Baku vs Sharjah

Baku and Sharjah are level on the TRAIL Index at 60. Baku grades better on 9 measures, Sharjah on 11; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• TRAIL Index: Baku 60, Sharjah 60
• OECD: Baku 55, Sharjah 64
• UN Tourism: Baku 60, Sharjah 65
• UNDRR: Baku 43, Sharjah 59

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Baku 65, Sharjah 67
• Economy and jobs: Baku 69, Sharjah 81
• Climate and hazards: Baku 40, Sharjah 35
• Water and environment: Baku 50, Sharjah 42
• Community and housing: Baku 75, Sharjah 100
• Access and continuity: Baku 42, Sharjah 63

Where Baku is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 21.2 % of nights by residents of the same country (State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Activities of hotels and similar establishments in 2025, 2025). Between 15 and 25: grade 1/4.
• Largest foreign market: 13.6 % of international arrivals or nights (country figure) (State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Activities of hotels and similar establishments in 2025, 2025). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 4.9 % of employment in accommodation and food services (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
• Economic diversity: 77 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (country figure) (State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 2025). Between 72 and 80: grade 3/4.
• Extreme heat days: 8.6 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 5 and 15: grade 3/4.
• Tropical nights: 87.8 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 60 and 100: grade 1/4.
• Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 297.2 kg per resident per year (country figure) (State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan via ResearchGate, 2024). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (State Maritime and Port Agency of Azerbaijan & Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.

Where Sharjah is stronger

• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 78 % average annual occupancy (region figure) (Cavendish Maxwell / Gulf News, 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Unemployment rate: 2.2 % of the labour force (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Income per head: 79,344 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2024). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Country disaster risk: 2.3 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). Between 2 and 3.5: grade 3/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 95 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (WHO Data Portal / UN-Water SDG 6.3.1 Monitoring, 2024). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Rent growth: 1.7 % change in rents over the last 12 months (region figure) (Bayut Property Rental Index, Jul 2025–Jul 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (Gulf News & Sharjah City Municipality, 2024–2026). Grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A written destination crisis plan (Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority, 2024–2025). Grade 2/4.
• Government effectiveness: 82.5 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (The Official Platform of the UAE Government, 2025–2026). Grade 2/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Azerbaijan: #58 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• United Arab Emirates: #22 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Baku in full · Sharjah in full

The TRAIL Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · TRAIL Studio · Put your city in the pilot