Moving to Zambia from United Arab Emirates

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from United Arab Emirates to Zambia, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lusaka averages 80°F vs 93°F in Abu Dhabi, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Arab Emirates to Zambia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rateUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AE
0.5
ZM
5.2
Road traffic deathsUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AE
5.9
ZM
17.1

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per personWorld Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

AE
$3,727
ZM
$244
Doctors per 10,000 peopleUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

AE
29.1
ZM
2.6

United Arab Emirates generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deathsUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AE
70.0
ZM
50.0
CO₂ emissions per capitaWorld Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AE
18.3t
ZM
0.5t

Zambia 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
ZM
0.4
Water stress levelUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AE
1533.3%
ZM
2.8%

United Arab Emirates generally does better on infrastructure, though Zambia 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%
ZM
5.9%
GDP per capitaThe World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AE
$75,600
ZM
$3,700

United Arab Emirates performs better than Zambia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancyThe World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AE
79.6 yrs
ZM
66.3 yrs
Infant mortalityThe World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AE
5.1
ZM
37.1

United Arab Emirates performs better than Zambia 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

LusakaRain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80°/59°F

Avg. annual high / low

MonthsAbu DhabiLusaka
Jan–Mar78°/56°F (26°/14°C)80°/62°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun99°/72°F (37°/22°C)77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Jul–Sep106°/81°F (41°/27°C)79°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec87°/64°F (31°/18°C)85°/64°F (29°/18°C)
View all months
MonthAbu DhabiLusaka
Jan75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C)80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C)
Feb76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C)80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C)
Mar83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C)81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C)
Apr92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C)80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C)
May101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C)78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C)
Jun103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C)74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C)
Jul108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C)73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C)
Aug107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C)79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C)
Sep104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C)85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C)
Oct96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C)87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C)
Nov87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C)86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C)
Dec78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C)

Data: Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

United Arab Emirates passport

United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting Zambia

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

Zambia passport holder visiting United Arab Emirates

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Zambia 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 Zambia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Zambia has 0.4 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 Zambia safe for expats?

United Arab Emirates performs better than Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Zambia is 5.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in United Arab Emirates.

How is healthcare in Zambia compared to United Arab Emirates?

United Arab Emirates generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Zambia, compared to 29.1 in United Arab Emirates. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Arab Emirates: 82).

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

The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 93°F in Abu Dhabi. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Abu Dhabi gets 3.5 in.

What language do they speak in Zambia?

The official language in Zambia is English. In United Arab Emirates, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

AE ZM
Population9,915,80319,642,123
CurrencyUnited Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
LanguagesArabicEnglish
Driving sideRightLeft
Calling code+971+260
Time zones11
Emergency number999