Moving to Philippines from United Arab Emirates

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from United Arab Emirates to Philippines, you would find that Philippines is 40.9% cheaper than United Arab Emirates overall. A AED275,438 salary in United Arab Emirates would need to be roughly ₱2,184,179 in Philippines to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Filipino.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

AED275,438 ₱2,184,179

To maintain the same standard of living in Philippines

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 43.0% less

Groceries

pay 19.4% more

Transportation

pay 35.2% less

Housing

pay 68.3% less

Childcare

pay 52.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 63.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate:1 AED = 16.69 PHP(June 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 Philippines cost about 39% less than cities in United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Philippines

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
457 ↑ 6% vs 2015

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

Who's moving to Philippines?

Top countries of origin for Philippines'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 Philippines.

Is it safe?

Homicide rateUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AE
0.5
PH
4.3
Road traffic deathsUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AE
5.9
PH
9.7

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per personWorld Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

AE
$3,727
PH
$560
Doctors per 10,000 peopleUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

AE
29.1
PH
7.9

Philippines generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deathsUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AE
70.0
PH
92.0
CO₂ emissions per capitaWorld Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AE
18.3t
PH
1.5t

United Arab Emirates generally does better on environment, though Philippines leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 peopleUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AE
40.0
PH
7.6
Water stress levelUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AE
1533.3%
PH
27.2%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rateThe World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

AE
$75,600
PH
$9,700

United Arab Emirates generally does better on employment & economy, though Philippines leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancyThe World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AE
79.6 yrs
PH
70.1 yrs
Infant mortalityThe World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AE
5.1
PH
22.2

United Arab Emirates performs better than Philippines 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.

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

Avg. annual high / low

ManilaRain: 86.7 in/yr (2201 mm)
88°/77°F

Avg. annual high / low

MonthsAbu DhabiManila
Jan–Mar78°/56°F (26°/14°C)87°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Apr–Jun99°/72°F (37°/22°C)91°/79°F (33°/26°C)
Jul–Sep106°/81°F (41°/27°C)88°/78°F (31°/26°C)
Oct–Dec87°/64°F (31°/18°C)87°/77°F (30°/25°C)
View all months
MonthAbu DhabiManila
Jan75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C)85°/74°F (29.5°/23.5°C)
Feb76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C)87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C)
Mar83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C)90°/77°F (32.1°/24.9°C)
Apr92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C)92°/79°F (33.5°/26.2°C)
May101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C)92°/80°F (33.2°/26.7°C)
Jun103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C)90°/79°F (32.2°/26.2°C)
Jul108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C)88°/78°F (31.1°/25.8°C)
Aug107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C)87°/78°F (30.6°/25.5°C)
Sep104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C)88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C)
Oct96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C)88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C)
Nov87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C)87°/77°F (30.7°/24.9°C)
Dec78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)85°/75°F (29.7°/23.9°C)

Data: Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

United Arab Emirates passport

United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting Philippines

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

Philippines passport holder visiting United Arab Emirates

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Philippines passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to 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 Philippines than United Arab Emirates?

Yes — Philippines is on average about 53% cheaper than United Arab Emirates. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Philippines?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₱546,045 in Philippines on a AED275,438 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Philippines?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Philippines has 7.6 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 Philippines safe for expats?

United Arab Emirates performs better than Philippines across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Philippines is 4.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in United Arab Emirates.

How is healthcare in Philippines compared to United Arab Emirates?

Philippines generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 7.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Philippines, compared to 29.1 in United Arab Emirates. Philippines scores 58 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Arab Emirates: 82).

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

The average high temperature in Manila is 88°F, compared to 93°F in Abu Dhabi. Manila receives around 86.7 in of rainfall per year, while Abu Dhabi gets 3.5 in.

What language do they speak in Philippines?

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

Share this

At a Glance

AE PH
Population9,915,803114,597,229
CurrencyUnited Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)Philippine Peso (₱)
LanguagesArabicEnglish, Filipino
Driving sideRightRight
Calling code+971+63
Time zones11
Emergency number999911