Moving to Ireland from United Arab Emirates

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from United Arab Emirates to Ireland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from United Arab Emirates to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 56.9% more expensive than United Arab Emirates overall. A AED275,438 salary in United Arab Emirates would need to be roughly €75,918 in Ireland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Irish. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Dublin averages 56°F vs 93°F in Abu Dhabi, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from United Arab Emirates to Ireland.

What does your salary buy?

AED275,438 €75,918

To maintain the same standard of living in Ireland

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 2.5 times more

Groceries

pay 52.6% more

Transportation

pay 2.1 times more

Housing

pay 8.9% more

Childcare

pay 54.1% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 28.5% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 AED = 0.2381 EUR (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Ireland cost about 23% more than cities in United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates

Dubai 60%
Al Ain 48%

Ireland

Athlone 66%
Sligo 63%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from United Arab Emirates to Ireland, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
228 ↑ 13% vs 2015

people born in United Arab Emirates live in Ireland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Ireland?

Top countries of origin for Ireland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Arab Emirates to Ireland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

AE
0.5
IE
0.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AE
5.9
IE
2.8

United Arab Emirates generally does better on safety, though Ireland leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

AE
$3,727
IE
$8,772
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

AE
29.1
IE
40.6

Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AE
70.0
IE
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AE
18.3t
IE
6.0t

Ireland performs significantly better than United Arab Emirates across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AE
40.0
IE
32.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AE
1533.3%
IE
22.2%

United Arab Emirates generally does better on infrastructure, though Ireland leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AE
2.7%
IE
4.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AE
$75,600
IE
$115,600

United Arab Emirates generally does better on employment & economy, though Ireland leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AE
79.6 yrs
IE
81.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AE
5.1
IE
3.5

Ireland generally does better on family life, though United Arab Emirates leads in education spending.

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.

Abu Dhabi Rain: 3.5 in/yr (89 mm)
93° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Abu Dhabi Dublin
Jan–Mar 78°/56°F (26°/14°C) 49°/37°F (10°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 99°/72°F (37°/22°C) 59°/44°F (15°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 106°/81°F (41°/27°C) 66°/52°F (19°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/64°F (31°/18°C) 51°/41°F (11°/5°C)
View all months
Month Abu Dhabi Dublin
Jan 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C) 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C)
Feb 76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C) 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C)
Mar 83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C) 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C)
Apr 92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C) 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C)
May 101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C) 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C)
Jun 103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C) 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C)
Jul 108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C) 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C)
Aug 107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C) 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C)
Sep 104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C) 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C)
Oct 96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C) 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C)
Nov 87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C) 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C)
Dec 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C)

Data: Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Arab Emirates and Ireland. To live, work, or study long-term in Ireland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Ireland's immigration authority.

United Arab Emirates passport

United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting Ireland

Visa Free
United Arab Emirates passport holders can enter Ireland without a visa.
Ireland passport

Ireland passport holder visiting United Arab Emirates

Visa on Arrival
Ireland passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in United Arab Emirates.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Ireland than United Arab Emirates?

No — Ireland is on average about 16% more expensive than United Arab Emirates. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Ireland?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €18,980 in Ireland on a AED275,438 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Ireland?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Ireland has 32.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Ireland safe for expats?

United Arab Emirates generally does better on safety, though Ireland leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Ireland is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in United Arab Emirates.

How is healthcare in Ireland compared to United Arab Emirates?

Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 40.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Ireland, compared to 29.1 in United Arab Emirates. Ireland scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Arab Emirates: 82).

What's the weather like in Ireland compared to United Arab Emirates?

The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 93°F in Abu Dhabi. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Abu Dhabi gets 3.5 in.

What language do they speak in Ireland?

The official languages in Ireland are English and Irish. In United Arab Emirates, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

AE IE
Population 9,915,803 5,275,004
Currency United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) Euro (€)
Languages Arabic English, Irish
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +971 +353
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 112