Moving to South Africa from United Arab Emirates
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United Arab Emirates to South Africa — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United Arab Emirates to South Africa, you would find that South Africa is 28.1% cheaper than United Arab Emirates overall. A AED275,486 salary in United Arab Emirates would need to be roughly ZAR638,248 in South Africa to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Pretoria averages 77°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 South Africa.
What does your salary buy?
AED275,486 → ZAR638,248
To maintain the same standard of living in South Africa
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 8.8% more
Groceries
pay 13.0% less
Transportation
pay 9.3% more
Housing
pay 56.2% less
Childcare
pay 58.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 59.7% 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 South Africa, based on official data.
people born in United Arab Emirates live in South Africa · UN DESA
Who's moving to South Africa?
Top countries of origin for South Africa's foreign-born residents.
- 690,243
- 350,463
- 192,008
- 94,119
- 67,382
- 63,892
- · · ·
-
101.214
United Arab Emirates
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Arab Emirates to South Africa.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Arab Emirates performs better than South Africa 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 South Africa leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
South Africa 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 South Africa 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 performs better than South Africa 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
United Arab Emirates generally does better on family life, though South Africa 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 | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 78°/56°F (26°/14°C) | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 99°/72°F (37°/22°C) | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 106°/81°F (41°/27°C) | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 87°/64°F (31°/18°C) | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) |
View all months
| Month | Abu Dhabi | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C) | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) |
| Feb | 76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C) | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) |
| Mar | 83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C) | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) |
| Apr | 92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C) | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) |
| May | 101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C) | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) |
| Jun | 103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C) | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) |
| Jul | 108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C) | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) |
| Aug | 107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C) | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) |
| Sep | 104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C) | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) |
| Oct | 96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C) | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) |
| Nov | 87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C) | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) |
| Dec | 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) |
South African Weather ServiceVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Arab Emirates and South Africa. To live, work, or study long-term in South Africa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Africa's immigration authority.
United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Free
South Africa passport holder visiting United Arab Emirates
Visa Online (e-Visa)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 South Africa than United Arab Emirates?
Yes — South Africa is on average about 48% cheaper than United Arab Emirates. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to South Africa?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ZAR159,562 in South Africa on a AED275,486 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from South Africa?
Internet is rarely the blocker — South Africa has 3.3 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 South Africa safe for expats?
United Arab Emirates performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Africa is 45.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in United Arab Emirates.
How is healthcare in South Africa compared to United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 8.1 doctors per 10,000 people in South Africa, compared to 29.1 in United Arab Emirates. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Arab Emirates: 82).
What's the weather like in South Africa compared to United Arab Emirates?
The average high temperature in Pretoria is 77°F, compared to 93°F in Abu Dhabi. Pretoria receives around 27.0 in of rainfall per year, while Abu Dhabi gets 3.5 in.
What language do they speak in South Africa?
The official languages in South Africa are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. In United Arab Emirates, the official language is Arabic.
Compare further: United Arab Emirates vs. South Africa
At a Glance
AE
|
ZA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,915,803 | 57,516,665 |
| Currency | United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Languages | Arabic | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Driving side | Right | Left |
| Calling code | +971 | +27 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 999 | 10111 |