Tel Aviv Rises to 34th Globally in City Rankings, Outpacing Vienna

Tel Aviv has climbed 12 spots to secure 34th place globally in the latest Cities Global Ranking by Oxford Economics, surpassing cities like Vienna, Seoul, and Dubai. The index assesses cities across five key categories: economy, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance, combining economic data, growth forecasts, and social and environmental metrics to evaluate their current standing and attractiveness for investment, companies, and skilled workers.

Tel Aviv achieved a weighted score of 81.2 out of 100, with particularly strong performance in the economy (16th globally) and human capital (31st). However, its rankings in quality of life (156th), environment (234th), and governance (401st) were significantly lower. The report attributes Tel Aviv's economic strength to its high concentration of technology companies, a developed startup ecosystem, the presence of international firms, and a highly educated workforce.

Despite its economic prowess, the report notes that high housing prices and the security situation present significant challenges. The conflict following the October 7th attack and the confrontation with Iran have negatively impacted the economy and increased geopolitical risks, according to the report's authors.

Other Israeli cities included in the ranking are Haifa at 144th with 66.3 points, and Jerusalem at 179th with 63.8 points. All three Israeli cities received the same score of 58.3 points in the governance category.

The report highlights the continued dominance of European and North American cities, with 78 of the top 100 cities located in these regions. Nevertheless, it points to the growing strength of cities in Asia and the Middle East, with Dubai and Riyadh entering the top 50 at 42nd and 50th places, respectively. New York continues to lead the overall ranking.