Main advantages of life in Dubai, comparing to other Emirates, in UAE

In order to improve their way of life, many people decide to move to a different city or even a country. The location of the country, economical stability, culture, way of life, cost of living, opportunities, cuisine, etc..all this can be the reason for the relocation. Among all of the emirates in UAE, people prefer Dubai. Let’s take a closer look at what are the main reasons to it and what life in Dubai looks like?

Dubai is the city of opportunities. What does it make it so special?

Dubai can be considered as a unique city, by all means. Nearly 50 years ago it was a small desert. Now, it is one of the most developed and futuristic cities in the world. Active development of the city started in 1966, with the discovery of oil. Since that time, UAE and Dubai leaders, in particular took a course towards development and growth. Nowadays, Dubai dependance on oil is no more than 10%, of the country’s budget. Instead, the country developed other sectors to support and improve economy, that gives stability to the country. By following this strategy, there is no possibility of the country bankruptcy, while moving to Green Energy.

Living in the emirates has a number of advantages:

• Low crime rate
• Well-developed infrastructure
• Quality healthcare and education
• Advantageous tax system
• Opportunity to own property by foreigners
• Good environment for established business and startups
• Warm climate without long rainy seasons

Of course, it is not all of the advantages of living in the city.

One of the main Dubai advantages is its transport system. Residents can use own cars, taxies, buses, tram, or metro. For those who are visiting Dubai for the first time, it will be a surprise that there is an A/C everywhere, even in the public bus stops. It is very convenient during hot summer season.

Dubai is not only a popular destination for living, but also one of the top touristic destinations. That created a number of different activities all over the city. You can find anything you desire: sport grounds, kid’s play zones, numerous restaurants and cafes, karaoke places, aquaparks, parks, amusement parks and more. All these attractions are located across the city, and for sure at least one of it can be found in each Dubai areas.

Well, that sounds very attractive, but what about the cost of living in such an environment? The cost of living in Dubai is not cheap, but the income level is different.

What is the cost of living in Dubai, in 2025?

The cost of living in Dubai depends on many factors, such as:

• Own house
• Presence of kids
• Hobbies
• Own transport (car)

All this determines how much a person spends. Let’s highlight the main expenses that can be encountered in the life of an average family.
In order to live in the UAE, a person should have a residency. The type of residency may depend on certain factors. Once the residency is issued, it is crucial to get health insurance. There are different companies that provide different packages of a different cost. Note that dentist is not included in insurance, and such expense should be covered by a person, itself. Basic health insurance package will cost around $ 235. A better package can cost somewhere between $800-1,000. Some clinics or hospitals can offer more advance packages of a higher price.

In order to compare prices on basic products, we showcase the regular price of products in popular Dubai supermarket Carrefour:

• Packet of fresh milk (1 liter) – $1.85
• Whole chicken – $5.79
• Apples (1kg) – $2
• Potato (1kg) – $1
• Salmon (1kg) – $19
• Beef (1kg) – $8
• Rice (1kg) – $1-2
• Water (1.5 liters) – $0.4

If you prefer to try street food in Dubai, it will cost you, depending on the type of food and area, somewhere between $2 to $15 for the large family pizza. While dinner at the regular restaurant can be more expensive. For a coffee with food in a café, you will pay between $50 to 100.

An important part of expenses is real estate. You can purchase an apartment or a villa, in Dubai. An apartment price starts from $150,000 (studio under construction), and villas, of a higher price. Those who wish to explore rental market – there are plenty of options as the market of rental properties are well-developed. As an example, studio apartment can be rented out for $1,400/month, and a 3-bedroom apartment – for $2,520, on average.

Not everything is expensive, in Dubai, that helps people to balance their expenses. For instance, petrol prices are relatively stable. The price for 1 liter of petrol Special is 68 cents, based on Q1 2025. For those who uses taxi, petrol usage is $0.70/kilometer (based on a popular ride provider company Careem). Public transportation is very affordable, in Dubai. For those who use regular routes – special packages are available. The price depends on the distance. Special NOL cards are used for all of the public transportation. It allows to save a good amount of money on a monthly basis.
For those who prefer active way of life, gyms, pools, padels, etc. are available. Average price is $50-100/month. If you wish to attend amusement parks, events, entertainment, be ready to spend somewhere between $50-150. Some places offer free entrance or discounts during certain period of time. You can check all available activities and pricing online.

Education in Dubai is always paid for foreigners, as all schools are private. Depending on the school type, area it located in, qualifications of teachers, etc. it will cost between $8,000 – 25,000/year.

What do you need to know before choosing Dubai as your next home?

The cost of living is not the only significant feature of this country. While checking all of the advantages, it Is important to consider disadvantages of living in Dubai alone or with the family. One of the best ways to do so is to check information presented by those people who already live in the city.

One of the most significant disadvantages is the climate, where 5-6 months is a very hot summer season. Religion should be considered as well, before moving to the city. While the issue with the heat is successfully solved, religion is still an important subject that has to be taken into consideration. As the city constantly developing and welcoming more and more people as its residents, Dubai rules change to make the life of non-Muslim people easier. For example, it became easier to buy alcohol and pork products. What is more, it is allowed to eat in a public place during holy month of Ramadan. But when it comes to personal matter, Dubai remains strict. For instance, it is not allowed to kiss in a public place or to argue / fight. People can get fine or go to jail for it.

Another important detail is the lack of opportunity to obtain UAE citizenship. Nevertheless, most of the benefits that Emirati gets can be obtained by a resident, as well. There are certain ways to get a visa, such as: purchase a property, establish a company, or get a job.

Dubai advantages in comparison to other cities.

The largest cities in UAE are:

1. Dubai (3.3 M people)
2. Abu Dhabi (1.5 M people)
3. Sharjah (1.4 M people)
4. Ajman (260,000 people)
5. Ras Al Khaimah (150,000 people)
6. Fujairah (100,000 people)

Based on the number of people, Dubai is leading. But Abu Dhabi is larger, in area, that makes it main Dubai competitor. Having numerous restaurants, parks, places of interest Abu Dhabi still can’t be the main destination for living, comparing to Dubai. Abu Dhabi is more of a family city. It has less touristic places, comparing to Dubai, therefore less opportunities for newcomers.

Comparing to the third largest city – Sharjah, Dubai still has more places of interest and way better transport infrastructure.
Sharjah is a good choice for those who live and work there. Nevertheless, if you have to travel to Dubai for work, be ready for traffic in the morning and evening. If not this disadvantage, Sharjah is a perfect place to live in, due to numerous greeneries, parks, affordable housing and very calm atmosphere.

Ajman is less popular and attractive, comparing to other 3 cities, due to less options of educational institutions, health facilities, places of interest and not that developed transportation.

Ras Al Khaimah can be considered as a small resort destination. It is a very quiet city, comparing to Dubai. Dubai has higher standards of living, well-developed infrastructure, logistics, etc.

Fujairah is another small city that can be considered as resort where you can spend a great weekend. But its lacking essentials for comfortable living such as places of interest, transportation, etc.

To summarize, we can say that Dubai is for sure ahead of its competitors based on many indicators such as: income, lifestyle, educational system, healthcare, entertainment, leisure, etc. Combine it with high salaries and you will have a good life in a modern city where all of the benefits are easily available.