Moving to United Arab Emirates from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Considering a move from Hong Kong to United Arab Emirates? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Hong Kong to United Arab Emirates, you would find that United Arab Emirates is 10.6% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$587,771 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly AED207,562 in United Arab Emirates to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Abu Dhabi averages 93°F vs 79°F in Hong Kong, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates.
What does your salary buy?
HK$587,771 → AED207,562
To maintain the same standard of living in United Arab Emirates
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 11.3% less
Groceries
pay 42.1% less
Transportation
pay 33.2% less
Housing
pay 61.5% more
Childcare
pay 57.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 0.4% 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 Hong Kong.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than United Arab Emirates across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Hong Kong performs better than United Arab Emirates across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
United Arab Emirates performs significantly better than Hong Kong across all infrastructure metrics.
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 Hong Kong 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
Hong Kong performs better than United Arab Emirates across all family life metrics.
Data: Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong, 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 | Hong Kong | Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 78°/56°F (26°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 99°/72°F (37°/22°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 106°/81°F (41°/27°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 87°/64°F (31°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong 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.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting United Arab Emirates
Visa Free
United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting Hong Kong
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 Hong Kong?
On average United Arab Emirates is about 25% less expensive than Hong Kong, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to United Arab Emirates?
Budget about AED51,890 for 3 months in United Arab Emirates (based on a HK$587,771 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?
Hong Kong performs better than United Arab Emirates across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Arab Emirates is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in United Arab Emirates compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Abu Dhabi is 93°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Abu Dhabi receives around 3.5 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in United Arab Emirates?
The official language in United Arab Emirates is Arabic. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
