Essentials
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Blueground (furnished 1+ months), Staycae
- Budget Accommodation
- Aloft Abu Dhabi (ADNEC area) - Approx. 350 AED/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Yas Island (Attractions) or Saadiyat Island (Cultural/Beaches)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Al Reem Island (Modern high-rises, fast internet) or Al Khalidiyah (Community feel, cafes)
- City
- Abu Dhabi, Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Population
- Approximately 1,500,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 200 Mbps (5G is widespread)
- Currency & Banking
- UAE Dirham (AED). 1 USD ≈ 3.67 AED (Pegged)
- Tap Water
- Safe for bathing/cooking; most residents prefer bottled or filtered water for drinking
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK style) sockets
- SIM Card
- Etisalat and Du; Visitor Line from Etisalat costs approx. 125 AED for 6GB
- Banking for Expats
- Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), Wio (Digital Bank), HSBC
- Accommodation
- Apartment rentals (Annual), Hotel Apartments, and Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Apple Pay and cards accepted for everything including taxis
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Cloud Spaces (Yas Mall) - Daily pass approx. 120 AED
- Best Cafe for Work
- Rain (Al Wahda) or Joud Coffee (Al Qana)
- Networking Events
- Abu Dhabi Business Hub and Hub71 startup events
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Abu Dhabi and 'Abu Dhabi Expats' Facebook Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Abu Dhabi Taxi (TransAD) and Careem/Uber
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Careem BIKE (Stations across Corniche/Reem); TIER scooters
- Best Beach Nearby
- Saadiyat Soul Beach (Entry fee 50-75 AED)
- Top Regional Airline
- Etihad Airways
- Top International Airline
- Etihad Airways
- Highway Access
- E11 (Sheikh Zayed Road) connecting to Dubai; E10 to the city center
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station (Al Wahda)
- Public Transport Passes
- Hafilat Card (Required for all city buses)
- Regional Travel
- Intercity Bus E100/E101 to Dubai (25 AED, approx. 1.5 - 2 hours)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (Al Maryah Island)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Studio (Corniche) or Bodytree Studio
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fitness First (Abu Dhabi Mall) or Warehouse Gym (Al Qana)
- Laundry Services
- Washmen App (Pick up and delivery service)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Talabat, Deliveroo, and Noon Food
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Machboos (Spiced rice with meat) - Al Fanar Restaurant
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Wild & The Moon (Cultural Foundation)
- Best Dessert Spots
- L'ADUREE (The Galleria Mall) or Godiva Cafe
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Lulu Hypermarket and Carrefour
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.ae and Noon.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Instashop or Kibsons
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Yas Bay Waterfront and Al Maryah Island Promenade
- Local Brewery
- No local breweries (alcohol served only in licensed hotels/venues); Craft by Side Hustle (Galleria Mall) is the first on-site micro-brewery
- Wine Bars
- La Petite Maison (LPM) or Bentley Kitchen
- Street Food Stalls
- Street fries and shawarma at 'Khafayef' in Al Khalidiyah
- Popular International Cuisine
- Zuma (Japanese) or Hakkasan (Chinese) in Emirates Palace
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Museums & Art Venues
- Louvre Abu Dhabi, Manarat Al Saadiyat
- Historical Sites
- Qasr Al Hosn (the oldest stone building in the city)
- Religious Sites
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abrahamic Family House
- Annual Events
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula 1) in November
- Cultural Districts
- Saadiyat Cultural District
- Theater Venues
- NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Center
- Local Markets
- Mina Fish Market and Al Mina Fruit & Vegetable Market
- Music Scene
- Etihad Arena (Major International Artists)
- Street Art
- Marsa Al Bateen district murals
- Cooking Classes
- Jones the Grocer (various locations)
- Art Galleries
- Etihad Modern Art Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Qasr Al Watan (Presidential Palace)
- Local Heritage
- Heritage Village (Abu Dhabi Corniche)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Jubail Mangrove Park
- National Parks Nearby
- Mangrove National Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Al Wathba Cycle Track and Abu Dhabi Corniche Path
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Observation Deck at 300 (Etihad Towers)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Al Wathba Wetland Reserve (Flamingos)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Al Wathba Desert (Requires 4x4)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex, Fetchr, and DHL
- Tech Repair Services
- Virgin Megastore or Sharaf DG (Abu Dhabi Mall)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Abu Dhabi Racket Club
- Language Classes
- Berlitz or Eton Institute (Khalifa City)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Qasr Al Hosn Library
- Community Centers
- The Hub at Al Maryah Island
- Gaming Lounges
- Pixoul Gaming (Al Qana)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- N/A (Gambling is illegal in the UAE)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 18,000 AED per m² (e.g., 45 m² = 810,000 AED)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 12,000 AED per m² (e.g., 45 m² = 540,000 AED)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 17,000 AED per m² (e.g., 70 m² = 1,190,000 AED)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 11,000 AED per m² (e.g., 70 m² = 770,000 AED)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 16,500 AED per m² (e.g., 110 m² = 1,815,000 AED)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 10,500 AED per m² (e.g., 110 m² = 1,155,000 AED)
- Corporate Tax
- 9% on taxable income exceeding 375,000 AED
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0%
- Tax System
- No personal income tax for individuals
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 0%
- VAT
- 5%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, introduced as part of the Corporate Tax Law
- Property Tax
- No annual property tax (5% municipal fee on rental value)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 2% transfer fee for the buyer
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Yes, Remote Work Visa allows 0% personal income tax