UAE Cost of Living (2026)
Realistic UAE cost ranges across 7 categories — housing, schooling, health, transport, groceries, lifestyle, government fees. Curated from public listings, government fee schedules, and Landed user reports.
Showing 64 of 64 items
Housing
UAE annual rent paid via 1-4 post-dated cheques. 1 cheque typically unlocks 5-10% off. Sharjah is roughly half Dubai for equivalent units, with a 45-90 min Dubai commute trade-off.
Studio - Dubai Marina / JBR
AED 90,000-130,000
≈ £19,149-27,660
1-bed - Dubai Marina / Downtown
AED 110,000-180,000
≈ £23,404-38,298
1-bed - Al Barsha / JLT / JVC
AED 70,000-110,000
≈ £14,894-23,404
2-bed - JLT / Marina mid-range
AED 130,000-200,000
≈ £27,660-42,553
3-bed villa - Dubai Hills / Arabian Ranches
AED 180,000-320,000
≈ £38,298-68,085
1-bed - Al Reem Island / Saadiyat
AED 80,000-150,000
≈ £17,021-31,915
2-bed - Reem Island / Al Raha Beach
AED 100,000-180,000
≈ £21,277-38,298
1-bed - Al Majaz / Al Khan
AED 35,000-60,000
≈ £7,447-12,766
2-bed - Al Majaz / Al Khan
AED 55,000-90,000
≈ £11,702-19,149
Security deposit (typical)
5% of annual rent
Agent commission (one-off)
5% of annual rent + 5% VAT
Ejari registration (Dubai)
AED 220
≈ £47
DEWA / ADDC / SEWA setup deposit
AED 2,000-4,000
≈ £426-851
International schooling
UAE international schools split into British, American, and IB systems. Tier-1 British schools have 12-18 month waitlists. Most senior tech and consulting roles include 1-2 children's school fees in the package.
Foundation / KS1 (mid-tier)
AED 30,000-50,000
≈ £6,383-10,638
KS2-3 (mid-tier British / American)
AED 50,000-80,000
≈ £10,638-17,021
GCSE / A-Level (top British schools)
AED 70,000-115,000
≈ £14,894-24,468
American curriculum (mid-tier)
AED 65,000-105,000
≈ £13,830-22,340
IB Diploma (premium schools)
AED 85,000-120,000
≈ £18,085-25,532
Registration fee (one-off, per child)
AED 1,500-5,000
≈ £319-1,064
Uniform (per child)
AED 800-2,000
≈ £170-426
School bus (annual)
AED 5,000-10,000
≈ £1,064-2,128
KHDA fee-cap rule (Dubai)
Max ~5% annual increase
Healthcare
Health insurance is mandatory in Dubai (DHA) and Abu Dhabi (DOH). Employers typically provide a basic plan; family cover is rarely automatic and is worth negotiating into the offer.
Basic employer-provided plan (individual)
AED 3,000-6,000
≈ £638-1,277
Comprehensive individual plan
AED 8,000-20,000
≈ £1,702-4,255
Family plan (2 adults + 2 children)
AED 25,000-50,000
≈ £5,319-10,638
Premium family plan with dental + maternity
AED 35,000-70,000
≈ £7,447-14,894
GP / private consultation
AED 300-800
≈ £64-170
Dental check-up + clean
AED 350-750
≈ £74-160
Specialist (cardiologist, orthopaedic, etc.)
AED 600-1,500
≈ £128-319
Transport
Most UAE expats buy a car within the first 3-6 months. The second-hand market is strong. Public transport is good in Dubai (Metro + bus) and improving in Abu Dhabi.
Reliable second-hand car
AED 40,000-80,000
≈ £8,511-17,021
Premium / large family SUV (used)
AED 80,000-180,000
≈ £17,021-38,298
Car insurance (comprehensive, mid-range car)
AED 2,500-5,000
≈ £532-1,064
Annual registration
AED 600-1,200
≈ £128-255
Petrol (95 octane, current)
AED 2.65-3.00
≈ £1
Salik (Dubai toll, per gantry)
AED 4-6
≈ £1
Dubai Metro Nol monthly pass
AED 350
≈ £74
Taxi / Careem - 10km trip
AED 25-40
≈ £5-9
Driving licence exchange (UK to UAE)
AED 400-700
≈ £85-149
Groceries & dining
Groceries from international chains (Spinneys / Waitrose / Carrefour) cost roughly 20-30% more than UK supermarkets. Local markets (Lulu, Union Coop) cheaper. Eating out is a Dubai staple — budget for it.
Weekly grocery shop, 1 person (Spinneys / Waitrose)
AED 400-600
≈ £85-128
Weekly grocery shop, family of 4
AED 1,200-2,500
≈ £255-532
Casual restaurant meal
AED 60-120
≈ £13-26
Mid-range restaurant (mains)
AED 150-300
≈ £32-64
Brunch (the Dubai institution)
AED 300-700
≈ £64-149
Pint of beer / glass of wine at bar
AED 60-100
≈ £13-21
Coffee at Specialty cafe
AED 18-32
≈ £4-7
Talabat / Deliveroo dinner for 1
AED 60-120
≈ £13-26
Lifestyle
Domestic-helper visas, beach-club memberships, and brunch culture set Dubai apart. Abu Dhabi is quieter but cheaper across the board. Sharjah is no-alcohol, more conservative.
Gym membership (Fitness First / etc)
AED 3,000-5,000
≈ £638-1,064
Boutique fitness (e.g. Orangetheory) 10-class pack
AED 500-900
≈ £106-191
Beach / pool club annual membership
AED 8,000-25,000
≈ £1,702-5,319
Streaming bundle (Netflix + Shahid + OSN)
AED 55-100
≈ £12-21
Mobile postpaid plan (du / Etisalat)
AED 150-350
≈ £32-74
Home internet (200-500 Mbps)
AED 350-650
≈ £74-138
Domestic helper (live-in, fully sponsored)
AED 30,000-50,000
≈ £6,383-10,638
Domestic helper (part-time, 4 hours / week)
AED 800-1,500
≈ £170-319
Liquor licence + monthly purchases
AED 800-2,500
≈ £170-532
Government & admin
UAE government fees are mostly fixed by federal authority (ICA / MOHRE) or per emirate. Many of these are paid by your employer for the employment-visa route, but include them in offer negotiations.
Employment entry permit + visa stamping
AED 3,000-6,000
≈ £638-1,277
Golden Visa (specialised talent route)
AED 4,500
≈ £957
Golden Visa (property / investor route)
AED 4,000-12,000
≈ £851-2,553
Emirates ID
AED 270-470
≈ £57-100
UAE medical fitness test
AED 250-450
≈ £53-96
Freezone licence - budget (IFZA, SPC, Meydan)
AED 5,750-15,000
≈ £1,223-3,191
Freezone licence - mid (DMCC)
AED 30,000-60,000
≈ £6,383-12,766
Freezone licence - premium (DIFC, ADGM)
AED 50,000-100,000
≈ £10,638-21,277
Trade licence renewal (annual)
AED 5,000-15,000
≈ £1,064-3,191
Want a personalised cost estimate?
The Setup Cost Calculator and Package Decoder both use the same UAE cost anchors as this reference, plus your specific family situation.
Aggregated from public listings, UAE government fee schedules, and Landed user reports. Updated for 2026. Treat as guidance — actual costs vary significantly by lifestyle, family size, and emirate. Verify directly with providers before committing.