Emigrating can be a costly process both in money and social terms, but your journey can prove to be quite an enjoyable experience depending on the country you choose to go to. 

The UAE has several attributes that are appealing to all citizens of the world who wish to embark on a new direction in a foreign country, whether to pursue a career in finance and investment or to simply seek a new life elsewhere. 

We know that the United Arab Emirates is a conglomerate of emirates, the best known of which are Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as the financial and political centre of the country, where there are the largest percentage of the population and the greatest opportunity to get ahead. 

It should be noted that throughout the country, 50% of the inhabitants are expats, and 95% of these expats are made up of Muslim individuals, however, the variety of nationalities within the country can be advantageous when communicating and even socialising, even though the majority are Muslim. 

Cost of Living in the UAE

Interestingly, in recent years the cost of living in this country known for its enormous luxuries has decreased dramatically. In fact, Dubai and Abu Dhabi do not even appear in the top 10 most expensive cities in the world as many people might think. 

One of the most striking aspects is the low or no taxes within the country's territory, which attracts thousands of investors and workers to this place to do what they do best and keep the wealth generated. 

However, the cost of living, although declining, still compares to the cost of living in cities such as London, New York, Paris or any other major metropolis in the western hemisphere. This is not necessarily a big problem because the purchasing power of the citizens is considerably high. 

Renting a flat in the city centre, with all that that represents in terms of location, could cost around 5,000 US dollars, which is quite similar to a city like New York. The good news is that there are hundreds of options in the good areas of Dubai and Abu Dhabi with relatively lower prices and similar quality. Some important things to pay for include: 

-Regular flat of 85 metres ( from 650 USD)

-Electricity and drinking water (200 USD)

-Internet service 8 mbps minimum (70 USD)

-Shoes and clothes can cost about the same as in other European markets.

-Gallon of gasoline (0.58 USD)

-Visit to a private doctor for about 15 minutes (62 USD)

Entertainment in Dubai and Abu Dhabi can vary according to the activity individuals want to do or the venue they attend, however, there is a lot of variety in these two cities for entertainment, be it cinema, restaurant, coffee places , nightlife, among others. It is worth mentioning that life in Abu Dhabi is more expensive than in Dubai. 

Ask for more information

Lifestyle

Many people from all over the world are also very concerned about their safety, not least because many expats flee their home countries because of insecurity and crime. 

The Arab Emirates, especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi, are two of the safest cities in the region, and some studies show that they are safer than cities such as Rome. 

But on top of that, this country is known for its eccentricity when it comes to luxury, the cars like Lamborghini and Ferrari in the street are a common case. 

The crime rate in this country is practically zero. 

The official language of the UAE is Arabic, but being a country filled with so many immigrants, it's easy to get by without speaking Arabic. In fact, English is an even more popular language among UAE residents. 

Finding a job can be difficult in recent times, particularly as the UAE government has introduced new programmes and policies that provide greater protection for UAE-born individuals in an effort to end unemployment among UAE nationals. 

Expats who get jobs in Dubai or Abu Dhabi usually do so by entering into employment agreements before arriving in the country, while they are in their home country through a transnational contract that guarantees that during their stay in the UAE, their working life will already be taken into account. 

Some Facts to Know About

There are some curiosities or some laws that an expat should know before making the decision to make a new life in the UAE. Knowing these things can save you from some uncomfortable situations in the future if you plan to move to this country. 

For example, the Jewish people and the Muslim people have been in conflict for decades and even centuries, so if you have an Israeli passport you will be absolutely forbidden to enter this country, after so many political and religious tensions in the past. 

You also need to know that you need to obtain a permit to buy alcohol from registered traders, which means that alcohol cannot always be sold in this country. 

Also, the free education provided by the state will have restrictions on the nationalities of students, as you need to be a UAE national to apply for this education system.

Regarding the rent of flats, the most common is that the owner of the property asks for one year's rent in advance without the possibility of reimbursement. If for any reason you leave the country, you will not get back the money paid to cover the whole year. 

Education in these emirates is compulsory for ages 6 to 12. For UAE nationals, education may be free, but if an expat wants to enter an academic institution, he or she will have to pay as normal as if paying at a university in his or her home country. 

The UAE has gained some recognition and leadership for its modernising policies in the country, with each new infrastructure featuring world-class architectural designs. 

But beyond that, life in the country itself is very attractive in every possible way, since in cities as modern as these two, there is usually always something to do in leisure time. 

However, economically this country probably has the number one prize in this area, but in social matters they still have a long way to go, as their society tends to be very conservative and adheres to the guidelines of Islam. 

To tell the truth, taking into account all the variables that could add up to a stay in the United Arab Emirates, this experience in a country in full development like this could leave an excellent recommendation and work experience. 

In Mundo we guide you in all the issues and more: whether you want to start business in the country or relocate there. We have UAE experts at place waiting for your questions to come and to assist you. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

Contact us