Moving to Macau from United Arab Emirates

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from United Arab Emirates to Macau? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from United Arab Emirates to Macau, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese and Portuguese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Macao averages 77°F vs 93°F in Abu Dhabi, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Macau compared to United Arab Emirates.

Is it safe?

Homicide rateUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

AE
0.5
MO
0.6

United Arab Emirates performs better than Macau across all safety metrics.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capitaWorld Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AE
18.3t
MO
2.5t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 peopleUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AE
40.0
MO
30.0
Internet accessThe World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

AE
100.0%
MO
88.0%

United Arab Emirates performs better than Macau across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rateThe World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AE
2.7%
MO
2.2%
GDP per capitaThe World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AE
$75,600
MO
$102,000

Macau generally does better on employment & economy, though United Arab Emirates leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancyThe World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AE
79.6 yrs
MO
85.0 yrs
Infant mortalityThe World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AE
5.1
MO
4.6

Macau generally does better on family life, though United Arab Emirates leads in literacy rate.

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 DhabiRain: 3.5 in/yr (89 mm)
93°/68°F

Avg. annual high / low

MacaoRain: 83.6 in/yr (2123 mm)
77°/68°F

Avg. annual high / low

MonthsAbu DhabiMacao
Jan–Mar78°/56°F (26°/14°C)66°/57°F (19°/14°C)
Apr–Jun99°/72°F (37°/22°C)82°/73°F (28°/23°C)
Jul–Sep106°/81°F (41°/27°C)88°/78°F (31°/26°C)
Oct–Dec87°/64°F (31°/18°C)74°/64°F (23°/18°C)
View all months
MonthAbu DhabiMacao
Jan75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C)64°/54°F (17.7°/12.2°C)
Feb76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C)64°/56°F (17.7°/13.1°C)
Mar83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C)69°/61°F (20.7°/16.2°C)
Apr92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C)76°/68°F (24.5°/20.2°C)
May101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C)83°/74°F (28.1°/23.6°C)
Jun103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C)87°/78°F (30.3°/25.7°C)
Jul108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C)89°/79°F (31.5°/26.3°C)
Aug107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C)88°/79°F (31.2°/26.0°C)
Sep104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C)86°/77°F (30.0°/24.9°C)
Oct96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C)81°/72°F (27.4°/22.3°C)
Nov87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C)74°/64°F (23.4°/17.8°C)
Dec78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)67°/57°F (19.6°/13.8°C)

Data: Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

United Arab Emirates passport

United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting Macau

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

Macau passport holder visiting United Arab Emirates

Visa Required
Macau passport holders need a visa to enter United Arab Emirates.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Macau?

Connectivity is usually fine (Macau: 30.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Macau offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Macau safe for expats?

United Arab Emirates performs better than Macau across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Macau is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in United Arab Emirates.

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

The average high temperature in Macao is 77°F, compared to 93°F in Abu Dhabi. Macao receives around 83.6 in of rainfall per year, while Abu Dhabi gets 3.5 in.

What language do they speak in Macau?

The official languages in Macau are Chinese and Portuguese. In United Arab Emirates, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

AE MO
Population9,915,803635,293
CurrencyUnited Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)Macanese Pataca (MOP)
LanguagesArabicChinese, Portuguese
Driving sideRightLeft
Calling code+971+853
Time zones11
Emergency number999