Moving to United Arab Emirates from Belgium
What to Expect
Considering a move from Belgium to United Arab Emirates? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Belgium to United Arab Emirates, you would find that United Arab Emirates is 14.0% cheaper than Belgium overall. A €64,826 salary in Belgium would need to be roughly AED271,130 in United Arab Emirates to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Abu Dhabi averages 93°F vs 57°F in Brussels, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Belgium and United Arab Emirates.
What does your salary buy?
€64,826 → AED271,130
To maintain the same standard of living in United Arab Emirates
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 60.7% less
Groceries
pay 28.1% less
Transportation
pay 24.7% less
Housing
pay 35.0% more
Childcare
pay 38.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 29.7% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in United Arab Emirates compared to Belgium.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Belgium generally does better on safety, though United Arab Emirates leads in homicide rate.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Belgium generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Belgium performs better than United Arab Emirates across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Belgium generally does better on infrastructure, though United Arab Emirates leads in electricity per capita.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
United Arab Emirates performs significantly better than Belgium across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Belgium performs better than United Arab Emirates across all family life metrics.
Data: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Brussels | Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) | 78°/56°F (26°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) | 99°/72°F (37°/22°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) | 106°/81°F (41°/27°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) | 87°/64°F (31°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Brussels | Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C) |
| Feb | 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) | 76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C) |
| Mar | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) | 83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C) |
| Apr | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) | 92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C) |
| May | 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) | 101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C) |
| Jun | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) | 103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C) |
| Jul | 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) | 108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C) |
| Aug | 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) | 107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C) |
| Sep | 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) | 104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C) |
| Oct | 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) | 96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C) |
| Nov | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) | 87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C) |
| Dec | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) | 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) |
Institut Royal MétéorologiqueVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Belgium and United Arab Emirates. To live, work, or study long-term in United Arab Emirates, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Arab Emirates's immigration authority.
Belgium passport holder visiting United Arab Emirates
Visa Free
United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting Belgium
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in United Arab Emirates than Belgium?
United Arab Emirates and Belgium are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.
How much money do I need to move to United Arab Emirates?
Budget about AED67,782 for 3 months in United Arab Emirates (based on a €64,826 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from United Arab Emirates?
Connectivity is usually fine (United Arab Emirates: 40.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United Arab Emirates offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is United Arab Emirates safe for expats?
Belgium generally does better on safety, though United Arab Emirates leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in United Arab Emirates is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Belgium.
How is healthcare in United Arab Emirates compared to Belgium?
Belgium generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 29.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United Arab Emirates, compared to 63.9 in Belgium. United Arab Emirates scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Belgium: 86).
What's the weather like in United Arab Emirates compared to Belgium?
The average high temperature in Abu Dhabi is 93°F, compared to 57°F in Brussels. Abu Dhabi receives around 3.5 in of rainfall per year, while Brussels gets 32.3 in.
What language do they speak in United Arab Emirates?
The official language in United Arab Emirates is Arabic. In Belgium, the official languages are Dutch, French and German.
