Moving to Portugal from United Arab Emirates
What to Expect
Considering a move from United Arab Emirates to Portugal? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from United Arab Emirates to Portugal, you would find that Portugal is 10.7% more expensive than United Arab Emirates overall. A AED275,486 salary in United Arab Emirates would need to be roughly €54,900 in Portugal to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lisbon averages 69°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 Portugal.
What does your salary buy?
AED275,486 → €54,900
To maintain the same standard of living in Portugal
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 84.3% more
Groceries
pay 19.3% more
Transportation
pay 41.5% more
Housing
pay 33.9% less
Childcare
pay 15.8% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 41.6% 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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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Portugal compared to United Arab Emirates.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Arab Emirates performs better than Portugal 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 Portugal 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
Portugal 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
Portugal 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 Portugal 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Portugal 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Abu Dhabi | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 78°/56°F (26°/14°C) | 61°/48°F (16°/9°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 99°/72°F (37°/22°C) | 71°/56°F (22°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 106°/81°F (41°/27°C) | 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 87°/64°F (31°/18°C) | 65°/53°F (18°/12°C) |
View all months
| Month | Abu Dhabi | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C) | 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C) |
| Feb | 76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C) | 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C) |
| Mar | 83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C) | 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C) |
| Apr | 92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C) | 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C) |
| May | 101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C) | 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C) |
| Jun | 103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C) | 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C) |
| Jul | 108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C) | 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C) |
| Aug | 107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C) | 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C) |
| Sep | 104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C) | 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C) |
| Oct | 96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C) | 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C) |
| Nov | 87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C) | 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C) |
| Dec | 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) | 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C) |
Instituto Português do Mar e da AtmosferaVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Arab Emirates and Portugal. To live, work, or study long-term in Portugal, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Portugal's immigration authority.
United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting Portugal
Visa Free
Portugal 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 Portugal than United Arab Emirates?
On average Portugal is about 15% less expensive than United Arab Emirates, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Portugal?
Budget about €13,725 for 3 months in Portugal (based on a AED275,486 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Portugal?
Connectivity is usually fine (Portugal: 43.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Portugal offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Portugal safe for expats?
United Arab Emirates performs better than Portugal across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Portugal is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in United Arab Emirates.
How is healthcare in Portugal compared to United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Portugal leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 57.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Portugal, compared to 29.1 in United Arab Emirates. Portugal scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Arab Emirates: 82).
What's the weather like in Portugal compared to United Arab Emirates?
The average high temperature in Lisbon is 69°F, compared to 93°F in Abu Dhabi. Lisbon receives around 29.6 in of rainfall per year, while Abu Dhabi gets 3.5 in.
What language do they speak in Portugal?
The official language in Portugal is Portuguese. In United Arab Emirates, the official language is Arabic.
