Moving to United Arab Emirates from United Kingdom
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United Kingdom to United Arab Emirates — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United Kingdom to United Arab Emirates, you would find that United Arab Emirates is 17.7% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £55,766 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly AED260,131 in United Arab Emirates to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Abu Dhabi averages 93°F vs 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from United Kingdom to United Arab Emirates.
What does your salary buy?
£55,766 → AED260,131
To maintain the same standard of living in United Arab Emirates
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 49.7% less
Groceries
pay 18.2% less
Transportation
pay 38.8% less
Housing
pay 24.9% more
Childcare
pay 62.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 11.0% more
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 United Arab Emirates cost about 10% less than cities in United Kingdom.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to United Arab Emirates
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 Kingdom to United Arab Emirates, based on official data.
people born in United Kingdom live in United Arab Emirates · UN DESA
Who's moving to United Arab Emirates?
Top countries of origin for United Arab Emirates's foreign-born residents.
- 3,471,300
- 1,095,231
- 996,288
- 899,612
- 564,769
- 318,809
- · · ·
-
15.29,191
United Kingdom
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Kingdom to United Arab Emirates.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom generally does better on safety, though United Arab Emirates leads in homicide rate.
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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates 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
United Kingdom performs 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
share of households with internet
United Kingdom 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
share of people below the poverty line
United Arab Emirates generally does better on employment & economy, though United Kingdom leads in poverty rate.
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
United Kingdom performs better than United Arab Emirates across all family life metrics.
Data: HM Revenue & Customs, 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 | London | Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 78°/56°F (26°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) | 99°/72°F (37°/22°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 106°/81°F (41°/27°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) | 87°/64°F (31°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | London | Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) | 76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C) |
| Mar | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) | 83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C) |
| Apr | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) | 92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C) |
| May | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) | 101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C) |
| Jun | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C) |
| Jul | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) | 108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) | 107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C) |
| Sep | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) | 104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C) |
| Oct | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) | 96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C) |
| Nov | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) | 87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C) |
| Dec | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) | 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) |
Data:
Met Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates. To live, work, or study long-term in United Arab Emirates, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Arab Emirates's immigration authority.
United Kingdom passport holder visiting United Arab Emirates
Visa on Arrival
United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in United Arab Emirates than United Kingdom?
Yes — United Arab Emirates is on average about 6% cheaper than United Kingdom. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to United Arab Emirates?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly AED65,033 in United Arab Emirates on a £55,766 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from United Arab Emirates?
Internet is rarely the blocker — United Arab Emirates has 40.0 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 United Arab Emirates safe for expats?
United Kingdom generally does better on safety, though United Arab Emirates leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in United Arab Emirates is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.
How is healthcare in United Arab Emirates compared to United Kingdom?
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 29.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United Arab Emirates, compared to 31.7 in United Kingdom. United Arab Emirates scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).
What's the weather like in United Arab Emirates compared to United Kingdom?
The average high temperature in Abu Dhabi is 93°F, compared to 60°F in London. Abu Dhabi receives around 3.5 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.
What language do they speak in United Arab Emirates?
The official language in United Arab Emirates is Arabic. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.
