Weighing up the idea of moving to the United Arab Emirates? Maybe Dubai, maybe Abu Dhabi, or one of the lesser-known seven emirates? But what’s it actually like to settle down and build a life in the UAE?
Let’s have a proper look, because the reality of expat life in the Middle East is probably both a lot stranger and more familiar than you might expect.
First up, it’s impossible to talk about the UAE without mentioning how international it feels. Walk through Dubai International Airport on a Monday morning, and you’ll hear languages from every corner of the world, basically before you’ve even passed through passport control.
There are more than 200 nationalities living here, and many expats from the UK and Europe have found ways to carve out a comfortable routine in what’s otherwise a pretty culturally different country.
English is widely spoken, and in fact, in the city centre areas of Dubai or Abu Dhabi, you’ll probably go days at a time without needing a word of Arabic, though the official language is Arabic and you’ll see it on all the road signs and official documents. Of course, you’ll likely want to pick up a few phrases for day-to-day life, but you’ll get by fine with English in shops and most public places.
The main pull for UK residents, if we’re being honest, is the financial upside. Tax free income here is the norm, which means your salary stretches a lot further than it does at home. There’s no personal income tax, and while the cost of living can be high – especially if you’re eyeing up a villa with a pool or a place near the Burj Khalifa – you tend to find the perks offset the price.
The oil and gas sector still dominates in Abu Dhabi, but Dubai’s economy is a mix of:
So, there’s plenty of demand for skills from abroad. More recently, the UAE has worked hard to encourage professionals to stay long-term with a growing number of residency visas and golden visa options for those with specialist skills or investments. The UAE government’s portal has the latest on the different routes.
But moving for work isn’t just about a bigger pay cheque, though. Most British expats say the career progression can be fast, and the chance to build up some savings or travel the region is a huge draw.
At the same time, the work culture is pretty intense – long hours are fairly standard, and most companies open Sunday to Thursday, so Friday and Saturday are your weekend.
Coming over with kids? One of the first things you’ll be told about is school fees. Education is a major consideration, and there’s a huge market of private international schools that caters to all sorts of backgrounds.
The British education system is popular with many expat families, and you’ll find plenty of schools offering GCSEs and A-levels, as well as the International Baccalaureate, which is increasingly common.
As you might expect, the fees can be pretty eye-watering here – sometimes upwards of £10,000 per child per year in the top schools. And that’s before uniforms or extra-curriculars. Obviously, the reason for these prices is that the quality is generally high, but some schools have long waiting lists, so you’ll want to apply early and have a few options up your sleeve.
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai publishes full inspection reports if you want to check standards before committing.
As with any international school, your kid’s classroom will be incredibly diverse, with children from dozens of countries. That means everyone gets used to celebrating Christmas and Eid within a single term.
Most international schools also run the International Baccalaureate or offer language tracks, and it’s common for expat families to look at schools based on exam results and how easy the daily school run is from their new home.
One of the non-negotiables when you’re living in the UAE is comprehensive medical insurance. Employers are usually required to provide this as part of the relocation package, and if you’re on a residence visa, you can’t actually complete your application without showing proof of coverage.
That said, the standard of care here is excellent, and private hospitals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are modern – often staffed by doctors who’ve trained in the UK or the U.S.
Most appointments are quick to arrange, but bear in mind that for anything beyond your policy, you’ll pay out-of-pocket costs, so it’s worth checking what’s actually covered. The government’s healthcare portal has the most up-to-date requirements.
Banking and admin can be a bit of a learning curve. Everything from opening a bank account and getting a mobile SIM to sorting out your utilities can take longer than you’d expect, mostly because every step is tied to your residency visa and Emirates ID.
But once you’re through the paperwork, your daily life becomes pretty seamless:
The headline is that salaries are generally higher and there’s no personal income tax, but the flip side is that costs can rack up. Rent is paid annually upfront in most cases, and, as mentioned, school fees can be the single biggest expense for families.
There’s plenty of up-to-date stats out there if you want a real sense of costs on everything from rent to groceries. A villa or apartment in Dubai or Abu Dhabi’s city centre will set you back more than further out, and luxury lifestyle choices – dining out, international school fees, spa days – will eat into any savings you make from your tax-free income.
But that said, most expats find the opportunity to save or just live well is definitely possible, especially if you avoid the expat bubble trap of overspending just because you can.
If you’re looking to get started in the UAE, especially if you’re managing accounts or assets in more than one country, Upscore’s Finance Passport could help make the move smoother!
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