Best Cities to Live in the UAE: The Expat Guide
Saddle up, explorers! You’re about to embark on an urban safari across the UAE’s most enchanting cities.
Brace yourselves for a cocktail of culture, luxury, adventure, and yes – the perfect home away from home!
Let’s dive in:
Best Cities for living in the UAE
From the eight cities in the UAE, we have categorized them into cities you should consider living in for a good quality of life.
However, these cities are not cheap and might not suit your needs. The best cities in UAE are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, and Dubai.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE. However, it’s not the largest city in the Country.
It is the second largest after Dubai; however, with its grandeur and splendor, this city is famous among expats due to its fantastic quality of life.
Housing is not a problem here since you will see that the trend is to live in one of the countless high-rise skyscrapers Abu Dhabi has to offer.
Abu Dhabi is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, as it is home to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Also, your Formula One friends flock to Abu Dhabi in huge waves for many events held here and to visit the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi is also a lot more expensive than other cities in the UAE. It is also more expensive than Dubai but not by a considerable margin.
The beaches here are phenomenal, and if the quality of life is one of your main priorities, you should consider this city if you are planning on living in the UAE.
Ajman
Ajman is one of the best cities in the UAE since it is cheaper and more affordable than cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, without compromising the quality of life.
The apartment rates are much cheaper in Ajman than in nearby Dubai. There are loads and loads of activities to do in Ajman, so you will not get bored of the city, all of the beaches are nearby, and they are beautiful and well maintained.
The food scene in Ajman is also impressive as many different restaurants serve food from different cuisines from all over the world.
Ajman is a well-connected and planned city in terms of infrastructure, so you should seriously consider it if you plan to live in the UAE.
Dubai
Dubai needs no introduction and and has one of the world’s best tourist spots and socio-cultural hubs.
This city is home to some of the tallest buildings in the world to the most luxurious hotels one can imagine.
You will find unlimited shopping options here from all the leading brands worldwide. Accessibility is one of the main attractions of Dubai, with multiple airports.
This is a well-thought-out and planned city, which is why the quality of life is good here. However, downtown Dubai can be a little expensive.
However, living in Dubai is like a dream with endless possibilities and things to do here!
Best Cities to Work in UAE
One of the most important things is your ability to earn if you want to live in these cities since some of them can really be expensive!
Now, we will talk about some of the best cities for work opportunities if you are an expat in the UAE. For this, Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi are the leading cities with lots of opportunities for skilled individuals.
Sharjah
Sharjah is the third largest city in the UAE and has some of the largest expat communities in the country as well.
You should know that Sharjah is starting to birth startups as a side effect to being near it’s more developed Dubai and Abu Dhabi, thus the employment rates are excellent here.
Moreover, the standard of living here is good with affordable residential options so that you can work in high-paying jobs and save up as well.
Much of your payment will not be exhausted on food and accommodation, unlike in other cities in the UAE. Many jobs in Sharjah are in the public and government sectors.
Dubai
Dubai is the hub of business activities and has headquarters of major multinational corporations and firms.
You can land many successful, high-paying jobs in Dubai if you have the skills. Dubai will undoubtedly reward you with a fantastic quality of life if you work hard enough.
As being an important center of trade and commerce, there are many opportunities in the real estate and tourism sector.
There are many different events held In Dubai which encourage startups and bring many job opportunities.
One of these events is called the Dubai World Expo, which is estimated to bring thousands of jobs per year.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, offers many opportunities.
Abu Dhabi has headquarters of many reputed companies and other businesses which are paying lucrative packages to talented individuals.
There are jobs in almost every sector you can imagine that you would be interested in. Abu Dhabi also world-renowned for having excellent medical and living facilities.
Thus, the overall quality of life is excellent here, and expats should consider living in Abu Dhabi if they can find a job opportunity here.
Best Place to Live in UAE for Families
Mirdif, which is in Dubai, is the best place to live for Families and for a good reason.
This place is known to be the most planned community in Dubai. The residential area offers child-friendly services and is modeled after European Standards.
Mirdif Dubai is well connected to the rest of the city and is not far away from the Airport as well.
It is connected via standard international highways and other routes, which makes traveling fun and not a hassle.
Schooling is one of the most critical factors to look out for when choosing a city to live in for your family, and Mirdif is one of the best ones in Dubai.
There are many private educational facilities with world-class faculty and international standards for all age groups, so your child can learn from the best of the best.
Some of the best educational institutions include Mirdif Private School and Uptown Mirdif.
Sports and leisure activities are also a big part of Mirdif; there are several leisure centers that have volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts built on international standards for the best experience.
There are several reputable gymnasiums in the area as well.
Dining out and shopping are some of the favorite pastimes of people living here, and with restaurants that offer a wide range of cuisines to malls with all the leading brands in the world.
Mirdif Dubai is your best bet when choosing a city to live in with your family.
Cheapest Places to Live in UAE
The cheapest places to live in UAE in terms of living costs are Ajman and Sharjah.
You can easily sustain a family of four as well in these places. Below are some figures for the cost of living in these cities without considering rent.
| Cost Of Living | Per Single Person | Person Family of Four |
| Sharjah | AED 2655 | AED 9042 |
| Ajman | AED 1990 | AED 6292 |
Most Expensive Cities to Live in UAE
The most expensive cities in the UAE are Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where it is difficult to sustain your own expenditures, let alone your family unless you’ve secured a high-paying job.
Below are some figures for the cost of living in these cities without considering rent.
| Cost Of Living | Per Single Person | Person Family of Four |
| Dubai | AED 3460 | AED 12107 |
| Abu Dhabi | AED 2980 | AED 10272 |
Conclusion
So, there you have it, folks! A roller coaster ride through the best cities the UAE has to offer.
Remember, finding the perfect city is like choosing the right pair of shoes – it’s got to suit your style and comfort. And here at UAESolved.com, we’re all about helping you find that perfect fit.
But Wait!! There’s lot more that you might be interested in: