DUBAI: A new report has ranked the UAE among the world’s top 25 countries based on a series of benchmarks, including quality of life, business-friendliness and heritage.

The US News and World Report survey evaluated 80 countries in a report written in collaboration with Y&R’s BAV Consulting and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

The UAE comes in at number 22 while the top spot goes to Switzerland, followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan.

The report said: “Switzerland debuts as the world’s ‘top’ country, in part because of its progressive social systems, protection of human rights and business-friendly environment.”

Of the UAE, which is the only Arab country in the top 25, the report says: “Students studying abroad in the United Arab Emirates will find themselves in a melting pot of nationalities. Foreign nationals – most from India and Pakistan – outnumber locals nine to one in the country, which is perceived to be the safest in the Arab region, ranking above even the United States.”

Here is a roundup of the top 25, according to the report:

1 Switzerland

2 Canada

3 United Kingdom

4 Germany

5 Japan

6 Sweden

7 United States

8 Australia

9 France

10 Norway

11 Netherlands

12 Denmark

13 Finland

14 New Zealand

15 Singapore

16 Italy

17 Luxembourg

18 Austria

19 Spain

20 China

21 Ireland

22 UAE

23 South Korea

24 Portugal

25 India