LEARN MORE ABOUT UAE

Recently, Dubai and UAE have been in the center of international media attention. Many celebrities and influential people buy reals estate in Dubai and move to the Emirates for permanent residence. Expats choose UAE because this country because of the country’s stable political and economic climate and lots of sunny days per year. It’s a place where you can find a perfect balance between a professional career and family life.
Whether you are looking to move to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or another less famous emirate, they all have many facilities and opportunities for foreigners.
WHY DO FOREIGNERS MOVE TO THE UAE?
Unlimited career and business opportunities
Working in the United Arabian Emirates is not only high salary but a great way to make a successful career.
Regardless of your field or industry, you are very likely to find a job in the UAE if you can speak English and have a professional career in mind. Large centers, for example, Abu Dhabi and Dubai with actively developing economies, always need new employees who speak the world’s leading languages for promoting their enterprises in the international arena. Dubai fast becoming a global business center and nowadays is already the main business and trade hub in the Middle East.
Tax regime
The UAE has no capital gain tax for individuals and a number of other taxes. A few years of working in the Emirates to get your finances in order and ensure a worry-free retirement.
Company (excluding the banking and oil and gas sectors) are also exempt from corporate tax until June 1, 2023. According to the order issued by the Ministry of Finance of the United Arab Emirates on January 31, 2022, corporate taxation will be introduced in the Emirates as of June 1, 2023. This decision applies to the companies operating outside the free economic zones (FEZ). The standard rate will be 9%.
In this regard, it is worth noting exclusive tax benefits that apply in the FEZ territory in the UAE. They include:
• no import duties on the imported goods;
• no restrictions on property rights for foreigners;
• renewable tax holidays for 15-50 years;
• no restrictions on repatriation of profits and capital.
High level of security
Safety in the Emirates is of paramount importance for the government and local authorities. Dubai is the safest city in the Middle East both for tourists and locals. Its strict laws ensure that street robberies and serious crimes are virtually non-existent.
You can live in the UAE without worrying about personal safety. An indirect indicator of low crime in the country is that 42% of inmates at Dubai Central Prison have been convicted for non-payment of debts.
A perfect balance between city life and beach entertainment.
Dubai, as the center of the Arab world, has taken hold in international rankings among the most sought-after places to live and do business. The popularity of Dubai has grown dramatically over the past 20 years, and only a few places on the planet can compete with it. Despite its desert terrain and lack of natural resources, the emirate is thriving today thanks to excellent urban planning and innovative technologies used everywhere.
Dubai stretches along the southeastern coast of the Persian Gulf. Its urban area is between the sea and the mountains. Located in the Eastern Desert, the emirate is characterized by magnificent sandy beaches and luxurious high-rise ultra-modern urban architecture, which creates an impressive contrast.
Here you can work in the office all day go to relax on one of the most popular beaches in the evening, enjoy the warm sea and spectacular view.
Affordable and diverse real estate market.
Most employers help the new foreign colleagues with relocation by paying rent or providing an advance deposit.
If you plan on purchasing an apartment in Dubai, to live there or to get passive income, you will be pleasantly surprised by the variety of properties available.
The real estate marker offers apartments and villas with impeccable finish, as well as penthouses, townhouses and duplexes. Most of the housing stock in the city is new. Often after purchasing a ready-made property, you can move in immediately because the housing is sold fully equipped with furniture and household appliances.

Apartments in Dubai’s new buildings are no less diverse. You can buy housing under construction in a new project at a minimum price (on average 25-30% lower than ready market objects), and after the commissioning – sell and get a profit on the price difference, or live there yourself, enjoying unrivalled facilities, planned infrastructure and interesting locations nearby. Most developers in Dubai today also offer favorable conditions for the purchase of housing under construction in installments.

Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah are among the top ten safest cities in the world, according to the Numbeo’s online platform report. At the same time, the capital of the United Arab Emirates is on the first place in the rating.
The rating demonstrates the country’s high positions in terms of stability and safety.
In the summer of 2022, Fujairah was called the safest city in the world – in the Numbeo ranking, it surpassed 465 megacities by this indicator. Among others, Fujairah has the lowest levels of crime and road accidents levels. In 2021, Abu Dhabi was considered the safest city.
In June 2022, Dubai was ranked 7th in the world for family vacation safety, according to the report by Family Vacation Guide. The research and ranking evaluated such parameters as general safety, family-friendly amenities, and more.
In February 2022, Dubai became one of the world’s top-ranked cities in terms of safety for women who travel alone. The Emirate ranked third in the lost prepared by travel insurance portal InsureMyTrip.
In the beginning of 2022, Numbeo service recognized the United Arab Emirates and Qatar the safest countries for traveling in 2022. Qatar topped the ranking with a safety index of 86.2 points, and the United Arab Emirates came second with the safety index of 84.8 points.

Statistics on real estate transactions in the United Arab Emirates for the period from January to May 2023 show a significant increase compared to the same period in 2022. This applies to both the established real estate Dubai market and rapidly developing Abu Dhabi market.
DUBAI’S RESULTS
As usual, the leader of the real estate sales in the United Arab Emirates was and remains Dubai. According to preliminary data, from January to May 2023, 50,750 real estate transactions were concluded here – which is 80.5% more than the number of sales for the same period in 2022; 28,089 transactions were concluded this year. If you count the total amount of transactions, it was 149.4 billion AED (40.68 billion dollars), which is 84.2% more than the corresponding figure for January-May 2022, that reached 81.1 billion AED (22.08 billion dollars).
At the same time, 11.757 transactions were concluded in May. Compared to May 2022, it is 76.7% more – back then it was 6651. The total amount of transaction in May 2023 was 34.2 billion AED (9.31 billion dollars) which 87% more than in May 2022 – 18.3 billion AED (4.98 billion dollars).
All these districts are freehold zones, allowing foreigners to buy property with full ownership. This indicates a great flow of foreign investment in Dubai real estate, continues for the second consecutive year.
The above data is the result of calculations of the Dubai Land Department (hereinafter referred to as DLD). It is important to note that these are not final figures for the first half of the year. Analysts have yet to finalize the exact results – most likely, they will be ready by the middle of June. But a significant growth can already be seen compared to the same period last year.
Analysts also note that of all real estate transactions in Dubai for the first quarter of 2023, about 15,000 transactions were made with secondary real estate. It is 26.23% more than the corresponding indicators for 2022.
ABU DHABI MARKET RESULTS
The second largest real estate market in the UAE – the capital emirate, Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately, counting statistics in Abu Dhabi is noticeably slower than in Dubai. By early to mid May 2023, Department of Municipalities and Transport (hereinafter referred to as DMT) provided data only for the first quarter of 2023. Judging by them, Abu Dhabi’s real estate market also shows a significant growth.
For the first quarter of 2023, in Abu Dhabi’s 5472 real estate transactions were made – it is 66% more than in the first quarter of 2022 (3304 transactions). The total amount of transactions was 27.9 billion AED (7.6 billion dollars) which is 147% more than in the first quarter of 2022, when the total amount of transactions was 11.3 billion AED (3.1 billion dollars).
NEW BUILDINGS AND OFF-PLAN IN DUBAI AND ABU DHABI
According to DLD data for the period from January to May 2023, 27,956 transactions on off-plan real estate were made in Dubai. The total amount of transactions was 68.5 billion AED (18.65 billion dollars).
During the same period, 22,749 sales transactions with finished new building amounted to 80.9 billion AED (22.03 billion dollars).
According to DMT data, Abu Dhabi’s figures are as follows. There were 1,345 transactions with off-plan real estate in the first quarter, which is an 88.6% increase from the first quarter of 2022, when 731 transactions were made.
The total share of off-plan real estate transactions in Abu Dhabi in the first quarter was 66.4%. In comparison, this share was 51.6% in the first quarter of 2022.
BRIEF INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER EMIRATES
Real estate markets of other emirates are not as developed as those in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. However, in recent years, some of them have also been opening up to foreign real estate investment. The most vivid examples are the main resort emirate Ras al-Khaimah and a relatively conservative Sharjah emirate. Unfortunately, local real estate markets do not have enough analysts, as well as detailed statistics. Therefore, the data about these two emirates is quite moderate.
According to the RAK Statistics Center, in the first quarter of 2023 here were made real estate transactions totaling 1.02 billion AED (277 million dollars). This is 12% less than in the first quarter of 2022, when the amount of transactions was 1.17 billion AED (318 billion dollars).
The situation is different in Sharjah. According to the data of Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department, in the first quarter of 2023, there were made 21,486 transactions, which is 0.6% less than in the first quarter of 2022. The total amount of transactions was 5.9 billion AED (1.61 billion dollars) which is 6.3% less than in the same period of 2022, when the total amount was 6.43 billion AED (1.72 billion dollars). It is worth noting that of 5.9 billion AED, about 1.7 billion AED (460 million dollars) are mortgage transactions.

Dubai has been ranked third in the top ten best cities of the world, overtaking New York, London, Tokyo, Sydney, Johannesburg, Paris and San Francisco, according to a report by British magazine The Economist.
According to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, this assessment reflects the Dubai’s achievements for the last 3 years. He reminded that Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) aims to turn the emirate into the one of the best cities in the world.
As you know, the key goal of D33 is to double the size of Duabi’s economy during the next decade and strengthen the emirate’s position in the top three largest cities in the world. The Crown Prince “thanked all the government and parastatal agencies, as well as private sector partners” who have come together as a team for the benefit of Dubai.
The Economist’s rating assessed living conditions, economic growth, vacancies on the labor market and housing prices over the past three years. The ranking notes that Dubai offers residents warm weather and mild conditions for business. In addition, the emirate has decriminalized alcohol and cohabiting of unmarried couple.
The cost of living in Dubai and Abu Dhabi has risen sharply, Mercer's Cost of Living 2023 study reported earlier. In the ranking, Dubai raised to the 18th place in the world, Abu Dhabi got 43rd place. Despite this, the UAE economy continues to demonstrate steady growth.
One of the key factors that influenced the increase in the cost of living was the growth of real estate rental rate. Thus, in Dubai rental prices are rising on average by 25% per year, in Abu Dhabi – by 6-8%. Moreover, there is an increase of prices for food (up to 11%), transport service (4%) and sport (5%).
The study notes that despite the rise in prices, the cost of living in the UAE remains competitive compared to the large world cities. Hong Kong remains the most expensive in the world, next is Singapore. In the Middle East, the leader in the cost of living is Tel Aviv, which remains the most expensive city for foreigners.

Dubai has been named the world’s cleanest city for the third time in a row in the study by Japanese Mori Memorial Foundation. It was awarded as part of the Global Power City Index ranking.
His Highness Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, shared the news with 11 million followers on social media. “Dubai is the safest city in the world, the cleanest and the most beautiful. May God help us keep it intact, stable and prosperous”, – wrote the Prime Minister.
Global Power City Index evaluates and ranks the largest world’s cities according to their magnetism or ability to attract people, capital and enterprises from around the world.
The ranking process evaluates cities’ economy, research and development, cultural interaction, stability, urban environment and transportation accessibility. “Cleanliness is civilization. Cleanliness is culture. Cleanliness is a part of faith”, Sheikh Mohammed explained.
The Untied Arab Emirates was also among the top ten world’s leaders according to the Global Soft Power’s soft power index, which measures the country’s ability to influence others through methods of persuasion rather than force.
The US, the UK and Germany retained their leading positions in the ranking. The Emirates, in turn, proved to be the Middle East leader, ranking 10th in the global ranking. In particular, the country has increased its influence in diplomatic circles due to the “EXPO-2020” World Exhibition, where it has established itself as a global trading center.
The UAE also became one of the most generous countries in the world in terms of humanitarian aid (the third place in the world), and it also ranked third in the world in terms of economic growth potential. The Emirates earned extra points due to planning a mission to Mars and preparation for the Cop28 climate summit.

Knight Frank’s study has revealed that Dubai holds a leading position among 100 cities worldwide in terms of luxury housing price growth.

Dubai took the leading position in the Knight Frank ranking: Prime International Residential Index 100 (PIRI 100), which tracks real estate prices in 100 cities and on the secondary housing markets all around the world.
Luxury housing prices in the emirate increased by 44% in 2021 after a seven-year decline, marking the fastest growth rate ever recorded, according to the Knight Frank’s latest research report – The Wealth Report. The top five cities in the ranking also included Moscow, San Diego, Miami and Hamptons.
According to Faisal Durrani, the partner and head of research at Knight Frank Middle East, attention of the global investors was attracted by the decisive actions of the Dubai’s Government against COVID-19. Such action by the authorities in the market, which is mostly formed by the mood of participants, has helped spectacularly mark the start of the third real estate cycle in the emirate.
In the post-Coronavirus era, more and more buyers with ultra-high net worth are moving to Dubai. Investment in education and health care, as well as world-class infrastructure, the emirate became the best place to own real estate. Today, the top priority of the developers of prime real estate is quality, according to Andrew Cummings, a partner and head of Prime Residential at Knight Frank Middle East.
The main reasons for the growing demand for luxury housing are low interest rates, availability of cheap financing, rising salaries and savings in isolation, and also the appeal of real estate as a hedge against inflation. Factors such as material goods also have a significant impact on the demand for luxury housing in Dubai: in 2021, more than 5 million new millionaires appeared worldwide.
According to Knight Frank’s global head of research, Liam Bailey, the luxury housing boom in Dubai will continue in 2022, leading to further increases in residential real estate prices. In the Knight Frank’s forecast for 2022, the leading positions in the real estate market will be occupied by Dubai, Miami and Zurich: by the end of the year, the prices are expected to increase by 10-12%.

The United Arab Emirates has confirmed the opening of the first casino – it will be part of the Wynn Marjan in Ras al-Khaimah. Currently, the emirate is creating local legislation on regulating the gambling sector, based on Singaporean and American rules.
As confirmed by Wynn Resorts, the gambling house in the UAE will be twice as size as the one functioning in Las Vegas. Its area will be 18.5 thousand square meter, and the opening is planned for 2026.
In January 2022, hotel operator Wynn Resorts, famous for its casino hotels in Las Vegas, Boston and Macau, announced plans to build a resort with a “gambling zone” in the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah. The new complex on Al Marjan island will have 1,000 hotel rooms, will host at least 10 restaurants and lounges, a big conference center, as well as shopping and SPA centers.

Passport stamps are not just a certificate of border crossing, but a record of pleasant memoirs for travelers. However, for non-EU visitors entering the Schengen area, the joy of collecting passport stamps could soon become a thing of the past. The new entry/exit system, scheduled to launch in November 2023, is designed to replace the traditional system of manual passport stamping with digital traveler registration. In this blog post we will discuss what EES is, how it works and what it means to UAE residents traveling to Europe.
What is the entry/exit system (EES) from EU?
The entry/exit system (EES) is an automated It-system designed to record data on visitors from non-EU countries who are visa exempt or have short-term visas. EES will digitally capture name, type of travel document, biometric data (fingerprints and facial images), as well as data and place of entry, each time the person crosses an external EU border. The EES will digitally record any refusals of entry.
According to the European Commission’s Migration and Home Affairs department, EES is designed to replace the existing manual passport stamping system, which is time-consuming, not reliable and does not provide accurate border-crossing data. EES will increase security in the EU by improving border controls and self-service systems. However, some countries and aviation industry representatives expressed concern that insufficient preparation can cause problems during system launching.
When will EES start working?
The EES was originally scheduled to launch in 2022 but it was postponed to May 2023 and then November 2023. The delay in launching the system is related to technical requirements necessary for the successful system implementation.
Who will be affected by the EES?
EES will apply to all non-EU visitors of the Schengen area. Under the new system, the travelers with visa-free access to the Schengen area, will have to obtain online travel authorization via European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) until they arrive. ETIAS will be launched in phases, as soon as EES is operational.
What does EES mean for the UAE residents traveling to Europe?
For the UAE traveling to Europe, EES means that physical stamps in the passport will no longer be issued. Instead, EES will digitally record all the details about their entry and departure each time they cross the external EU border. This new system is expected to be more efficient and quick for travelers than the traditional manual passport stamping system.
However, it is important to note that prior to the launch of ESS, the UAE residents traveling to Europe still need to obtain physical stamps in their passport as proof of their legal entry and exit from the Schengen area.