Ajman Academy
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
Country guide
Overview
United Arab Emirates🇦🇪
At a Glance
How United Arab Emirates compares across key indices
Cost of Living
70 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
55/100
Healthcare
76/100
Quality of Life
120/200
Cost of Living
How far your money goes in United Arab Emirates
Cost of Living
70
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
52
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
70
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
73
100 = NYC dining
Safety & Crime
Moderate RiskHow safe residents feel in United Arab Emirates - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
55/100
Crime Index
55/100
Lower is better
Walking Safety
Daytime100
Nighttime100
0 point drop from day to night
Cities in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates has 63 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $1,382 in Al Muteena to $1,829 in Abu Dhabi. Musaffah leads on safety, scoring 55/100. Zayed City ranks highest for quality of life at 121/200.
💸Most Affordable
Al Muteena
$1,382/mo
Safest
Musaffah
55/100
Best Quality of Life
Zayed City
121/200
Best Healthcare
Abu Dhabi
89/100
City filter
Featured
Curated and popular cities first.
40 of 63 shown| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | $1,829 | 49/100 | 117/200 | 89/100 | 82 |
| Dubai | $1,700 | 50/100 | 117/200 | 86/100 | 82 |
| Sharjah | $1,644 | 51/100 | 118/200 | 84/100 | 79 |
| Al Ain City | $1,589 | 53/100 | 119/200 | 81/100 | 76 |
| Ajman | $1,549 | 54/100 | 120/200 | 80/100 | 74 |
| Dayrah | $1,534 | 55/100 | 120/200 | 79/100 | 73 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | $1,525 | 55/100 | 120/200 | 79/100 | 72 |
| Musaffah | $1,499 | 55/100 | 120/200 | 77/100 | 71 |
| Jebel Ali | $1,488 | 55/100 | 120/200 | 77/100 | 70 |
| Business Bay | $1,480 | 55/100 | 120/200 | 77/100 | 70 |
| Dubai Investments Park | $1,468 | 55/100 | 120/200 | 76/100 | 69 |
| Dubai Marina | $1,446 | 55/100 | 120/200 | 75/100 | 68 |
| International City | $1,446 | 55/100 | 120/200 | 75/100 | 68 |
| Fujairah | $1,445 | 55/100 | 120/200 | 75/100 | 68 |
| Al Majaz | $1,443 | 55/100 | 120/200 | 75/100 | 68 |
| Warīsān | $1,439 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 75/100 | 68 |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | $1,425 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 74/100 | 67 |
| Ar Rumaylah | $1,422 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 74/100 | 67 |
| Khalifah A City | $1,422 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 74/100 | 67 |
| Mohammed Bin Zayed City | $1,420 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 74/100 | 67 |
| Hawr al ‘Anz | $1,420 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 74/100 | 67 |
| Reef Al Fujairah City | $1,419 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 74/100 | 67 |
| Bani Yas City | $1,417 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 74/100 | 67 |
| Dubai Festival City | $1,414 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 74/100 | 66 |
| Al Karama | $1,413 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 74/100 | 66 |
| Zayed City | $1,399 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 73/100 | 66 |
| Al Shamkhah City | $1,397 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 73/100 | 65 |
| Mirdif | $1,396 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 73/100 | 65 |
| Al Warqaa | $1,394 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 73/100 | 65 |
| Umm Al Quwain City | $1,394 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 73/100 | 65 |
| Al Sajaah | $1,386 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 72/100 | 65 |
| Lahbab | $1,386 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 72/100 | 65 |
| Nāyf | $1,386 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 72/100 | 65 |
| Ţarīf Kalbā | $1,383 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 72/100 | 65 |
| Al Muteena | $1,382 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 72/100 | 65 |
| Al Qusais 1 | $1,382 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 72/100 | 65 |
| Mankhūl | $1,382 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 72/100 | 65 |
| As Saţwah | $1,382 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 72/100 | 65 |
| Khawr Fakkān | $1,382 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 72/100 | 65 |
| Jumayrā | $1,382 | 55/100 | 121/200 | 72/100 | 65 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Families
Schools
450 verified school profiles across 5 cities in United Arab Emirates — language model, grade range, credentials, and published tuition. A sample is shown here; filter the full set in the School Finder.
ABC British Academy
Verified
Abu DhabiAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Cambridge International School
Abu Dhabi International (Pvt) School
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib World School
Abu Dhabi International Private School
Verified
Abu DhabiAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Cambridge International School
Abu Dhabi International Private School-MBZ Campus
Verified
Abu DhabiAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ap Course Ledger
ADNOC Schools - Sas Al Nakhl Abu Dhabi
Verified
Abu DhabiAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ap Course Ledger
426 more verified schools in United Arab Emirates are available in the School Finder, with filters for city, age, language, credentials, and tuition.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare
Healthcare system overview for United Arab Emirates
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Environment
PollutedAir quality, water, and environmental conditions in United Arab Emirates
Pollution Index
73/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
36.3ug/m3
Unhealthy for sensitive
Environmental Quality
Air Quality100/100
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about living in United Arab Emirates, answered with data
What is the cost of living in United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates has a cost of living index of 70 relative to New York City (100). It is comparable in cost to most US cities. Monthly costs for a single person start around $1,439 in Warīsān and reach $1,829 in Abu Dhabi.
What is the cheapest city in United Arab Emirates for expats?
Warīsān is the most affordable city in United Arab Emirates in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $1,439 for a single person including rent. Al Majaz is the next most affordable at $1,443/mo.
Is United Arab Emirates safe for expats?
United Arab Emirates has a safety index of 55/100, making it generally safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Musaffah scores highest on safety at 55/100.
What is the best city in United Arab Emirates for expats and digital nomads?
Warīsān ranks highest for quality of life in United Arab Emirates, scoring 121/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $1,439/mo for a single person.
How good is healthcare in United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates scores 76/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it excellent by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Is United Arab Emirates cheaper than the United States?
Yes. United Arab Emirates's cost of living is roughly 30% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 48% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
What is the air quality and pollution like in United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates has a pollution index of 73/100 (lower = cleaner). Pollution can be a concern in urban areas. Research specific cities before committing, as rural and coastal areas typically fare better.
Before You Go
Core tools and insurance next steps for planning a move to United Arab Emirates
Plan Your Move
Where Can I Move?
Check whether this country fits your passport, budget, work setup, safety floor, and priorities.
Build My Escape Plan
Turn this country into a practical move plan with visa, insurance, housing, banking, and scouting-trip next steps.
Compare Countries
Side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, safety, healthcare, and more.
Cost of Living
Model monthly costs with Freedom Abroad estimates before you narrow the shortlist.
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A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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