Move to United Arab Emirates
Everything a future United Arab Emirates settler needs to know. Residency, money, safety — the stuff the tourism board won't put on a poster.
United Arab Emirates at a Glance
1BR rent / mo
Democracy index
Homicides / 100k
English level
How to actually stay
Visas, residency, and the paperwork mountain between you and a lease
Can your partner work?
Because 'trailing spouse' shouldn't mean 'trailing income'
Spouse needs own employer to obtain a work permit via MOHRE. Can stay on dependent visa while working.
Source: official guidance
Where to land in United Arab Emirates
One city, no paradox of choice
What it costs to exist
Real monthly numbers, not what the expat blog says
$2,288
priciest 1BR / mo
Rent + food + transport + utilities, averaged across 1 cities. No gym membership, no brunch budget.
How rich is everyone, really
GDP, taxes, and other numbers politicians argue about
$79,229
GDP per capita
9%
Corporate tax
2.2%
Unemployment
1.7%
Inflation
Low inequality — the wealth gap won't slap you in the face daily.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, press freedom, and whether you should use a VPN
3.07/10
🚩 Authoritarian regime
18
/100Freedom House score
#52 of 163
Global Peace Index
#165
Press freedom rank
Is United Arab Emirates safe?
Homicide rates and the stats that matter for sleeping at night
Safe enough to stop thinking about it. Standard urban awareness applies.
Can you order coffee?
The language situation, no sugarcoating
Arabic
Primary language
Moderate
English proficiency (#31 globally)
English won't carry you far here. Learning Arabic isn't optional — it's the price of admission.
❓ Moving to United Arab Emirates — Common Questions
What is the best city to move to in United Arab Emirates?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Dubai ranks #1 in United Arab Emirates with a score of 57/100. City-centre rent starts around $2288/month.
How much does it cost to live in United Arab Emirates?▾
City-centre 1-bedroom rent ranges from $2288 to $2288/month across our 1 tracked cities. Average monthly solo expenses are around $3,154.
Is United Arab Emirates a democracy?▾
United Arab Emirates scores 3.07/10 on the EIU Democracy Index and is classified as a "Authoritarian regime." It ranks #52 of 163 on the Global Peace Index.
Is United Arab Emirates safe to live in?▾
The average homicide rate across our tracked cities in United Arab Emirates is 0.8 per 100,000 people. That's quite safe by global standards.