United Arab Emirates

Living in United Arab Emirates: the short version

The UAE, led by Dubai and Abu Dhabi, attracts professionals with no personal income tax, modern infrastructure and flexible long-term visas. Residency is usually tied to a job, business or investment, and rents in popular areas of Dubai have risen sharply.

Best for: High earners, entrepreneurs and remote workers who want tax efficiency and a global travel hub.

How to move to United Arab Emirates: main visa and residency routes

Summaries only — requirements and income thresholds change. Always check the official sources below.

Employment residence visa

Sponsored by your employer; the most common route.

Golden Visa

Ten-year renewable residence for investors, entrepreneurs, skilled professionals and exceptional talents.

Remote work visa

One-year residence for people employed by companies outside the UAE who meet an income threshold.

Green Visa

Five-year self-sponsored residence for freelancers and skilled employees.

Healthcare for newcomers

Health insurance is mandatory for residents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, usually provided by employers. Private hospitals are modern but expensive without cover.

How United Arab Emirates compares

Calculated from our data for all 55 countries. How we calculate this

Cost of living rank

17th most expensive of 55

Single person, core costs

$2,340/mo

Family of four, core costs

$4,684/mo

Take-home on $60,000

$60,000/yr

• Renting a one-bedroom home takes about 40% of the average local salary in United Arab Emirates, more than the median of 36% across the countries we cover.
• Core monthly costs for one person (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, internet and eating out) come to about $2,340, or 62% of the average local monthly salary.
• On a gross salary of $60,000 taxed locally, our estimate leaves $60,000 a year after income tax and employee social security (an effective rate of 0%), the 1st highest take-home pay of 55 countries. After single-person core costs, that leaves roughly $31,920 a year to save or spend.
• Countries with a similar overall cost of living: Germany, South Korea, Netherlands.
• Cheaper options in Middle East: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey.

Estimates for planning, using simplified national tax brackets in US dollars; local taxes, deductions and your own spending will differ. Try your own numbers in the tax calculator or budget planner.

Sources and methodology

Figures on this page are estimates in US dollars, compiled from the international datasets below and converted at recent exchange rates. The cost of living index uses New York City as 100. Guidance was last reviewed on September 30, 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.