So many foreigners live in the UAE primarily due to its booming, diverse economy, offering high-paying jobs (especially in oil, finance, and tourism) with no income tax, a cosmopolitan lifestyle, strategic global location, safety, and multicultural environment, attracting skilled professionals and laborers from around the world seeking financial benefits and career opportunities, despite limited citizenship paths.
The United Arab Emirates attracts immigrants from all over the world; this may be because UAE nationals prefer to work for the government or military. The country's relatively liberal society compared to some of its neighbours has attracted many global expatriates, including people from the Western nations.
With a population of approximately 11.35 million, a staggering 10.04 million residents of the UAE are immigrants. That's nearly 90 percent! The native Emirati population stands at just 1.31 million. In no uncertain terms, the country runs on the strength, sweat, and skills of its migrant population.
Key attractors for expats include:
Tax-free salaries with no personal income, capital gains, or inheritance taxes. Robust job market in finance, technology, real estate, tourism, and healthcare. High-quality schools offering diverse curricula without requiring UAE citizenship.
In short, UAE formally can't take any refugees because their legislation does not even have the refugees as a category. UAE did not ratify the UN resolution on refugees.
🍬🚫 💡This strict rule is part of Dubai's efforts to keep the city clean and maintain its polished image. While it may seem unusual, the city is known for its impressive cleanliness and order, and the gum ban is just one of the many ways they maintain their high standards.
Dubai is witnessing a rare uptick in homelessness as migrant workers left destitute by the Covid downturn have begun sleeping out in parks... Blue collar workers from Asia and Africa say they are trapped after losing jobs and running out of money to return home...
One of the symbols that best represents Dubai is the 3-finger hand gesture, coined in 2013 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al. Maktoum. The meaning behind the three fingers is “Winning - Victory - Love”, understood as work ethic, success and love for the nation.
A monthly income of 50,000 AED (approximately $13,600 USD) is considered high by Dubai standards and places you well above the city's average earners. For context: 10,000–15,000 AED is considered a decent entry-level salary. 15,000–20,000 AED is attractive for mid-level professionals.
No, kissing in public in Dubai is generally not allowed and considered an offense against public decency, though minor displays like holding hands are often tolerated, especially in tourist areas; however, you should avoid passionate kissing or anything that could be seen as excessive, as public displays of affection (PDA) can lead to legal trouble, even for tourists.
It is estimated that around 19.5% of Emiratis live below the poverty line. This is an estimation because the UAE does not formally update these statistics themselves. Despite the underreported number of impoverished people in the nation, the government provided support to only 27.1% of Emiratis in 2011.
The average salary in Dubai is around AED 15,700 per month, or approximately $4,274 USD². Actual earnings vary significantly based on profession, experience, and industry. For example, pharmacists earn about $61,500 annually, cyber security engineers around $54,459, and registered nurses between $46,877 and $53,836³.
Indians form the largest foreign community in the UAE, followed by Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, other Asians, Europeans and Africans.
Dubai's strictest laws focus on respect for Islamic culture, government, and public order, heavily penalizing public displays of affection (PDA), public drunkenness, drug offenses (even trace amounts), disrespecting religion/royalty, and cyberbullying/online criticism, with severe penalties like fines, jail, and deportation, emphasizing modesty, consent in photos, and strict adherence to rules around alcohol and medications.
High Cost of Living
However, it comes at a price. One of the disadvantages of living in Dubai is that most necessities, like housing, schooling, and healthcare, can be expensive. If you are planning to live in Dubai, you have to make a detailed budget so you can cover all your expenses without a problem.
Women can drive in Dubai and, in fact, the city offers women-only taxis driven by women. Until recently, Saudi Arabia — the UAE's neighboring country — was the only nation in the world that had placed a ban on women driving. This was lifted in 2018.
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.
Top 12 Highest Paying Jobs in Dubai 2025
Article 17 of the Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations in the Private Sector, the 'UAE Labour Law'identifies the normal working hours for the private sector as 8 hours per day, or 48 hours per week.
10/ Swearing/hand gestures
For example, giving someone a thumbs up in Dubai is equivalent to the middle finger in British culture. Never shake hands, pass things, or eat, using your left hand. This hand is considered to be dirty in Dubai culture as it's used after going to the bathroom.
Swearing and rude gestures
It is illegal to swear and make rude gestures, including online, as they are considered obscene acts. You could be jailed or deported.
The fine may sound like overkill, but gum litter is a scourge all over the world, and Dubai is just one city that happens to take it seriously. To the surprise of many, chewing gum is largely made of polymers, and a single wad can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade.
Nigeria has the world's highest number of homeless people, and although there appears to be a precise number of homeless people, it is impossible to track and quantify those who change their state of “homelessness”.