Compare countries · Oman vs United Arab Emirates
Oman vs United Arab Emirates
Oman(Asia)·
United Arab Emirates(Asia)
Across 12 comparable indicators: Oman leads on 5, United Arab Emirates on 7. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Oman cheaper than United Arab Emirates?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Oman at 43.6 and United Arab Emirates at 55.2. Oman is about 21% cheaper overall.
Is Oman or United Arab Emirates safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Oman scores 1.85 and United Arab Emirates scores 1.93. Oman ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Oman or United Arab Emirates?
On the UN Human Development Index, Oman scores 0.858 and United Arab Emirates scores 0.940. United Arab Emirates scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Oman compared to United Arab Emirates?
GNI per capita runs $19,520 in Oman against $51,550 in United Arab Emirates; people live 80.2 years on average against 83.1; Numbeo users rate healthcare 64 against 71. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Oman
43.6
Around the global middle
United Arab Emirates
55.2
Worse than 78% of countries
Oman: 21% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Oman
13.2
Better than 56% of countries
United Arab Emirates
39.6
Worse than 94% of countries
Oman: 67% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Oman
1.85
Better than 64% of countries
United Arab Emirates
1.93
Better than 56% of countries
Oman: more peaceful (1.85 vs 1.93).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Oman
81.6
Better than 96% of countries
United Arab Emirates
86.0
Better than 99% of countries
United Arab Emirates: higher perceived safety (86.0 vs 81.6).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Oman
0.858
Better than 74% of countries
United Arab Emirates
0.940
Better than 93% of countries
United Arab Emirates: higher human development (0.940 vs 0.858).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025 / 2024
Oman
$42,295
Better than 70% of countries
United Arab Emirates
$79,344
Better than 93% of countries
United Arab Emirates: 88% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Oman
80.2 yrs
Better than 79% of countries
United Arab Emirates
83.1 yrs
Better than 91% of countries
United Arab Emirates: 2.9 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Oman
63.5
Around the global middle
United Arab Emirates
70.8
Better than 71% of countries
United Arab Emirates: better-rated healthcare (70.8 vs 63.5).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Oman
95 Mbps
Around the global middle
United Arab Emirates
398 Mbps
Better than 99% of countries
United Arab Emirates: 321% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Oman
44/100
Worse than 71% of countries
United Arab Emirates
31/100
Worse than 87% of countries
Oman: freer press (44 vs 31 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Oman
6.20
Better than 60% of countries
United Arab Emirates
6.82
Better than 86% of countries
United Arab Emirates: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.82 vs 6.20).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Oman
71.3
Worse than 68% of countries
United Arab Emirates
43.4
Worse than 94% of countries
Oman: more pleasant climate rating (71.3 vs 43.4).
Not comparable for this pair
- English proficiency: EF doesn't score one of these countries — usually because English is a native language there.
Deciding between Oman and United Arab Emirates for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Oman profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full United Arab Emirates profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.