Living in UAE
Rent, health cover and ways to get residency for a foreign retiree in UAE, checked 2026-09-26.
Rent for a one-bedroom flat
| City | Centre | Outside centre |
|---|
| Dubai | AED 8,800 | AED 5,507 |
| Abu Dhabi | AED 7,222 | AED 5,069 |
Leases are usually yearly and often paid in one to four cheques up front.
Healthcare
Health insurance is mandatory for residents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Employers must provide it; retirees and remote workers buy their own.
- Individual expat plan: $80–$300 a month
Residency routes
- Retirement visa (Age 55+): AED 15,000 a month in income, AED 1M in savings or property, or AED 2M combined. Five years, renewable.
- Remote work visa (Remote workers): US$3,500 a month from a foreign employer or your own foreign company. One year, renewable.
Tax on a portfolio
- No personal income tax on salaries, dividends or capital gains.
- Social security applies to UAE and other GCC nationals only, so foreign employees pay none.
- The 9% corporate tax can apply to a business you run, but not to salary or personal investments.
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