Moving to
United Arab Emirates
Moving to United Arab Emirates: one person needs about $2,900/month in Dubai (a family about $6,800), the top personal income-tax rate is 0% — roughly $60,000 take-home on a $60,000 salary — and it offers a digital-nomad visa.
Dubai runs like a business: tax-free income, gleaming infrastructure, extreme safety, and a position as a genuine global crossroads. The Virtual Working Programme legalizes remote work and the Golden Visa offers rare ten-year stability. The trade-offs are real — brutal 45°C+ summers, a high cost for a good lifestyle, and total car dependence.
Last updated August 2026 · How we calculate this
United Arab Emirates by the numbers
Relative scores across cost, safety, healthcare, quality of life and connectivity (higher is better).
Why move to United Arab Emirates
- Zero personal income tax
- Extremely safe, modern, efficient
- Golden Visa, ten-year residency
The catch
- Brutal summer heat (45°C+)
- High cost of good living
- Conservative laws, car-dependent sprawl
Take-home pay
Net salary in United Arab Emirates on a $60k gross, after income tax and social security:
No personal income tax on employment income for individuals.
Cost of living · Dubai
Average all-in monthly cost in USD — estimates for guidance.
Compare cities →Visa & residency
Remote-work visa (1 year) needs ~$3,500/mo proven income + health insurance.
Typical income requirement: $3,500/month.
The Remote Work Visa (one year, $3,500/mo income) covers nomads, but the standout is the Golden Visa (ten years, renewable) via property investment (AED 2M), talent, or an AED 30k/mo salary; most others hold employer-sponsored work visas. There is no citizenship route.
How can I move here? → Do I qualify? →Economy & everyday life
GDP-per-capita PPP is ~$79,300 and there's no income tax, so gross pay is take-home — but Dubai and Abu Dhabi rents and schooling are steep, so a big salary is what makes it work. Inflation is mild at 1.3%, keeping costs predictable. Life expectancy is 83.1; healthcare is modern and largely private, and cover is mandatory — employers usually provide it, but the tier you get depends on your plan.
Healthcare
World Bank data, most recent available — shows how well the system is resourced, not what you'll personally pay.
Safety
US State Department advisory level, country-wide — general guidance, not neighbourhood-specific. Full advisory →
Education
World Bank data, most recent available — learning score reflects harmonised international test performance.
Connectivity
World Bank data, most recent available.
Best time to go
Full climate →Average daily temperature by month · 2023 (Open-Meteo).
Where expats live in United Arab Emirates
Cost of living by city
All cities →All-in monthly cost for one person — tap a city for the full breakdown. Figures are averages, for guidance.
Living in United Arab Emirates
Healthcare
Excellent private hospitals with Western-trained staff; health insurance is mandatory (employer or self-funded, roughly AED 5,000-20,000/year), and public care is limited for non-citizens.
Money & banking
Bank accounts are easy once you hold a residence visa and Emirates ID (Emirates NBD, Mashreq, Wio); before that you rely on international cards, and the AED is pegged to the dollar.
Internet
Very fast, reliable fiber (500Mbps-1Gbps) and world-class coworking, though some VoIP calling apps are restricted and need workarounds.
Etiquette & culture
Greetings, tipping and the taboos to dodge — fit in fast. Open the guide →
On arrival
Full essentials →Getting there
Flight distances →Fly via DXB (Dubai), one of the world's busiest international hubs, plus AUH (Abu Dhabi) — nonstop to essentially everywhere on Emirates and Etihad.
Very safe — one of the world’s lowest crime rates.
Dial 999 for police, ambulance or fire.
Best for high earners who want tax-free income, safety, and global connectivity — and can handle the heat and cost.
Your move to United Arab Emirates — roadmap
Key terms
- Effective tax rate
- The share of your gross income actually lost to income tax and social contributions combined — almost always lower than the headline top tax bracket.
- Take-home pay
- What actually reaches your account after income tax and employee social contributions are taken off your gross salary.
- Tax residency
- The country entitled to tax your worldwide income — usually where you spend 183 days or more in a year, though the exact test varies by country.
- Permanent residency
- The right to live and work in a country indefinitely — the stage before citizenship, and those years usually count toward naturalization.
- Cost of living
- The all-in monthly spend for one person — rent, food, transport and bills — in the country's main relocation city.
Moving to United Arab Emirates — FAQ
Is there income tax in United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates charges no personal income tax on employment income. No personal income tax on employment income for individuals.
Can digital nomads get a visa for United Arab Emirates?
Yes — Remote-work visa (1 year) needs ~$3,500/mo proven income + health insurance.
How do you get residency in United Arab Emirates?
The Remote Work Visa (one year, $3,500/mo income) covers nomads, but the standout is the Golden Visa (ten years, renewable) via property investment (AED 2M), talent, or an AED 30k/mo salary; most others hold employer-sponsored work visas. There is no citizenship route.
How much does it cost to live in Dubai?
A single person needs roughly $2,900/month in Dubai, and a family around $6,800/month, all-in.
Is tap water safe to drink in United Arab Emirates?
Locals often drink it, but newcomers may prefer filtered or bottled water.