Cost of Living in Dubai
Although buying any type of Dubai property is extremely good value compared with UK prices, actually living in Dubai is generally considered expensive. Ridiculously low petrol prices are certainly a bonus for anyone who buzzes about the city a lot or enjoys regular days out in the UAE, but prices in the famous Dubai shopping malls may not be as low as you expect.
Staying in a Dubai property – buying food and soft drinks
Whether you are living permanently in your Dubai property or are renting a self-catering holiday home, you are sure to need to pop to the shops for some everyday items. Food is generally a little bit more expensive than in the UK and, as you soon discover, trips to Dubai’s shopping malls and supermarkets require stamina. They are vast! Among the largest of the grocery outlets is the 40,000sq ft Spinney´s Mercato Centre. Spinney’s has eight other branches in Dubai while the Al Maya Group has 18 branches throughout the UAE. There are also four Carrefour supermarkets and one Geant Hypermarket.
Living in Dubai property – going out or staying in
Most expats living in Dubai enjoy a busy social scene. Here are some costs that might be encountered when meeting up with friends at a beach club, taking in a concert in central Dubai, shopping in one of the huge air-conditioned malls, or perhaps when enjoying a lazy evening at home.
Other everyday needs to attract you to Dubai shopping centres
The difference in the cost of living in Dubai is not at its greatest in everyday items, although most household goods are cheaper or similar than in the UK. Much depends on where you choose to enjoy your Dubai shopping spree. There are the equivalent of British £1 shops (they are Dh 5 shops in UAE) and there are well-known names including Marks and Spencer, Next, Debenhams, Chanel, Gucci and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Utility costs for Dubai property
While any Brits living more-or-less permanently in their own Dubai property will not be paying central heating bills back home, the cost of air-conditioning in this desert city soon eliminates any savings. The level of costs depends greatly on how cool you like to be, but you can be confident that the nearly all apartments and villas have modern and efficient systems.
Cost of driving when living in Dubai
Motoring works out considerably less expensive in Dubai for a number of reasons, not least the indecently cheap petrol. There is no road tax to pay, either. As if that weren’t enough, there are terrific discounts to be had on vehicles, which is why so many expats living in Dubai, choose to buy a new one when they move here. Typically, the discounts are 25-45% off the UK price.
In this Section
- Dubai - An Overview
- Dubai Visitor Information
- Cost of Living in Dubai
- Dubai Real Estate
- Investing in Dubai Real Estate