The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index for 2026 ranks 173 cities worldwide using 30 indicators grouped into five categories. The categories cover stability and security, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. According to reporting based on the EIU’s index, Australia places at the top, with multiple Australian cities taking leading positions in the 2026 ranking. The same coverage notes that Dubai—described as a long-time expat favourite—drops in the rankings compared with previous results, indicating a relative decline versus other cities in the index. Across sources, the key emphasis is on the index’s methodology and the overall reshuffling of city positions for 2026 rather than on a single cause for any one city’s movement. The reports frame the result as an annual comparative assessment of livability across major factors such as access to healthcare, safety and stability, and the quality of infrastructure and services.