Moving to Turkmenistan from United Arab Emirates

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from United Arab Emirates to Turkmenistan, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian and Turkmen. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ashgabat averages 74°F vs 93°F in Abu Dhabi, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rateUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AE
0.5
TM
1.1
Road traffic deathsUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AE
5.9
TM
8.0

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per personWorld Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

AE
$3,727
TM
$1,264
Doctors per 10,000 peopleUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

AE
29.1
TM
21.4

Turkmenistan 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
TM
87.0
CO₂ emissions per capitaWorld Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AE
18.3t
TM
10.9t

United Arab Emirates generally does better on environment, though Turkmenistan 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
TM
5.9
Water stress levelUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AE
1533.3%
TM
135.2%

United Arab Emirates generally does better on infrastructure, though Turkmenistan 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%
TM
4.1%
GDP per capitaThe World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AE
$75,600
TM
$14,700

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancyThe World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AE
79.6 yrs
TM
71.8 yrs
Infant mortalityThe World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AE
5.1
TM
37.6

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

Data: 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

AshgabatRain: 8.9 in/yr (227 mm)
74°/51°F

Avg. annual high / low

MonthsAbu DhabiAshgabat
Jan–Mar78°/56°F (26°/14°C)51°/34°F (11°/1°C)
Apr–Jun99°/72°F (37°/22°C)86°/61°F (30°/16°C)
Jul–Sep106°/81°F (41°/27°C)96°/68°F (35°/20°C)
Oct–Dec87°/64°F (31°/18°C)62°/40°F (17°/5°C)
View all months
MonthAbu DhabiAshgabat
Jan75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C)45°/29°F (7.4°/-1.6°C)
Feb76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C)49°/32°F (9.6°/-0.2°C)
Mar83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C)60°/41°F (15.6°/4.9°C)
Apr92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C)75°/52°F (24.1°/11.1°C)
May101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C)86°/61°F (30.0°/16.2°C)
Jun103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C)96°/69°F (35.7°/20.7°C)
Jul108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C)101°/74°F (38.2°/23.1°C)
Aug107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C)98°/69°F (36.6°/20.5°C)
Sep104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C)89°/60°F (31.5°/15.4°C)
Oct96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C)74°/48°F (23.2°/9.1°C)
Nov87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C)62°/40°F (16.6°/4.6°C)
Dec78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)50°/33°F (9.8°/0.7°C)

Data:

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

United Arab Emirates passport

United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting Turkmenistan

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

Turkmenistan passport holder visiting United Arab Emirates

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Turkmenistan 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

Can I work remotely from Turkmenistan?

Connectivity is usually fine (Turkmenistan: 5.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Turkmenistan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Turkmenistan safe for expats?

United Arab Emirates performs better than Turkmenistan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Turkmenistan is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in United Arab Emirates.

How is healthcare in Turkmenistan compared to United Arab Emirates?

Turkmenistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 21.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Turkmenistan, compared to 29.1 in United Arab Emirates. Turkmenistan scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Arab Emirates: 82).

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

The average high temperature in Ashgabat is 74°F, compared to 93°F in Abu Dhabi. Ashgabat receives around 8.9 in of rainfall per year, while Abu Dhabi gets 3.5 in.

What language do they speak in Turkmenistan?

The official languages in Turkmenistan are Russian and Turkmen. In United Arab Emirates, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

AE TM
Population9,915,8035,636,011
CurrencyUnited Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)Turkmenistani Manat (TMT)
LanguagesArabicRussian, Turkmen
Driving sideRightRight
Calling code+971+993
Time zones11
Emergency number999