a black and white photo of a city at night
Here a lady is exploring the deserts of UAE heritage and tradit…
Emirates Airbus A380-861 (reg. A6-EER, msn 139) at Munich Airpo…
The municipality of Dubai is the largest city of the Persian Gu…
The resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is featu…
The resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is featu…
UN MemberVisa-free · 90 daysPop. 9.9M
75
NestFainder ScoreAI

Great fit

BCost
ASafety
BClimate
AHDI
United Arab Emirates flag

United Arab Emirates

Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf · Arabic

United Arab Emirates

UAE delivers high purchasing power and top quality of life at half the global cost — tax-free salaries, endless sun, and golden visas for Western pros.

CLIMATE
Gulf of Oman, Persian Gu…
37°C avg · 3600h sun/yr
CURRENCY
AED د.إ
LANGUAGE
Arabic
SAFETY
Very safe
#1 globally · Safety index 86/100
COST OF LIVING
Moderate
Cost index 55/100
TIME ZONE
GMT+4
UTC+4

What it's like to live in United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates located in the southeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia and Oman. Established in 1971, the country has rapidly transformed from a collection of small desert sh...


Cost of living
vs EU Average18% higher than EU average
1-bed apartment, city
AED6,750Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Dinner for two
AED46.50Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Monthly groceries
AED7.50Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Public transit (month)
AED6.25One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide
★ Professional

Your United Arab Emirates Roadmap

40+ page personal relocation analysis — visa path, tax strategy, neighbourhood guide, healthcare setup and more.

€29one-time report
What's included
  • Visa & residency path
  • Tax optimisation
  • Neighbourhood guide
  • Healthcare & schools
  • Cost breakdown

Healthcare

  • Health insurance is mandatory for all residents and visitors in the UAE, with requirements varying by emirate and visa type.
  • The healthcare system is a mix of public and private facilities, with expats primarily relying on private insurance for access to both.
  • Employers are legally required to provide health insurance for their employees, and often for dependents, as a prerequisite for residency permits.
Healthcare guide →
Entry Requirements & Visa Options

The United Arab Emirates offers one of the most accessible entry policies in the Middle East for international travelers. Citizens of approximately 60 countries—including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and most EU nations—can enter the UAE visa-free for tourism and business purposes. US citizens specifically receive a no-fee visitor visa upon arrival for stays up to 90 days within any 180-day period, making the UAE exceptionally convenient for American travelers . All visitors must present a passport valid...

Visa-free entry: 90 days
Digital Nomad Visa available
Work permits available
Investment visa from ,
Read full guide

Travel advisories, hazards, and conflict indicators

Cost of living, housing, income, and purchasing power overview

Income tax, corporate tax, and fiscal overview

Job market, business environment, and work permits

International schools, universities, and curricula

Pension, retirement pathways, and financial planning

Seasonal temperatures, rainfall, and sunshine hours

Population, languages, and ethnic composition

Day-to-day expat life and practical tips

Public transit, airports, and getting around

Community, cultural integration, and expat life

Air quality, green spaces, and sustainability

Political system, government structure, and key policies

Location overview, cost of living index, and purchasing power

Economic and geographic overview at a glance

Community perspectives and expat experiences

Ready to stop
browsing and start moving?

Generate a personalized relocation roadmap — visa path, 3 shortlisted cities, tax & timeline.

This content was generated using artificial intelligence based on publicly available information. It is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, immigration, or professional advice. Information may be incomplete or outdated. Always verify with official sources before making decisions.

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.