Several GCC countries have ranked in the top 25 list of friendliest countries in the world, according to survey results released by HSBC this week.

The countries were ranked on the ability to befriend locals, success in learning the local language, capacity for integrating into the community and ease of fitting into the new culture.

According to Arabian Business:

Bahrain topped the rankings with the No. 13 spot, followed by the UAE which ranked 23rd. Saudi Arabia and Qatar took the 24 and 25 spots in the global list.

The results show a vote of confidence for Bahrain, which imposed martial law last month following weeks of anti-government protests. 

Canada was named the world’s most accommodating nation, followed by Bermuda, South Africa and the United States. France, which this month enforced a public ban on Muslim full-face veils, came in at No .7, just beating the UK. 

The survey, which included interviews with some 4,000 expats in 100 countries, has many people in the Middle East scratching their heads about how some countries made the cut.

Indeed, the results are decidedly outdated: interviews took place between April and June 2010.

But it’s amazing to see how fast things change.