United Arab Emirates
A solid all-round choice. Ranked 12 of 40, strongest on healthcare, softest on retiree visa.
Key facts
Visa & residency
Applicants must be at least 55 and have worked at least 15 years, then meet one option: own property worth at least AED 1 million; hold financial savings of at least AED 1 million; or have an annual income of at least AED 180,000 (about AED 15,000, roughly USD 4,080, per month). In Dubai the income threshold is higher at AED 240,000 per year (about AED 20,000, roughly USD 5,445, per month).
The retirement visa is granted for 5 years and can be renewed if the criteria are still met; income may come from inside or outside the UAE. The property-plus-savings route requires AED 1 million in property and AED 1 million in savings.
Healthcare
A modern, high-quality system delivering care comparable to developed nations (life expectancy about 79 years), with world-class hospitals and facilities such as Dubai Healthcare City in Dubai and major centres in Abu Dhabi.
Health insurance is mandatory for expatriate residents; UAE law requires sponsors to provide health insurance for expatriate workers, and private cover is the norm for foreign residents.
Cost of living
Overall cost of living runs about 15.2% below the United States including rent, and about 20.4% below excluding rent (Numbeo national comparison).
Rent is roughly similar to the United States, about 3.6% lower on average (Numbeo national comparison).
Safety & climate
The UAE ranks 73rd of 163 countries (score 1.927) in the Global Peace Index, an upper-middle position and the ranking reflects broader regional and militarization factors more than everyday street crime.
A desert climate with warm, sunny winters and hot, humid summers, with cooler conditions in the eastern mountains.
Community & language
The expatriate community outnumbers UAE nationals, and English is the common language of business and daily life alongside Arabic.
Arabic is the official language, but English is widely used in business, on road signs and in daily life across the country.
Taxes
The UAE does not impose income tax on individuals, so pension income is not taxed.
As there is currently no personal income tax in the UAE, claiming relief for foreign taxes paid is not applicable at the individual level.
UAE dirham (AED), pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate of 3.6725 AED = 1 USD since 1997.
Compare United Arab Emirates with its closest rivals
The three countries whose RetireScore sits nearest.
