Where To Be An Executive Nomad: The Savills Search

“I’m a young entrepreneur running a successful food business, with employees based in the UK and the US. I’m looking to set up the best base from which to work. It needs to have good travel connections (as well as internet connectivity), a great lifestyle, excellent weather and a strong food scene. Where would you suggest?”

1 LISBON

JOANA VILA NOVA, SENIOR CONSULTANT, SAVILLS PORTUGAL
joana.vilanova@savills.pt +35 121 313 9000

“Lisbon offers a wonderful quality of life. We have 270 days of sunshine a year, brilliant beaches just 20 minutes away in Cascais and in Caparica, and a busy, buzzy social life. The food scene is burgeoning – we’re home to some of the best restaurants in Europe – and there is a well-connected international airport. In fact, Lisbon ranks No 1 in the Savills list of locations for an executive nomad to live.” 

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Lisbon is growing in popularity as a business hub. Co-working space is plentiful, wifi is widespread in cafes and restaurants, and mobile 5G coverage is strong. Real-estate costs are low, too. Digital executives typically rent apartments in historic city-centre areas such as Baixa, Chiado, Santos and Príncipe Real, which have been restored over the past 10 years. English is widely spoken here, and air, rail and road connectivity is excellent, with direct links to the rest of Europe and America. The Portuguese food scene is lively, with a well-developed street-food culture, the more traditional petiscos and inventive high-end options. And great wine is plentiful, particularly from the Douro and Alentejo regions. Lisbon is a gastronome’s paradise.

For Joana Vila Nova’s insider tips, read Call My Agent: Lisbon

Pictures from top: sunrise in Barbados (Alamy); a stunning new development in central Lisbon; one of Lisbon’s famous trams (Getty)

2 DUBAI

HELEN TATHAM, HEAD OF PRIME RESIDENTIAL, SAVILLS DUBAI
helen.tatham@savills.me +971 5650 63822

“Dubai is a city of the future – you feel the energy here and that’s really exciting for young people. It attracts entrepreneurial sorts, the best of the best, and the new entry visas are helping with that. The lifestyle is second to none: we have up to 12 hours of sunshine a day, with winter temperatures of 25C, 1,000km of beach and endless alfresco dining options, from street food to Michelin-starred restaurants.” 

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The modern executive nomad requires the best in connectivity – and Dubai’s airport is the busiest international hub in the world, with direct flights to 13 cities in the US. Emirates alone operates 110 weekly flights to the UK. Dubai is a young city, so it benefits from the latest technology and infrastructure. You can rely on consistent fast internet speeds and 5G connectivity. Young digital execs look for homes in Dubai Marina or Downtown, which offer plenty of nightlife and a booming food scene. Two-bedroom apartments here with more than 1,000 sq ft of living space usually have access to a gym and swimming pool. Everything you need is within walking distance.

For Helen Tatham’s insider tips, read Call My Agent: Dubai

Pictures from top: a stunning villa on the Palm Jumeirah designed by award-winning architects WWF; a popular walking and running route in Dubai’s Marina (Alamy)

3 BARBADOS

JAMES BURDESS, HEAD OF CARIBBEAN & LATIN AMERICAN SALES JBurdess@savills.com +44 (0) 20 7016 3783

“If you’re London- or Europe-focused and running a business from Barbados, you get up early, which is a lovely time of day here, and by lunchtime all your calls are done. That gives you the afternoon to play golf, sail your boat or go to the beach – that lifestyle is very special. The island has always had great high-end restaurants, but more places now are embracing ideas of sustainability from the Slow Food movement, and that’s exciting.” 

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Barbados has the fastest internet in the Caribbean – speeds are often better than in the UK, on an island measuring just 20 miles by 15. The Barbados Welcome Stamp, a visa that allows you to work remotely for up to 12 months, is attracting new businesses – and there are excellent professional services on the island, including big accountancy firms. There are direct flights from New York, Miami and Boston, as well as the UK, and Barbados is a key hub for Caribbean travel. Bridgetown has a marina project in the pipeline, so soon enough you’ll be able to live, work and play in the capital. Young digital types currently choose either the south or the west coast for easy access to the island’s best bars and restaurants.

Pictures from top: a seven-bedroom villa in the grounds of the prestigious Sandy Lane Estate, Barbados; beach volleyball players on Brownes beach, Bridgetown (Alamy)