Asia is one of the most fascinating regions in the world for travel, offering an extraordinary mix of cultures, histories, and landscapes. From modern global cities to long-standing traditions shaped over centuries, the continent gives you an unmatched variety of experiences, often within short distances of each other.
As some of you may know, I lived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for eight years before moving with my family to my current home in Panama. During that time, I travelled extensively across Asia with my family, from east to west and from north to south. Because my wife is from mainland China, my connection to Asia extends beyond work and travel, and I continue to visit the continent regularly.
For travellers, safety has a direct impact on how relaxed and enjoyable a trip feels. In many parts of Asia, strong social norms, effective law enforcement, and well-organized public life create an environment where you can move around comfortably, use public transportation with confidence, and explore cities both day and night.
In this article, I highlight six of the safest places in Asia based on Numbeo’s Safety Index, supported by my own on-the-ground experience travelling across the continent.
Hong Kong is Asia’s ultra-connected megacity with low violent crime and safe transit day or night. Still, watch for pickpockets in crowds and rising phone/online scams
Hong Kong is the largest city-state in the world, located in East Asia, with a population of approximately 7.5 million. It is arguably the most connected city in Asia. Although it is a global megacity, levels of violent crime remain low compared to many of its peers. Streets are generally safe, and public transportation can be used without concern both day and night.
Hong Kong is one of the safest places in Asia, despite being a fast-paced, multicultural, and highly cosmopolitan city. It scores 78.6 out of 100 in Numbeo’s Safety Index, ranking in 6th place. That said, basic common-sense precautions should not be ignored, as petty crime does occur, particularly in crowded areas such as train stations. There has also been a rise in online and phone-based fraud in recent years, making stronger cybersecurity awareness increasingly necessary.
Oman is one of the traditional Gulf monarchies in the Middle East, bordering the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. Oman’s global connectivity has increased in recent years through government-led infrastructure investments aimed at diversifying the economy and reducing dependence on oil.
Security is rarely a concern in Oman. Violent crime is almost nonexistent, largely due to strict enforcement of the law and relatively high levels of wealth within a small population. Its score is 81.6 out of 100 in Numbeo’s Safety Index, ranking it 5th. That said, as in any country, you should still take basic precautions in crowded areas and avoid locations where safety conditions are uncertain. Outside major urban centres, everyday life remains notably safe.
Macau, the “Las Vegas of the East,” blends Portuguese and Chinese culture and thrives on casino tourism. It’s wealthy, well-connected, and tightly policed; violent crime is extremely rare
Macao is another Special Administrative Region of China, located about 60 kilometres west of Hong Kong. Because its main source of revenue is gambling tourism, it is widely known as the “Las Vegas of the East,” a reputation that is largely well deserved. As a former Portuguese colony, Macau continues to reflect Portuguese cultural influence alongside its Chinese cultural foundations.
Due to its history and the dominance of the gambling industry, Macau is highly connected and ranks among the world's wealthiest jurisdictions per capita. Tourism is central to the economy, closely tied to the casino sector, and expats are not uncommon given the city’s international appeal.
As expected, safety is not a major concern in Macau. This small, dense city is tightly controlled, with strict enforcement of the rules that keep violent crime extremely rare. Its score is 81.8 out of 100 in Numbeo’s Safety Index, ranking in 4th place.
Although Taiwan is a relatively small island state, it is a global leader in advanced manufacturing and modern technology. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, about 160 kilometres off the coast of mainland China, Taiwan's location gives it significant geopolitical importance.
The country offers a highly regulated and well-functioning society in which social order and public security are prioritized. If you are visiting the country, you immediately feel safe walking the streets or using public transportation at any hour. Strong social norms and consistent rule enforcement make this highly populated island one of the safest destinations in Asia.
Nevertheless, day-to-day life in Taiwan is extremely secure for everyone. With a safety score of 83 out of 100 in Numbeo’s Safety Index, Taiwan ranks among the safest places in Asia.
Qatar is a gas-rich peninsula of 3M people with major geopolitical weight. Daily life is exceptionally safe thanks to strong internal security, ranking #2 on Numbeo’s Safety Index (84.8)
Qatar, with a population of approximately 3 million, hosts one of the world’s largest natural gas reserves. Like other resource-rich states in the Middle East, it is a traditional monarchy whose political system is largely financed by natural resource revenues. Qatar shares a land border only with Saudi Arabia to the south. However, as a peninsula, it has maritime borders with Bahrain, the UAE, and Iran. This geographic position confers significant geopolitical importance on Qatar.
Qatar is extremely safe in daily life, as the government maintains a high level of internal security through strong organization and enforcement. This is clearly reflected in its safety score of 84.8, which places Qatar second in Numeo’s Safety Index ranking.
The UAE stands out in the Middle East among other resource-rich states through its relatively diversified economy, advanced logistics infrastructure, and its role as a global hub connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe. Alongside the hydrocarbon sector, finance, real estate, tourism, and logistics have grown rapidly over the last decade, transforming the UAE into a major player on the global stage.
Despite the cosmopolitan cities in the UAE, violent crime is extremely low due to the strict enforcement of public order. Its safety score is 86 out of 100 in Numbeo’s Safety Index, ranking it at the top of the list. Since tourism in the UAE attracts millions of visitors from outside the region, public life is also quite comfortable for many of them.
Asia offers incredible cultural variety, from global cities to timeless traditions. Many destinations feel safe day and night thanks to strong norms and effective policing, and the countries listed show that Asia includes some of the world’s safest places to travel
Asia is one of the most fascinating regions in the world for travel, offering an extraordinary mix of cultures, histories, and landscapes. From modern global cities to traditional societies shaped by centuries of custom, travelling through Asia exposes you to an unmatched variety of experiences, often within short distances of each other.
For travellers, safety plays a crucial role in how enjoyable and relaxed a journey feels. In many parts of Asia, strong social norms, effective law enforcement, and well-organized public life create an environment where you can move around comfortably, use public transportation with confidence, and explore cities both day and night. In these places, safety is not just a statistic, but something you feel in everyday situations.
The countries highlighted in this list are examples of destinations where personal security is consistently high, but they are far from the only safe places to visit in Asia. For anyone considering travel to the region, these examples help show that Asia includes some of the safest environments in the world for tourism and everyday exploration.