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United Arab Emirates
Living, work, immigration, education & business — official links and practical guides
Key Facts
Currency
AED
Region
Middle East
Population
10.99M
GDP (current US$)
$552.32B
GDP per capita
$50,274
Local time
—
Asia/Dubai
Corporate tax
9%
VAT / GST
5%
Top income tax
0%
Capital gains
0%
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0) · 2024
Major cities
All cities (6) →More cities (30)
Major population centres. Source: GeoNames (CC-BY).
Al Ain City Abu Dhabi Dayrah Dubai Musaffah Abu Dhabi Jebel Ali Dubai Business Bay Dubai Dubai Investments Park Dubai International City Dubai Dubai Marina Dubai Fujairah Fujairah Al Majaz Sharjah Warīsān Dubai Dubai Silicon Oasis Dubai Ar Rumaylah Ajman Khalifah A City Abu Dhabi Mohammed Bin Zayed City Abu Dhabi Hawr al ‘Anz Dubai Reef Al Fujairah City Fujairah Bani Yas City Abu Dhabi Dubai Festival City Dubai Al Karama Dubai Zayed City Abu Dhabi Al Shamkhah City Abu Dhabi Mirdif Dubai Al Warqaa Dubai Umm Al Quwain City Umm Al Quwain Al Sajaah Sharjah Lahbab Dubai Nāyf Dubai Ţarīf Kalbā Fujairah Al Muteena Dubai
Living
Housing
Renting and buying property in United Arab Emirates — typical rents, deposits, contracts, and official tenancy rules.
Healthcare
How the United Arab Emirates healthcare system works — public vs private care, eligibility, and costs for residents and visitors.
Insurance
Insurance in United Arab Emirates — health, travel, and digital-nomad cover, what is mandatory, and how to choose a plan.
Work
Jobs
Where to find jobs in United Arab Emirates — major job boards, in-demand sectors, and how to apply.
Employers
Major employers hiring in United Arab Emirates, with links to their official careers pages.
Government Jobs
Public-sector and civil-service hiring in United Arab Emirates — the official government job portal.
Salaries
Typical salaries by role in United Arab Emirates — pay ranges, taxes, and cost-of-living context.
Immigration & Mobility
Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Startup Visa
Entrepreneur and startup visa programs, investment thresholds, and application criteria.
Student Visa
Student visa categories, eligibility, required documents, work rights, and application steps.
Tourist Visa
Tourist and visitor visa requirements, visa-free entry, duration, and application steps.
Permanent Residency
Permanent residency and golden-visa paths: eligibility, required years, investment thresholds, and official checklists.
Citizenship
Naturalization and citizenship-by-investment: residence years, language and civics tests, dual-citizenship rules, and multi-passport planning.
Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Digital Nomad Visa
Remote-work visa programs, income requirements, duration, taxes, and application steps.
Education
Universities
Top universities in United Arab Emirates, admissions, tuition, and international-student support.
Online Courses
Online learning relevant to United Arab Emirates — accredited platforms, local MOOCs, and language courses.
Scholarships
Scholarships and financial aid for studying in United Arab Emirates — government, university, and international programs.
Study Abroad
How to study in United Arab Emirates as an international student — application steps, student visas, and living costs.
Business
Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
Business Banking
Opening business and personal bank accounts, remote options, required documents, and fees.
Investment
Foreign investment rules, incentives, investment promotion agencies, and restricted sectors.
Tax System
Corporate tax, VAT/GST, personal income tax, capital gains, and filing obligations.
Import & Export
Customs procedures, duties, de minimis thresholds, EORI/registration, and restricted goods.
Trademark & IP
Trademark registration, patents, copyright, official IP offices, and filing costs.
Compliance
Corporate, tax, employment, data-protection, AML/KYC, trade and AI compliance — official regulators and registries.
Corporate Compliance
Annual filings, registered-agent and beneficial-ownership obligations, and the official company registry.
Tax Compliance
Filing calendars, registration thresholds and the official tax authority.
Employment Compliance
Mandatory contracts, payroll and social-insurance registration, and the official labor authority.
Privacy & Data Protection
Data-protection regime (GDPR/CCPA/PIPL and local laws), registration duties, and the official supervisory authority.
AML & KYC
Anti-money-laundering and customer-due-diligence obligations, regulated activities, and the official financial regulator.
Import & Export Compliance
Customs registration, controlled/restricted goods, sanctions screening, and the official customs authority.
AI Regulations
AI governance regime (EU AI Act and local frameworks), risk tiers, transparency duties, and the official authority.