United Arab Emirates
Asia · Western Asia
Tax-free income and ultra-modern cities, with strict social laws and very hot summers.
Digital Nomad
Ideal destination
Expat
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈United Arab Emirates's Human Development Index
0.937
Very High human development#16 of 191 countries worldwide, #2 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 92% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates is a federation of Gulf states where the ancient desert culture of the Arabian Peninsula coexists with some of the most ambitious modern architecture and infrastructure on earth, most dramatically in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The country is a global crossroads, and the cultural experience reflects this, with a Bedouin hospitality tradition sitting alongside extraordinary museums, food markets, and desert landscapes. Those who engage beyond the malls and skyscrapers will find a more nuanced culture worth discovering.
- 90% of residents are foreign nationals — citizens are a minority in their own country.
- Internet speeds rank among the world's top 5.
- Went from no paved roads to a space programme in 50 years.
Quick Facts
Capital
Abu Dhabi
Language
Arabic
Currency
د.إ AED
Area
71,020 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
398Mbps
Mobile
681Mbps
Digital Nomad Visa
Min. Income
$5,000/mo
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Yes
Application Fee
~$611
GDP / Capita
$50K
PPP / Capita
$79K
Inflation
1.3%
Unemployment
2.2%
Innovation (GII)
44.2
GNI / Capita
$52K
Tax Revenue
0.6%
FDI Inflows
8.3%
Education Spend
3.9%
Cost of Living
55.2
Price Level Index
25th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.717 → 0.937 (+0.220)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about United Arab Emirates for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
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United Arab Emirates head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is United Arab Emirates's Human Development Index?
United Arab Emirates's Human Development Index is 0.937 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #16 of 191 countries.
Is United Arab Emirates safe?
United Arab Emirates scores 1.93 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #72 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is United Arab Emirates?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts United Arab Emirates at 55.2 (New York = 100); that is #113 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in United Arab Emirates?
Life expectancy at birth in United Arab Emirates is 83.1 yrs (World Bank), ranked #17 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in United Arab Emirates?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores United Arab Emirates at 175.5, ranked #23 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.