Dubai Life

Costs, customs, climate, emergency help and things to do.

Key expenses to budget for as you plan everyday life in Dubai.

Average monthly costs for one person over the first six months in Dubai, comparing two accommodation plans. Figures are in AED with approximate pound sterling equivalents.

Six-Month Plan: Renting After Month Two

Total savings needed for six months (one person): AED 57,150 (£11,745).

Cost	Month 1	Month 2	Month 3	Month 4	Month 5	Month 6
Accommodation (Airbnb)	AED 6,000£1,296	AED 6,000£1,296	No cost	No cost	No cost	No cost
Car allowance	AED 1,600£350	AED 1,600£350	AED 1,600£350	AED 1,600£350	AED 1,600£350	AED 1,600£350
General living costs (food, drink and phone)	AED 2,000£400	AED 2,000£400	AED 2,000£400	AED 2,000£400	AED 2,000£400	AED 2,000£400
Eye test (for UAE driving licence)	No cost	AED 180£40	No cost	No cost	No cost	No cost
Driving licence conversion	No cost	AED 870£190	No cost	No cost	No cost	No cost
Rent (upfront quarterly payment or deposit)	No cost	No cost	AED 13,750£2,970	No cost	No cost	No cost
Rent (agency fee)	No cost	No cost	AED 5,000£1,079	No cost	No cost	No cost
Ejari registration	No cost	No cost	AED 250£53	No cost	No cost	No cost
DEWA deposit	No cost	No cost	AED 2,000£431	No cost	No cost	No cost
Monthly DEWA bill	No cost	No cost	No cost	AED 500£107	AED 500£107	AED 500£107
Total	AED 9,600£2,046	AED 10,650£2,276	AED 24,600£4,852	AED 4,100£857	AED 4,100£857	AED 4,100£857

Six-Month Plan: Airbnb for Six Months

Total savings needed for six months (one person): AED 58,650 (£12,506).

Cost	Month 1	Month 2	Month 3	Month 4	Month 5	Month 6
Accommodation (Airbnb)	AED 6,000£1,296	AED 6,000£1,296	AED 6,000£1,296	AED 6,000£1,296	AED 6,000£1,296	AED 6,000£1,296
Car allowance	AED 1,600£350	AED 1,600£350	AED 1,600£350	AED 1,600£350	AED 1,600£350	AED 1,600£350
General living costs (food, drink and phone)	AED 2,000£400	AED 2,000£400	AED 2,000£400	AED 2,000£400	AED 2,000£400	AED 2,000£400
Eye test (for UAE driving licence)	No cost	AED 180£40	No cost	No cost	No cost	No cost
Driving licence conversion	No cost	AED 870£190	No cost	No cost	No cost	No cost
Total	AED 9,600£2,046	AED 10,650£2,276	AED 9,600£2,046	AED 9,600£2,046	AED 9,600£2,046	AED 9,600£2,046

Ramadan, summer heat, tipping and important local laws.

Ramadan

Ramadan is one of the UAE’s most special times of year and changes the rhythm of the city.

Avoid eating, drinking and smoking openly in public during daylight hours.
Working hours are reduced by two hours per day at Kamani Living.
Many restaurants change daytime service and reopen for Iftar at sunset.
Public spaces and daytime venues become quieter, while evenings become more active.
Iftar and Suhoor are social occasions; company Iftar gatherings are worth embracing.
Dress more conservatively and greet Muslim colleagues with Ramadan Mubarak or Ramadan Kareem.
Eid Al Fitr follows Ramadan and is a major national holiday.

Water bottle on a sunlit palm-lined promenade with the Dubai skyline in the haze

Warm season

Summer temperatures can reach 42–48°C with high humidity. Winters from November to March are typically much milder, around 22–28°C.

Avoid direct sun between 12 pm and 3 pm in summer.
Carry water and take dehydration seriously.
Pre-cool the car and never leave items that may melt or explode inside.
Wear breathable linen or cotton outside.
Carry a light layer for heavily air-conditioned offices, malls and restaurants.

Cash tucked into a restaurant bill holder beside coffee cups

Tipping

Tipping is not mandatory, but it is widely appreciated.

Restaurants: 10–15%; check whether service is already included.
Taxis: round up to the nearest AED 5 or 10.
Hotel staff and porters: AED 5–20, depending on the service.
Delivery drivers: AED 5–10, especially in summer.
Salons and spas: 10–15%.
Carry cash for tips rather than assuming they can be added to card payments.

Illustrated civic building with a UAE flag and Dubai skyline

Legal boundaries

Dubai is safe and welcoming, but its legal framework differs from many other countries.

VPNs: legitimate business use is allowed, but using a VPN to access blocked content or services can be illegal and may result in significant fines.
Medication: some antidepressants, sleeping tablets, ADHD medication and codeine-based painkillers are controlled or banned. Check the UAE Ministry of Health list, carry a doctor’s letter and original prescription, and declare controlled medication.
Alcohol: available in licensed venues, but public drinking, public drunkenness and drink-driving carry serious penalties.
Public displays of affection: avoid excessive affection in public spaces.
Swearing and offensive gestures in public, including road rage, can be criminal offences.
Drugs: the UAE has a zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs, including trace amounts.

Emergency contacts and ideas for making the most of time off.

Emergency Numbers

Save these contacts in your phone before your first day.

Service	Number or purpose
Police	999
Ambulance	998
Fire	997
Dubai Police app	Non-emergency reports and services
DEWA emergency	991
Electricity or water fault	991
General information	800 4673 (800 INFO)

Outdoor and Active

Sunrise at JBR or Kite Beach before 8 am in winter.
Hiking and the reservoir at Hatta, around 90 minutes from Dubai.
Kayaking in Abu Dhabi’s mangroves, around two hours away.
Cycling the Al Qudra desert track at sunrise.
A tandem skydive over Palm Jumeirah with Skydive Dubai.

Culture and Heritage

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood in old Dubai.
Dubai Creek and the AED 1 traditional abra crossing.
Gold Souk and Spice Souk in Deira.
Alserkal Avenue’s galleries, coffee shops and creative spaces in Al Quoz.

Food and Social

Friday brunch at Couqinat, Weslodge or Penthouse.
Outdoor live music at The Agenda in Media City.
Ripe Market at Zabeel Park for food, plants and local produce.
Night markets at Bluewaters or City Walk.

Hidden Gems

A guided tour of Jumeirah Mosque on a weekend morning.
The Green Planet indoor rainforest at City Walk.
Dubai Frame and its 150-metre-high glass bridge.
Coffee and dates at Café Bateel.

Day Trips

Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, around 90 minutes away.
Fujairah’s Indian Ocean beaches, around 90 minutes by car.
Al Ain and the Oman border, subject to the correct visa arrangements.

Cost of Living

Six-Month Plan: Renting After Month Two

Six-Month Plan: Airbnb for Six Months

Culture and Climate

Help and Weekends