Most expat families in Dubai live in suburban communities like Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills Estate, The Springs, and Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), which offer spacious homes, green spaces, schools, and family-friendly amenities, while areas like Jumeirah (original) and The Greens are popular for their established communities and proximity to beaches/amenities. More centrally located options like Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), and Palm Jumeirah attract those seeking a vibrant, cosmopolitan lifestyle, though Dubai Hills and JVC often balance cost and family living well.
The best areas for expats include Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Hills Estate, Arabian Ranches, and Dubai Marina. Each neighbourhood offers distinct advantages depending on whether you prioritise luxury, family living, or city convenience.
Find Your Family Home in Dubai
For the best area in Dubai to live with family, we recommend Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai Marina, Emaar Beachfront in Dubai Harbour, Dubai Hills Estate, Arabian Ranches (1, 2, and 3), and DAMAC Hills (1 and 2).
Located near Downtown Dubai, Business Bay is one of the most popular areas for British expats. It is, without a doubt, one of the vibrant districts in the emirate and features an array of luxurious apartments, restaurants, hotels, retail outlets and the mall – Bay Avenue.
The largest concentrations of affluent residents are found in Emirates Hills (often called “Billionaires' Row”), Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Bay (Bulgari Island), Downtown Dubai (around Burj Khalifa), Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Golf Estates, and the DIFC/Business Bay area.
Burj Khalifa tower, Dubai
The Beckhams have an apartment in Dubai's Burj Khalifa tower, which they bought in 2009 for somewhere in the region of $5 million to $6 million. Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest sky scraper, towering 2,722 feet.
Palm Jumeirah
Known worldwide for its unique, palm-shaped design, Palm Jumeirah is one of Dubai's most luxurious and posh residential areas. The man-made island offers exclusive beachfront living, with villas and apartments that cater to a high-end lifestyle.
If people who hold a UAE residence visa, live outside the UAE for more than six months continuously, their residence visa will be nullified automatically. However, there are some exceptions to the rule.
Recommended Salary
Single person: Aim for a salary of 10,000–15,000 AED per month to live comfortably. This allows you to rent your own place, maintain a social life, and save. Couple: A combined household income of 18,000–22,000 AED per month provides a comfortable lifestyle with savings potential.
As the official residence of the Ruler of Dubai, Zabeel Palace is a central hub for governance, state affairs, and high-level interactions within the emirate of Dubai.
Diverse Expatriate Community: Over 85% of Dubai's population consists of expatriates, making it a multicultural hub with people from all over the world. Luxury and Leisure: From beach clubs and desert safaris to fine dining and global shopping malls, Dubai offers a high-end lifestyle.
With it's unbeatable mix of fun, safety and sunshine, Dubai is the ultimate family destination. From theme parks to beaches and everything in between, there's something for everyone – toddlers to teens.
The Forbes World's Billionaires 2025 list features 13 such individuals who have relocated to the UAE over the years, with a collective net worth of $141.9 billion. Chinese-Canadian Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance, leads the list as the wealthiest expatriate.
Billionaires Row refers specifically to Frond G on Palm Jumeirah, the crown jewel of Dubai's luxury real estate market. It's renowned for its stunning beachfront villas offering a blend of modern architecture, private amenities, and unparalleled sea views.
Indians and Pakistanis form the largest expatriate groups in the country, constituting 25% and 12% of the total population respectively.
Bachelor: In terms of the average cost of living in Dubai as a bachelor, it is estimated that an income between AED 120,000 to AED 180,000 should suffice. Couple: To meet a couple's average cost of living in Dubai, a combined income of AED 200,000 – AED 300,000 is required per year.
high demand jobs in dubai
A salary between AED 10,000 and AED 22,000 per month is generally viewed as middle-class, depending on lifestyle. What is a good salary for a single person in Dubai? For singles, AED 6,000 to AED 10,000 is considered good, while AED 10,000 to AED 15,000 offers greater comfort and savings.
For LLCs, the 51/49 rule applied, which meant that at least 51% of the shares had to be registered in the name of one or more individuals holding UAE nationality or companies wholly owned by individuals holding UAE nationality and that a foreign investor was limited to a maximum shareholding of 49%.
The 3000 AED requirement in Dubai is often misunderstood. There is NO mandatory requirement to carry exactly 3000 AED cash when entering Dubai as a tourist. However, UAE immigration may ask for proof of sufficient funds (typically AED 3000-5000 or equivalent) to cover your stay.
Through the UAE Golden Visa, applicants gain access to world-class infrastructure, a favorable tax regime, and a secure lifestyle for their families. UAE Residence by Investment allows foreign nationals to make an investment into the country and apply for a residence permit, also known as a UAE golden visa.
If you keep up with the Kardashians (pun intended), you'll know that Atlantis has become a frequent haunt for most of this famous family, after filming an episode of the show there.
Can you kiss in public in Dubai? While married couples are allowed to hold hands in public, kissing is considered offensive to public decency. UAE government guidelines define kissing as "inappropriate behavior."
"Dubai's 1% Man" refers to Rizwan Sajan, the founder of the Danube Group, known for his revolutionary "1% payment plan" in Dubai's real estate market, allowing buyers to pay a small down payment and 1% monthly, making homeownership accessible for many expatriates. Sajan's story is a classic rags-to-riches tale, moving from Mumbai's slums to building a billion-dollar empire, revolutionizing property sales with flexible installments.