Tel Aviv Ranks 34th Globally in Oxford Economics 2026 Cities Index
Tel Aviv climbed to 34th place in the 2026 Oxford Economics Global Cities Index, ranking first in the Middle East and North Africa. Haifa and Jerusalem also secured spots.
Tel Aviv has ranked 34th globally in the 2026 Global Cities Index by international research firm Oxford Economics, evaluating the performance of 1,000 cities worldwide. The Israeli city climbed 12 spots from last year, taking first place in the Middle East and North Africa, ahead of cities such as Vienna, San Diego, Seoul, and Dubai. Two other Israeli cities were included in the index: Haifa at 144th and Jerusalem at 179th.
Evaluation Categories and Key Findings
The index, published for the third consecutive year, assesses cities across five core categories: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance. Its authors combine economic data, growth forecasts, and social and environmental indicators to evaluate current conditions and the ability to attract investments, companies, and skilled workers.
Tel Aviv received a weighted score of 81.2 out of 100. Its standout achievements were recorded in economics, where it ranked 16th globally, and human capital, reaching 31st. Conversely, it placed 156th in quality of life, 234th in environment, and 401st in governance.
"Tel Aviv's economic strength is largely driven by its concentration of technology companies, developed startup ecosystem, and the presence of international firms," the researchers noted, adding that high housing prices and security challenges remain significant hurdles.
Global Leaders and Regional Growth
New York continues to lead the global ranking with a maximum score of 100 points, followed by London in second place with 98.8 points, and Paris in third with 93.4 points. The top ten is rounded out by Seattle, San Francisco, Dublin, Boston, San Jose, Tokyo, and Zurich.
The report highlights the ongoing dominance of Europe and North America, which account for 78 of the top 100 cities. However, researchers emphasize the strengthening position of cities in Asia and the Middle East, with Dubai and Riyadh entering the top fifty at 42nd and 50th places, respectively.
