Forum
Analytics
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪
#846
,
Nomad Score:
65%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
21%
Weight: 150
Abu Dhabi is one of the more expensive cities globally, with high costs for most goods and services.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
18%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are very high, especially for centrally located apartments favored by expats and nomads.
🍎 Food & Groceries
35%
Weight: 40
Food prices are above average, with imported goods and dining out being costly.
🚌 Transportation Cost
67%
Weight: 20
Public transport is affordable, but many rely on taxis or private cars which increase costs.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
32%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options tend to be pricey, especially in tourist and expat areas.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
40%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are moderately expensive but offer good facilities.
💱 Currency Stability
95%
Weight: 30
The UAE Dirham is pegged to the US Dollar, providing excellent currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
88%
Weight: 100
High-speed fiber-optic internet is widely available with reliable connections.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
79%
Weight: 40
A growing number of coworking spaces catering to digital nomads and startups.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
73%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi, though quality and speed vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
68%
Weight: 30
Several cafes are popular among digital nomads, but not as widespread as in some other cities.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
54%
Weight: 100
Abu Dhabi is less popular than Dubai but is gaining traction among digital nomads.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
92%
Weight: 25
Easy to obtain local SIM cards with competitive plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
71%
Weight: 30
Good work-life balance with many leisure options, though long working hours are common in some sectors.
🌳 Environmental Quality
50%
Weight: 15
Urban environment with some pollution concerns, but efforts are ongoing to improve sustainability.
🧼 Cleanliness
86%
Weight: 10
The city is very clean with strict regulations and regular maintenance.
🗨️ Language Barrier
75%
Weight: 30
English is widely spoken, minimizing language barriers for most digital nomads.
💨 Air Quality
42%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be poor due to desert dust and urban pollution, especially in summer.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
73%
Weight: 25
Good family amenities and schools, but high cost of living can be a barrier.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
89%
Weight: 20
High-quality healthcare facilities with modern hospitals and clinics.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
37%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is expensive without insurance; private care costs are high.
🏥 Healthcare
85%
Weight: 20
Excellent healthcare infrastructure and services available.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
78%
Weight: 80
Hot desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters; ideal for sun lovers but can be extreme in summer.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
97%
Weight: 10
Very low risk of natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, or hurricanes.
🏞️ Green Spaces
54%
Weight: 10
Limited green spaces due to desert environment, but some well-maintained parks exist.
❄️ Air Conditioning
99%
Weight: 15
Extensive and reliable air conditioning in all buildings and public transport.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
23%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; mostly hot and dry year-round.
🔊 Noise Pollution
60%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise pollution in busy areas but generally quiet residential zones.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
76%
Weight: 20
Rich Emirati culture blended with a cosmopolitan expat community.
🌃 Nightlife
51%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is more subdued compared to Dubai, with limited late-night venues.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
60%
Weight: 15
Desert landscapes and coastal areas offer unique outdoor experiences but limited greenery.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
65%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Arabic and other languages through cultural centers and classes.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
72%
Weight: 10
Good variety of cultural tours, desert safaris, and heritage experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
68%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls, cinemas, and indoor entertainment options are plentiful.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
79%
Weight: 25
Diverse international cuisine with many high-quality restaurants.
🧠 Yoga Studios
63%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios available, though not as widespread as in some other cities.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
70%
Weight: 15
Good availability of gyms and fitness centers.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
74%
Weight: 15
Increasing availability of healthy and organic food options.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
76%
Weight: 20
UTC+4 time zone is convenient for Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
71%
Weight: 25
Growing startup and expat community provides decent networking events.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
58%
Weight: 20
Limited local remote job market but good for freelancers working internationally.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
62%
Weight: 20
Emerging freelance community with increasing support and resources.
🏢 Coworking Quality
77%
Weight: 30
Modern coworking spaces with good amenities and professional environments.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
69%
Weight: 15
Growing startup ecosystem supported by government initiatives.
💳 Local Payment Services
74%
Weight: 10
Wide acceptance of digital payments and mobile wallets.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
65%
Weight: 15
Moderate adoption with regulatory clarity improving but still cautious.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
89%
Weight: 30
Well-connected international airport with numerous global routes.
🚇 Public Transit
55%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit options compared to other major cities; mostly buses.
🚶 Walkability
41%
Weight: 20
City is car-dependent with limited pedestrian-friendly areas.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
83%
Weight: 15
Popular and reliable ride-sharing options like Uber and Careem widely available.
🚲 Cycling
32%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is minimal and the hot climate limits cycling appeal.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
70%
Weight: 15
Good road connections and bus services to other emirates and cities.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
40%
Weight: 10
Limited availability of scooter and bike rentals.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
91%
Weight: 20
Excellent mobile coverage with 5G widely available.
🔒 VPN Reliability
60%
Weight: 20
VPN use is legal but some restrictions apply; reliability can vary.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
98%
Weight: 15
Very reliable power supply with minimal outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
67%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is available in malls and some public areas but not ubiquitous.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
74%
Weight: 40
Relatively straightforward visa process for many nationalities, with multiple visa options.
📊 Tax Friendliness
96%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax, making it very attractive for digital nomads.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
31%
Weight: 15
Limited freedom of speech with strict laws regulating expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
93%
Weight: 20
Highly stable political environment with strong governance.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
50%
Weight: 15
Opening bank accounts can be bureaucratic and requires local documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
72%
Weight: 10
Business setup is streamlined, especially in free zones, but can be costly.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
78%
Weight: 35
UAE offers a digital nomad visa allowing remote workers to stay for up to a year.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
70%
Weight: 50
Generally friendly to digital nomads with good infrastructure but high costs.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
64%
Weight: 25
Regular meetups and events but less frequent than in more established nomad hubs.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
69%
Weight: 20
Active online communities for expats and nomads, though smaller than Dubai.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
94%
Weight: 100
Very safe city with low crime rates and strong law enforcement.
♀️ Female Friendly
70%
Weight: 50
Generally safe and respectful environment for women, though cultural norms are conservative.
✊ Racial Tolerance
75%
Weight: 50
Diverse population with good racial tolerance, though some social hierarchies exist.