The Executive Nomad Index report, a ranking of the most attractive cities or regions in the world for high-level remote workers, produced annually by the real estate consultancy Savills, focuses specifically on nomadic executives.
The ranking of the twenty best locations in the world for remote workers is: Dubai, Malaga, Miami, Abu Dhabi, Lisbon, Barbados, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Algarve, Saint Lucia, Cayman Islands, Dubrovnik, Malta, Antigua, Côte d'Azur, Mauritius, Athens, Cyprus, Bahamas and Tuscany.
The visibility gained by Malaga as a result of Google's commitment to the cirt and the knock-on effect it has had on other multinationals (Vodafone, Citi, Globant, among many others) is key to understanding its dazzling entry into this international ranking. But apart from the obvious hype, the city offers solid reasons to attract the "wave of executives converted into digital nomads since the pandemic" cited in the report.
The Executive Nomad Index gives each city a score in five sections: speed of internet connection, quality of life, climate, air connectivity and price of high-end rental housing. Malaga achieved a total score of 32.38 points, only two points less than the number one city in the ranking, Dubai. Malaga scored the highest score of the entire list (10.38) for quality of life. Its score was also high (8.06) for internet connection and in competitiveness of prime rentals (5.26). Climate scored an average (4.45), above Dubai or Abu Dhabi but below tropical destinations such as Barbados, Cayman Islands, St Lucia or Miami.
All the locations included in this ranking have "a digital nomad visa programme or equivalent, or are already part of a large economic bloc that allows the free movement of people to live or work; they offer favourable climates all year round, a high quality of life and have established, first class, residential markets", according to Savills.