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Flag of the United Arab Emirates

Middle East · Arabic, English · updated 2026-10

Moving to the United Arab Emirates: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $3,250 a month to live in Dubai, and a family of four about $6,650, including rent. The United Arab Emirates has no standard route to permanent residence, with citizenship by naturalisation is very rare. You can move here without a job offer through the Remote work visa and the Green Visa.

Monthly budget
$3,250
Very high cost
Safety
79
Very safe
Stability
72
Stable
Family
72
Very good
Main city
Dubai
Language
Arabic, English
Permanent residence
No standard route
Citizenship
Very rare
Dual citizenship
Not allowed
Digital nomad visa
Yes
What can your passport do in the United Arab Emirates?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in United Arab Emirates, per month in US$

One person
$3,250
Family of four
$6,650
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Dubai centre
$2,200
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$4,050
Estimate
Price level
69
US = 100
Income per person
$4,296
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
79
Very safe
Homicides per 100k
0.69
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+0.83
Rule of law+0.54
Control of corruption+1.15
Government effectiveness+1.13
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Stable overall (72/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
72
Very good
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.673
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
4.8
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
83.1 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$2,402
per person / year
Education spending
3.9%
of GDP

Residents earning AED 4,000+ (or 3,000 with housing) can sponsor family. Schooling is mostly private and costly.

Visa & residence routes

Remote work
Remote work visaOfficially $3,500/month; 2026 rules ask for 6 months of statements and many applications are now assessed at $5,000.
Talent
Green Visa5-year self-sponsored residence for skilled workers and freelancers.
Job offer
Employment visaEmployer-sponsored, usually 2 years.
Investment
Golden Visa10 years renewable: AED 2M in property, or talent and specialist tracks.

Who gets easier access to the United Arab Emirates

GCC citizens can live and work across Gulf Cooperation Council states.

Flag of BahrainBahrainFlag of KuwaitKuwaitFlag of OmanOmanFlag of QatarQatarFlag of Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia

Visiting: 87 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 1 get a visa on arrival, 110 can apply for an eVisa and 0 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

Arrive024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
No standard route
No permanent residence; the Golden Visa renews every 10 years
Citizenship
Very rare
By decree only
Dual citizenship
Not allowed

No personal income tax.

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in the United Arab Emirates?

About $3,250 a month for one person and $6,650 for a family of four in Dubai, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $2,200 a month and a 3-bedroom around $4,050. Prices are 69% of US levels. The United Arab Emirates is the 69th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is the United Arab Emirates safe to live in?

The United Arab Emirates scores 79/100 for safety (very safe), ranking 15th of 76. The homicide rate is 0.69 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is the United Arab Emirates politically stable?

The United Arab Emirates scores 72/100 for stability (stable), ranking 26th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is the United Arab Emirates good for families?

The United Arab Emirates scores 72/100 for family-friendliness (very good), ranking 32nd of 76. Life expectancy is 83.1 years and under-5 mortality is 4.8 per 1,000 births. Residents earning AED 4,000+ (or 3,000 with housing) can sponsor family. Schooling is mostly private and costly.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in the United Arab Emirates?

There is no standard route to permanent residence. No permanent residence; the Golden Visa renews every 10 years.

How long until I can become a citizen of the United Arab Emirates?

Citizenship by naturalisation is very rare. By decree only. Dual citizenship: not allowed.

Can I move to the United Arab Emirates without a job offer?

Yes. Remote work visa: Officially $3,500/month; 2026 rules ask for 6 months of statements and many applications are now assessed at $5,000. Green Visa: 5-year self-sponsored residence for skilled workers and freelancers.

Does the United Arab Emirates have a digital nomad visa?

Yes: the Remote work visa. Officially $3,500/month; 2026 rules ask for 6 months of statements and many applications are now assessed at $5,000.

Who can live and work in the United Arab Emirates without a visa?

GCC citizens can live and work across Gulf Cooperation Council states. (Gulf Cooperation Council: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia.)

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of the United Arab Emirates can move