Dubai has no personal income tax, but housing, schooling and cars can make it an expensive city. Your budget depends mostly on where you live and whether you need a car.
Housing: the biggest cost
Rent varies enormously by area, building age and size. Older apartments in JVC, JLT or Al Barsha cost far less than new towers in Downtown or the Palm. To check what is fair for a specific property, use the official Dubai Land Department rental index, which is also used to decide how much a landlord may raise the rent at renewal.
One-off moving-in costs
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Security deposit to landlord | Usually around 5% of annual rent (unfurnished) |
| Agency fee | Commonly around 5% of annual rent |
| Ejari registration | About AED 178 online via Dubai REST, more at a typing centre |
| DEWA security deposit | AED 2,000 for an apartment, AED 4,000 for a villa (refundable) |
Monthly running costs
- Utilities: DEWA bills rise sharply in summer when air conditioning runs constantly. Some buildings charge cooling separately through a district cooling provider.
- Phone and internet: home fibre and mobile plans from du, e& or Virgin Mobile.
- Transport: public transport is affordable (Silver Nol fares from AED 3 per trip); owning a car adds insurance, fuel, Salik tolls (AED 4 per crossing) and parking.
- Groceries: imported brands cost more; local and regional produce is good value.
- School fees: often the biggest cost for families. Private school fees are regulated by KHDA and published by each school.
Things that are cheaper than people expect
- Public transport and taxis compared with many European cities.
- Fuel.
- Eating out at casual restaurants in residential areas.
Figures were checked on the date shown at the top of this page. Fees change; confirm with the provider before you pay.