Moving to Japan from United Arab Emirates
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United Arab Emirates to Japan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United Arab Emirates to Japan, you would find that Japan is 1.5% more expensive than United Arab Emirates overall. A AED275,486 salary in United Arab Emirates would need to be roughly ¥7,995,081 in Japan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tokyo averages 69°F vs 93°F in Abu Dhabi, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from United Arab Emirates to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
AED275,486 → ¥7,995,081
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 1.1% less
Groceries
pay 69.8% more
Transportation
pay 53.9% more
Housing
pay 49.1% less
Childcare
pay 10.5% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 35.7% 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?
How many people actually move from United Arab Emirates to Japan, based on official data.
people moved from United Arab Emirates to Japan · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to Japan?
Top countries of origin for Japan's foreign-born residents.
- 775,893
- 456,203
- 335,668
- 275,252
- 204,814
- 58,340
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Arab Emirates to Japan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs significantly better than United Arab Emirates 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
United Arab Emirates generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Japan 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
United Arab Emirates generally does better on infrastructure, though Japan leads in water stress level.
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 generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in unemployment rate.
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
Japan 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Abu Dhabi | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 78°/56°F (26°/14°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 99°/72°F (37°/22°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 106°/81°F (41°/27°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 87°/64°F (31°/18°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Abu Dhabi | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Japan Meteorological AgencyVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Arab Emirates and Japan. To live, work, or study long-term in Japan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Japan's immigration authority.
United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan 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 Japan than United Arab Emirates?
Yes — Japan is on average about 33% cheaper than United Arab Emirates. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Japan?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ¥1,998,770 in Japan on a AED275,486 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Japan?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Japan has 37.2 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 Japan safe for expats?
Japan performs significantly better than United Arab Emirates across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in United Arab Emirates.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in health coverage index. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 29.1 in United Arab Emirates. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Arab Emirates: 82).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to United Arab Emirates?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 93°F in Abu Dhabi. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Abu Dhabi gets 3.5 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In United Arab Emirates, the official language is Arabic.
