Moving to United Arab Emirates from Malawi
What to Expect
Considering a move from Malawi to United Arab Emirates? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Malawi to United Arab Emirates, 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 75°F in Lilongwe, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in United Arab Emirates compared to Malawi.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Arab Emirates performs significantly better than Malawi across all safety metrics.
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
Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Malawi 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
Malawi generally does better on infrastructure, though United Arab Emirates leads in broadband per 100 people.
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 Malawi 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
United Arab Emirates performs significantly better than Malawi across all family life metrics.
Data: Malawi Revenue Authority, 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 | Lilongwe | Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) | 78°/56°F (26°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) | 99°/72°F (37°/22°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) | 106°/81°F (41°/27°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) | 87°/64°F (31°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lilongwe | Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C) |
| Feb | 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) | 76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C) |
| Mar | 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) | 83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C) |
| Apr | 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) | 92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C) |
| May | 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) | 101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C) |
| Jun | 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) | 103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C) |
| Jul | 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) | 108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C) |
| Aug | 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) | 107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C) |
| Sep | 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) | 104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C) |
| Oct | 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) | 96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C) |
| Nov | 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) | 87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C) |
| Dec | 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) | 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) |
Data:
Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malawi 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.
Malawi passport holder visiting United Arab Emirates
Visa Online (e-Visa)
United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting Malawi
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
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?
United Arab Emirates performs significantly better than Malawi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Arab Emirates is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Malawi.
How is healthcare in United Arab Emirates compared to Malawi?
Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 29.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United Arab Emirates, compared to 0.5 in Malawi. United Arab Emirates scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malawi: 48).
What's the weather like in United Arab Emirates compared to Malawi?
The average high temperature in Abu Dhabi is 93°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. Abu Dhabi receives around 3.5 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.
What language do they speak in United Arab Emirates?
The official language in United Arab Emirates is Arabic. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.
