Moving to Belgium from United Arab Emirates
What to Expect
Considering a move from United Arab Emirates to Belgium? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from United Arab Emirates to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 62.5% more expensive than United Arab Emirates overall. A AED275,438 salary in United Arab Emirates would need to be roughly €65,856 in Belgium to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch, French and German. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Brussels averages 57°F vs 93°F in Abu Dhabi, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between United Arab Emirates and Belgium.
What does your salary buy?
AED275,438 → €65,856
To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 3.2 times more
Groceries
pay 52.1% more
Transportation
pay 91.1% more
Housing
pay 15.3% less
Childcare
pay 71.4% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 1.2% less
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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from United Arab Emirates to Belgium.
people moved from United Arab Emirates to Belgium · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Belgium compared to United Arab Emirates.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Arab Emirates generally does better on safety, though Belgium leads in road traffic deaths.
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
United Arab Emirates generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium 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
Belgium performs significantly 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 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 significantly better than United Arab Emirates across all family life metrics.
Data: Ministry of Finance, 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 | Abu Dhabi | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 78°/56°F (26°/14°C) | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 99°/72°F (37°/22°C) | 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 106°/81°F (41°/27°C) | 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 87°/64°F (31°/18°C) | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Abu Dhabi | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C) | 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) |
| Feb | 76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C) | 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) |
| Mar | 83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C) | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) |
| Apr | 92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C) | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) |
| May | 101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C) | 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C) | 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) |
| Aug | 107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C) | 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) |
| Sep | 104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C) | 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) |
| Oct | 96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C) | 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) |
| Nov | 87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C) | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) |
| Dec | 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) |
Institut Royal MétéorologiqueVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Arab Emirates and Belgium. To live, work, or study long-term in Belgium, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Belgium's immigration authority.
United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting Belgium
Visa Free
Belgium passport holder visiting United Arab Emirates
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 Belgium than United Arab Emirates?
Belgium and United Arab Emirates 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 Belgium?
Budget about €16,464 for 3 months in Belgium (based on a AED275,438 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Belgium?
Connectivity is usually fine (Belgium: 43.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Belgium offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Belgium safe for expats?
United Arab Emirates generally does better on safety, though Belgium leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Belgium is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in United Arab Emirates.
How is healthcare in Belgium compared to United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 63.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Belgium, compared to 29.1 in United Arab Emirates. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Arab Emirates: 82).
What's the weather like in Belgium compared to United Arab Emirates?
The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 93°F in Abu Dhabi. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Abu Dhabi gets 3.5 in.
What language do they speak in Belgium?
The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In United Arab Emirates, the official language is Arabic.
