Moving to the Emirates offers powerful tax leverage, but determining the ideal salary in Dubai Maintaining one's standard of living is often the first hurdle for entrepreneurs and expatriates. This article methodically breaks down the income required for each situation, analysing the real costs of housing, schooling and leisure that weigh heavily on the monthly balance. Discover now the precise financial thresholds to aim for to turn this opportunity into a genuine economic success and build a lasting legacy without sacrificing your day-to-day comfort.
What budget do you need for your profile?
Have you just arrived on the scene? For a young professional, the objective is often efficiency before glamour. Forget the direct view of the Burj Khalifa for the moment; we're talking about a nice flat-share or a studio apartment on the outskirts, in short, a smart, realistic starting budget.
To avoid counting every dirham in the supermarket, aim for a net monthly income of around AED 15,000 (around €3,800). This covers rent, shopping and the metro, but doesn't allow you to splurge every night.
It's the ideal gateway to Dubai, even though your savings account will not take off immediately.
Income for a single person or a couple with a comfortable lifestyle
Do you want more than just a roof over your head? A comfortable life here means a one-bedroom flat in a lively area like the Marina, restaurants at weekends and, above all.., the ability to save. This is the level of financial security that the majority of expatriates are looking for in order to settle permanently.
To achieve this balance, the ideal salary in Dubai is between AED 20,000 and AED 25,000 (around €5,000 - €6,300). This range changes the situation compared with survival mode.
At this level, the financial pressure disappears and you really enjoy the emirati experience without feeling sick to your stomach at the end of the month.
The salary needed for a family with one child
That's where the division changes. As soon as a child enters the equation, tuition fees are becoming the number one item of expenditure, This is often as much as the rent for a two-bedroom flat.
To stay on course without sacrificing quality of life, a monthly budget of AED 35,000 to 45,000 (around €8,800 - €11,300) is becoming the norm. This gives you access to a mid-range international school and decent accommodation for everyone without having to tighten your belt.
This budget absorbs Wednesday afternoon activities and the plane tickets needed to go home to see the family in the summer.
The budget for a luxurious lifestyle
We're talking about the ultimate postcard: villa with private pool, top British schools, Michelin-starred dinners and maybe a sports car in the driveway. In this category, there are virtually no limits.
To support this high standard of living, the counters are quickly running wild. Income often exceeds AED 70,000 per month (more than €17,500) and climb much higher for successful entrepreneurs or senior executives.
Accommodation: the biggest item of expenditure in Dubai
Now that you have an idea of the overall budgets, let's take a look at the biggest slice of the pie: housing. This is where your salary can melt like snow in the sun if you don't plan well.
Average rents by property type and district
Dubai offers two very distinct realities. On the one hand, you have prestigious districts such as Downtown or Dubai Marina, and on the other, more rational areas such as JVC or Dubai Silicon Oasis. Your choice of address will weigh heavily on what's left of your salary ideal dubai at the end of the month.
Let's get down to specifics. For a one-bedroom flat, expect a range of 7,000 to 10,000 AED/month in the central sectors. That's the price you pay for being at the heart of the action.
If you're aiming for something bigger, the bill will quickly rise. For a 2 or 3 bedroom, rents rise effortlessly to between AED 12,000 and AED 20,000/month, or even more, depending on the standing of the tower.
Hidden costs not to be forgotten
Beware: the rent advertised is only the tip of the iceberg. Too many expatriates are surprised by the additional costs that are added to the final bill, and they end up paying more than they should. weigh down the initial budget.
- DEWA : Water and electricity bills are often around AED 500-1000/month.
- Ejari The compulsory registration of the lease contract costs around AED 220.
- Chiller / AC: Air-conditioning costs, which are sometimes separate, can 500-800 AED in summer.
- Agency commission The annual rent is generally 5%.
- Security deposit 5% of the rent, fortunately refundable.
Don't underestimate these amounts. This represents several thousand dirhams to be spent immediately on installation. This is a classic nasty surprise for the uninitiated who have not anticipated this cash flow.
Paying rent all year round: the Dubai norm
Forget the automatic monthly transfer you know. Here, standard practice is to pay your rent by 1, 2 or 4 post-dated cheques at the time of signing. Monthly payments are rare and often more expensive.
L’impact on your cash flow is violent. You need to have a substantial sum of money at your disposal as soon as you arrive in France. This is a vital point to include in your installation budget to avoid running out of cash.
The impact of housing on the overall cost of living
In short, the housing will probably consume 30 to 50% of the total budget. This is the main and most effective way of adjusting your lifestyle if finances are tight.
For a more detailed analysis of your future expenditure, I recommend that you consult our dossier on the cost of living in Dubai. You will find details for calibrate your expatriation to the nearest dirham.
Everyday expenses: food, transport and bills
Food in Dubai: from supermarket to restaurant
Shopping here requires some strategy. You can choose between Carrefour or Lulu Hypermarket for reasonable prices, or Waitrose and Spinneys where the imported products make the bill explode. It's a classic beginner's mistake to do not compare.
In practical terms, for a single person, plan on a monthly range of AED 1,500 and AED 2,500. If you're arriving with your family, double that figure without hesitation, especially with teenagers.
But beware: eating out is expensive, especially in places licensed to sell alcohol where the bill rises quickly.
Getting around: metro, taxi or private car?
The Dubai Metro is an economical and efficient option, but let's be honest: it doesn't serve the whole city. Taxis and VTCs such as Careem and Uber are omnipresent to fill the gaps, but they are not the only ones. the final bill is more expensive.
The car is often king. Petrol is cheap, but you need to include the purchase or hire, insurance and tolls (Salik) in your calculation. It's often a essential choice of comfort for families who don't want to suffer the heat.
If you're still hesitating, rent a car in Dubai is an option to consider before making a commitment.
Communication bills: internet and telephone
Here's a point that often annoys newcomers: the cost of telecoms. The market is locked up by a duopoly, Du and Etisalat, which drastically limits competition and keeps prices high.
Be prepared to pay to stay connected. An internet package at home costs at least AED 400/month. Add to that a mobile package with decent data, and you will still have to pay 200-300 AED/month out of your pocket.
Monthly budget excluding rent
Let's do the sums to define the ideal Dubai salary for a single person. If you add up food, basic transport and bills, you'll quickly come up with a total of AED 3,000 to 4,000 per month.
Make no mistake, this figure is a strict basis. It does not include leisure activities, clothing or medical contingencies. It's the bare minimum after you've paid your rent. incompressible expenses.
Families: the cost of education, a determining factor
Why are public schools the norm for expatriates?
The local public school system? It is essentially taught in Arabic and remains the preserve of the Emiratis. To ensure a coherent curriculum, expatriates are turning en masse to international public schools.
There is a wide range of schools to choose from, including the British curriculum, the American curriculum and the highly sought-after Lycée Français International. While the choice is there, the quality and price vary enormously from one establishment to another, creating real budget discrepancies.
Annual tuition fees: what can you expect?
Let's be concrete about the figures. For a mid-range school annual costs per child vary between AED 30,000 and AED 50,000 in primary schools. This figure can rise to over 90,000 in the most prestigious schools.
It's a relentless mechanism: the bill gets bigger as the child gets older. High schools systematically cost more than kindergartens, requiring rigorous financial management over the long term.
Bear in mind that this high entry fee is a annual recurring cost to be anticipated for each child at school.
Ancillary costs not to be overlooked
Unfortunately, the bill does not stop at tuition fees alone. There are also other compulsory costs to the budget and surprise unprepared parents.
- Registration fees The fees are often non-refundable and represent several thousand dirhams on entry.
- Uniforms They are compulsory, specific and sold exclusively by the school.
- School transport The bus service is convenient but costs between AED 5,000 and AED 10,000 a year.
- Canteen and extra-curricular activities : Regular additional costs to be expected each quarter.
All these extras add up to a lot, easily adding 15% to 20% to the initial school budget you had planned.
Negotiating an expatriate package including education
If you are an employee, my advice is simple: negotiate firmly. Some employers offer packages that include full or partial payment of tuition fees, which makes all the difference.
It's a colossal advantage that often defines your true ideal dubai salary. For entrepreneurs, the situation is different: this massive cost must be fully absorbed by your income, directly impacting your profitability.
Health in Dubai: compulsory insurance and healthcare costs
Health insurance: a legal obligation
In Dubai, the rule is strict: no residence visa without valid medical cover. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) requires all residents to have this cover or face monthly fines. If you are an employee, your employer is legally obliged to fund your basic cover.
But beware: this employer's obligation often stops at your own person and does not cover those close to you. For your spouse and children, it's usually up to you to get out the chequebook. You will often need to take out additional insurance for them, at your own expense.
Basic cover vs comprehensive private insurance
Let's face it, the standard cover provided by companies (MEC) is often rudimentary and frustrating. It drastically limits your access to hospitals, imposes low ceilings and often excludes dental care. In a nutshell, minimum service.
This is where private or «top-up» insurance comes in, and it's essential if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises. It gives you access to a much wider, high-quality network of healthcare services, including access to specialists. Admittedly, it's an additional cost, but the quality of care is changing radically.
In the end, it's a personal trade-off between safety and budget that every expatriate must do.
How much does good health insurance cost?
To calculate your ideal dubai salary, it is essential to include these fixed costs: a high-quality individual cover ranges from AED 5,000 to AED 15,000 per year. The exact amount will depend on your age and the comfort options you choose.
If you're arriving with a family of four, the bill rises very quickly. Plan on a realistic range of 20,000 to 40,000 AED per year for peace of mind. It's a substantial budget that shouldn't be underestimated. To find out more, read our report on health insurance in Dubai.
The cost of care without insurance
Tempting the devil without a blanket? Bad idea, because the bill is rising at a dizzying pace. A simple general practitioner's consultation can cost you AED 500 in the blink of an eye. The meter spins even faster with specialists.
Unexpected hospitalisation can quickly cost tens of thousands of dirhams, putting your savings at risk. Find out more here, insurance is not an option, it's an absolute necessity.
Leisure and lifestyle: the «pleasure» budget»
You don't just come to Dubai to work long hours and pay bills. The city is a huge playground for adults, but having fun here comes at a price that can quickly become exorbitant. Let's see how your ideal dubai salary directly influences the quality of your social life.
Going out and eating out: the big price gap
The local gastronomic offer is totally schizophrenic. You can feast on an excellent shawarma for AED 10 in the bustling streets of Deira, or decide to shell out AED 2,000 for a tête-à-tête dinner with a Michelin-starred chef at the DIFC. This diversity allows you to modulate your spending, But the temptation of luxury remains omnipresent.
The real financial trap often lies in the consumption of alcohol. A simple glass of wine in a bar or club rarely costs less than AED 55-70. To maintain an active social life without frustration, a budget for outings of at least AED 1,500 per month per person is a realistic minimum.
Activities, sport and shopping
Relaxation options vary dramatically depending on what you want. From free public beaches to private beach clubs that sometimes charge AED 500 a day. When it comes to fitness, while running in the park costs nothing, top-of-the-range gyms can run as high as AED 500 to 800 a month.
Shopping is practically the national sport here. Malls are ubiquitous and designed to tempt you around every corner. It's a treacherous item of expenditure which depends entirely on your ability to stand up to shop windows.
In reality, it is this leisure budget that digs the most visible ditch between a standard lifestyle and a luxurious existence.
Travel from Dubai
Living here means enjoying a an exceptional global air hub. Asia, Africa and Europe are just a few hours' flight away, making the desire to get away from it all frequent and almost irresistible for residents.
And yet these trips weigh heavily in the balance. Whether it's to go back to France to see the family or to explore Oman and the Maldives at the weekend, it's all part of the package. a fixed cost to be anticipated. It would be a mistake not to include it in your forecast.
How can you keep your leisure budget under control?
Be smart with your money so it doesn't disappear. Use apps like The Entertainer that offer 2-for-1 deals and target ladies« nights or happy hours. This is the best way to take advantage of the system without breaking the bank.
The golden rule is to set yourself a clear monthly budget for pleasures and stick to it whatever the cost. Without this iron discipline, leisure spending will inevitably get out of hand, jeopardising your overall financial equilibrium.
The ultimate advantage: zero income tax, but be careful...
We've talked a lot about expenses. Now let's talk about what's left in your bank account. This is where Dubai's magic happens, thanks to a a completely new tax system.
The principle of after-tax pay
Here, the rule is brutally simple: the State does not touch your pay slip. There is no no income tax for individuals in the Emirates. The amount negotiated on your contract is exactly the amount that lands in your bank account.
This is the main lever that boosts your purchasing power in the face of European tax pressure. Even with a high cost of living here, the absence of social security contributions changes everything. In France, you lose before you spend; here, you keep everything.
Concrete comparison: a salary of €10,000 gross in France vs. in Dubai
Let's do some hard maths. In France, a salary of €10,000 gross melts like snow in the sun to around €6,000 net after tax. You lose almost 40% of your added value on the way. It's mathematical and frustrating.
In Dubai, that same €10,000 salary (around AED 40,000) stays €10,000 in your pocket. No obscure deductions, no nasty surprises at the end of the month. The difference is colossal.
It is precisely this money «saved» from the taxman that finances your rent at the Marina or the International Children's School.
Tax residence
Don't be too quick to claim victory. To benefit from this advantage, you must be officially recognised as a tax resident in the Emirates and cut the cord with the French tax authorities. If you miss this step, you risk a painful tax adjustment.
You need to structure your departure intelligently. Consult our guides on your tax residence in Dubai and analyse the tax treaty between France and the UAE. There are strict presence and centre of economic interest rules for avoid double taxation.
The arrival of corporation tax
Something new has recently been added to the mix. Since 2023, Dubai introduces a corporate tax of 9% for profits in excess of AED 375,000. The tax landscape is changing and we need to adapt.
But don't confuse everything. This affects your company's profits, not your personal remuneration. If you pay yourself a salary, your individual tax rate remains frozen at 0%. This is a crucial distinction for optimising your income.
Building your personalised budget: practical examples
Enough theory. Let's put all these figures together. Here are some monthly budget simulations to help you visualise in concrete terms what the ideal salary is for YOU.
Typical budget for a single person (salary 22,000 aed)
Take a young working professional. He lives in a comfortable one-bedroom flat in JVC, an area popular for its value for money. He owns his own car and enjoys a dynamic but reasonable social life.
Let's look at his outgoings: rent of AED 7,000 and charges (DEWA, internet) of AED 1,200. Add AED 2,000 for shopping, AED 1,500 for transport, AED 2,500 for leisure and AED 1,500 for health. Total: 15,700 AED. This leaves him with more than AED 6,000 to save.
Typical budget for a couple without children (salary of 30,000 aed)
Now imagine a couple living in a beautiful one-bedroom flat in Dubai Marina. They own two cars and frequently go out to eat. This income of AED 30,000 can be that of a single person or a combination of both salaries.
Their budget is as follows Rent (AED 9,000), utilities (AED 1,500), Races (AED 3,500) and Transport (AED 2,500). With a leisure budget of AED 4,000 and AED 2,000 for miscellaneous, the total reaches AED 22,500. Monthly savings are around AED 7,500.
Typical budget for a family with two children (salary of AED 50,000)
This is the most complex scenario to balance: a family with two children in primary school (French curriculum). They opted for a 3-bedroom villa for more space.
- Accommodation (Villa) AED 15,000
- Schooling (2 children) AED 8,000 (smoothed over 12 months)
- Charges & invoices AED 2,500
- Races: AED 5,000
- Transport (2 cars) AED 3,000
- Health & Insurance AED 2,500
- Leisure & Activities AED 4,000
Total expenditure amounted to around AED 40,000, leaving a balance of comfortable savings capacity of AED 10,000 to secure the family's future.
The importance of savings and investment
Don't forget: the aim of moving to Dubai is often to build wealth faster than in Europe. If you're spending your entire income, you're missing out on this unique opportunity.
In reality, the ideal dubai salary not only covers expenses, but also the one that allows significant savings to invest or prepare for the future. This is your true indicator of success.
The ideal salary in Dubai is not just a gross figure, but your real savings capacity after deduction of housing and living costs. Take advantage of the absence of tax to accelerate the growth of your assets, while rigorously anticipating unavoidable costs to ensure that your investment remains profitable. a financially rewarding expatriation.
FAQ : Ideal salary for living in Dubai
What is the ideal salary for a comfortable life in Dubai?
For a single person looking for pleasant accommodation and regular outings, a monthly salary of between AED 20,000 and AED 25,000 (around €5,000 to €6,300) is recommended. This allows you to live without financial stress and to save.
For a family with two children, the situation changes radically because of school fees. You have to aim for a family income of between AED 35,000 and AED 45,000 (around €8,800 to €11,300) to maintain a European standard of living and cover education and health costs.
Is a salary of €2,500 (around AED 10,000) enough to move abroad?
This is a tight budget for Dubai. With AED 10,000, you'll probably have to live in a shared apartment or an off-centre studio, as rents in the central districts often exceed AED 7,000. This level of income covers basic needs but leaves very little room for leisure or savings.
It's an entry-level salary acceptable for a young graduate who wants to gain initial international experience, but not enough to establish a long-term residence with a high level of comfort.
Is there a legal minimum wage (SMIC) in Dubai?
No, there is no no universal minimum wage in the United Arab Emirates and the SMIC in France. Wages are set by negotiation between employer and employee according to market supply and demand.
However, the Ministry has established reference thresholds for certain categories of skilled workers (e.g. AED 12,000 for university graduates), but this is not enough. serves more as a guide for obtaining visas than an absolute rule for all sectors.
What is the cost of living in Dubai compared with France?
The overall cost of living is high, comparable or even higher than in Paris for accommodation and outings. Expenses such as rent, private schooling (compulsory for expatriates) and health care are also high. much more expensive than in France.
On the other hand, fuel and vehicles are cheaper. The real difference is in net income: the absence of income tax often means that you have a greater final purchasing power despite the high cost of living.
What are the major financial advantages of living in Dubai?
The number one advantage remains taxation: 0 % income tax for individuals. Your gross salary is equal to your net salary, which means you can save and invest much more quickly than in Europe.
In addition to the tax benefits, Dubai offers a dynamic environment for entrepreneurs, It's easy to set up your own business and gives you direct access to emerging markets in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
