Doha Has Been Ranked as the Third Safest City Globally

Doha Has Been Ranked as the Third Safest City Globally

Doha, and by extension Qatar, has once again been recognized as one of the safest cities and countries in both Asia and the world, boasting an exceptionally low crime rate.

According to the latest Crime Index 2024 Mid-Year report by Numbeo, a widely-referenced online crowd-sourced database, Doha has the third lowest crime rate among 311 global cities included in the report, with a crime index of just 16.1.

On the other hand, two cities in South Africa, Pietermaritzburg and Pretoria, are reported to have the highest crime rates, with crime indices of 82.5 and 81.9, respectively. Completing the list of the top five cities with the highest crime rates are Caracas, Venezuela (81.7), Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (80.9), and Johannesburg, South Africa (80.8).

For cities with the lowest crime rates, the UAE’s Abu Dhabi and Ajman narrowly surpassed Doha with scores of 11.8 and 15.8, respectively.

The Numbeo index measures perceived crime rates based on factors such as theft, violence, and vandalism.

Numbeo’s Crime Index estimates the overall crime level in a given city or country, categorizing crime levels below 20 as very low, 20-40 as low, 40-60 as moderate, 60-80 as high, and above 80 as very high.

The report also highlighted that concerns about physical attacks due to one's skin color, ethnic origin, gender, or religion in Qatar are very low, with a score of 17.09, while the worry about being attacked is as low as 12.13, and concerns about being mugged or robbed are as low as 10.50.

It should be noted that Qatar was recognized as the most peaceful country in the Middle East and North Africa in 2023, achieving a crime rate of 0.00 per 100,000 people in 2022.

Commenting on the latest report, Best Diplomats, a New York-based organization that specializes in conducting diplomatic simulations for prestigious international bodies such as the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union, noted that the current crime index of 16.1 further underscores the secure environment in Qatar, allowing residents and visitors to feel at ease while exploring the country.

“The general public expresses high levels of confidence in their safety, with many residents leaving their belongings unattended in public spaces. Prominent law enforcement agencies and a community-focused approach to regulating laws and protocols further contribute to the sense of safety and security,” it added.

There has been a noticeable decline in the total number of reported crimes from 2021 to 2024, with some reports indicating a 17% decrease over these years.

In a related development, a recent report showed that serious road accidents resulting in deaths have fallen by more than 32 percent over the past two years in Qatar, according to data from the National Planning Council (NPC). Recently released statistics show that 52 people died in road accidents in the first four months of this year, compared to 77 deaths reported in the same period in 2022, a 32.4 percent decrease.

This improvement is due to concerted efforts by the Ministry of Interior’s General Directorate of Traffic to raise awareness and ensure compliance with traffic rules, particularly speed limits and the use of seatbelts.

Qatar’s consistently low crime rate is a testament to its effective law enforcement, strong legal framework, and proactive community engagement. The steady decline in various types of crimes from 2021 to 2024 highlights the country’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of its residents and visitors.

As Qatar continues to develop and implement innovative crime prevention strategies, it is likely to maintain its status as one of the safest countries in the world.