climate-driven shift in how and where people choose to holiday," he said. "The UK is no longer simply a backup option - it's fast becoming a destination of choice." Airbnbs under fire Yet there are still few indicators of an obvious decline in continental tourism. Throughout southern Europe, locals are rising up against the masses of visitors. Recent weeks have seen anti-tourism demonstrations sweep across Spain, Italy and Portugal. "Tourism steals our bread, our roof and our future," declared the banners of protesters in Barcelona, a city housing 1.7m residents that welcomed 15.5m visitors last year. Demonstrations also erupted in Venice, a city designed for merely 250,000 people that attracts around 30m visitors annually. Tourists being told to "go home" might be heading to the UK instead. With the proliferation of Airbnbs also in protesters' crosshairs, Spain introduced a new register last week requiring all hotels and short-term holiday rentals to obtain a mandatory registration code for legal operation. Thousands of properties could be withdrawn from the short-term rental market. This development, experts warn, could drive up holiday costs for travellers by up to 20%, making overseas trips more expensive. Harry Goodliffe, director at HTG Mortgages, said Spain's decision could trigger a "domino effect" throughout the EU, with Italy likely to follow suit. "The combination of overtourism and local housing pressures is pushing governments to act, and short-term lets are the obvious target," he said. "If Italy tightens the rules, expect thousands of listings to vanish, hitting both owner profits and tourist affordability. For landlords banking on Airbnb income, this should be a loud wake-up call to diversify. The golden days of 'easy Airbnb money' are fading fast." Airbnb entrepreneur Kundan Bhaduri, of The Kushman Group, said hosts are being portrayed as "moustache-twirling villains". However, he understands the worry. "This is not really about national security," he said. "It is really about political survival in countries where locals are priced out of the very postcodes they were born in. In Florence, over 30% of flats are listed on Airbnb. In Rome a staggering 35 million tourists arrived last year occupying a huge swathe of the housing stock. "The backlash is brewing and it is property owners that are in the stockpot. Spain's move to demand a national registry for short-term lets is just the opening salvo. Italy is clearly next. France, Portugal and even the balmy Balearics have all flirted with similar measures." The 'tourist tax' After this week's final green light for Wales' new visitor fee, the nation will begin creating its own register of accommodation providers from October 2026. The Wales Tourism Alliance (WTA) is concerned about the potential expense but views the register as an essential step before introducing the visitor levy (commonly dubbed a "tourist tax" despite Welsh residents also being impacted). The organisation argues that the levy should be postponed until a national registration is complete, allowing for a proper evaluation of its advantages or disadvantages. WTA chair Rowland Rees-Evans has calculated that the levy could increase costs by over £35 per week for a family of four holidaying in Wales. He commented: "The winners will be civil servants employed to process and administer the scheme at a cost to the taxpayer, whilst the losers will be locals employed in the tourist sector." He also highlighted concerns about the distribution of the levy funds: "There is also no guarantee that local authorities will receive any of the levy once administration costs are taken into account." Despite these worries, there's significant backing for the levy in regions overwhelmed by excessive tourism. With tourist taxes now a global norm, arguments that Wales will suffer a competitive disadvantage are largely ignored. Amidst the current warm weather, few tourists are grumbling about the potential extra charge of £1.30 per night in hotels and Airbnbs, or 80p at campsites for those over 18. The main concern remains the allocation of the collected funds. 'Charge £10 to drive into National Park' Local resident Andy McTaggart fully supports the tax, on the condition that it leads to tangible improvements, stating Eryri desperately needs better infrastructure to benefit both residents and visitors, including car parks, roads, footpaths, beaches, visitor centres, and activities. The Eryri National Park Authority (NPA) has recognised the urgent need to enhance parking facilities in areas like Bala, which is already better served than many. In a move to address this, late last month they greenlit plans to upgrade the Llyn Tegid car park and expand the east shore Llangower car park from roughly 60 to 90 spaces. This decision comes in the wake of problematic parking along the lakeside B4403 by scores of cars and campervans, creating obstacles for emergency services. To combat this, the B4403 has been designated a clearway, opening up the possibility of fines or towing for offenders. Andy remains sceptical about the enforcement of traffic rules around Bala, yet he proposes a more drastic measure. "As a small business partner, it upsets me to see the revenue being lost at the town's car parks through lack of enforcement. On a low visitor day, it might be £500, on a good day £3,000." He suggested: "Perhaps we should be looking at a gantry entry system on gateway roads such as the A5 and A494, like they have on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge (a toll bridge carrying the M25 motorway over the River Thames) or even a permit system for residents." Andy believes that "Charging £10 for entering the National Park would raise significant funds for reinvestment. I accept there are flaws with the idea but we need to start a conversation. Wales is always short-changed when it comes to investment - the Welsh tend to be non-confrontational and settle for too little." Interestingly, Eryri NPA is set to install APNR cameras and new gates at its lakeside car parks in Bala. This move is likely to generate more revenue and may help alleviate the overtourism issues that are causing distress for many locals. Eryri NPA has already taken significant steps to tackle overtourism concerns, both across the wider park and specifically on Yr Wyddfa, with a revised management plan for the mountain unveiled on Tuesday. Its enlarged fleet of Sherpa buses, providing public transport around Yr Wyddfa and Eryri, has been widely praised as a win for sustainable travel, helping to reduce local traffic and parking pressures. The issue of plastic waste has also been a key focus. In collaboration with Gwynedd and Conwy councils, the NPA is also spearheading the Gwynedd and Eryri 2035 strategy, which is dedicated to fostering a sustainable visitor economy in the region. Alongside transport, this will tackle matters such as housing and environmental protection.
Rhyl Journal
6 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Council refuses blocks caravans bid at Kinmel Bay due to flood risk
Mr C Holden had sought to amend a planning condition that currently prevents occupation of 23 static caravans between October 31 and March 1. His proposal aimed to shorten this closed period to January 8 to March 1, allowing caravans to be used for an extra nine weeks each year. But the committee upheld planning officers' recommendation to refuse the application, noting the site remains within flood-risk zones from both sea and river. Cllr Alan Hunter proposed councillors backed the plans, stating: 'I was going to speak in favour of allowing this to go through because it is right next to…well, it's all on the same site as where there are residential caravans already.' He added: 'The NRW (Natural Resources Wales) will probably oppose it every single time in that area. There are no houses. If there is a flooding issue, it is on a site that has got caravans there.' The site operates as a mixed touring and static caravan park between March and October. MORE NEWS: Young casualties rescued after 'hanging on to perch' near Rhyl Harbour Glan Clwyd nurse who was burns victim as child is now inspiring others 25 years later 'Strangers' thanked by mum for 'saving daughter's life' on Rhyl Beach Mr Holden's agent had argued that holiday patterns have changed since COVID and Brexit, with visitors now seeking short 'bolt hole' breaks throughout the year rather than traditional seasonal stays. Cllr Kay Redhead also proposed councillors backed the plans. 'My reservations are that there are residential 12-month plots on that land, and we are only looking at 23 caravans. In the height of the summer, we've got 50,000 to 60,000 extra tourists in Towyn and Kinmel Bay,' she said. 'This will be over the winter period when we don't have anywhere near that amount of people, and I know that one of the reasons is the evacuation procedure. 'But to evacuate 23 caravans in the middle of winter, I don't feel would be any extra strain on what we already have, considering we haven't got that extra 50,000 to 60,000 people in Towyn and Kimnel Bay at the time. 'The biggest threat of a flood there is from the river, which is Natural Resources Wales' land, which they have ownership of, and I do believe if they feel that is the biggest threat then they need to be doing something to mitigate that because the whole of Towyn and Kinmel Bay is at risk.' She added: 'We are having the sea defence work done, but if their argument is the river, that is their land, and they should be doing all they can to protect us. 'So I don't think the extra couple of months for 23 caravans is a massive issue in the big scheme of things, and I would second what Cllr Alan (Hunter) has said.' The site lies within the Towyn and Kinmel Bay settlement boundary, with homes to the east and commercial and agricultural buildings to the west. Kinmel Bay and Towyn Town Council had no objection to the plans, but NRW strongly advised refusal due to the site's location within Flood Zones 2 and 3, and a Tidal TAN15 Defended Zone. Consequently, planning officers advised councillors refused the application. Cllr Austin Roberts proposed the committee went with planning officers' recommendation to refuse, which was seconded by Cllr Dave Jones. Nine councillors voted in favour of refusing the application, with five opposing this and one councillor abstaining. This decision follows the refusal of a previous application on similar flood-risk grounds.
