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Essentials

🏙️ City Dubai is a global city and business hub in the Middle East, known for its modern architecture and luxury lifestyle.
👥 Population Approximately 3.4 million residents.
💻 Internet Speed Average download speed of 100 Mbps.
💸 Currency & Banking Currency is the UAE Dirham (AED). 1 USD ≈ 3.67 AED.
🚰 Tap Water Tap water is treated and generally safe to drink, though many prefer bottled water.
🔌 Power Electricity supply: 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G sockets.
📶 SIM Card Major providers include Etisalat and Du, offering various prepaid and postpaid plans.
💳 Banking for Expats Most international cards are accepted, and banks like Emirates NBD and ADCB cater to expatriates.
🛌 Accommodation Options include Airbnb, serviced apartments, and long-term rentals yielding around AED 2,500 to 5,000 monthly.
💳 Cashless Friendly Yes, credit and debit cards are widely accepted across the city.
🏠 Short Term Rentals Airbnb and holiday home rentals are popular, especially in areas like Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina.
🛏️ Budget Accommodation Budget-friendly hostels include Dubai Youth Hostel and Atana Hotel.
🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists Downtown Dubai and Jumeirah Beach Area are prime tourist spots.
🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads Areas like Dubai Marina and JLT (Jumeirah Lake Towers) are recommended for their coworking spaces and amenities.

Working and Networking

🏢 Best Coworking Space WeWork in Dubai Marina and Regal Tower are prominent choices for remote work.
Best Cafe for Work Arabica Cafe in Jumeirah Beach is popular for its ambiance and Wi-Fi.
💼 Networking Events Tech meetups and expat get-togethers frequently occur at Dubai Internet City.
🥂 Social Events for Expats The Dubai Expats Meetup is a vibrant community for networking and events.

Transportation

🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App Careem and Uber operate extensively throughout the city.
🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental UU Bike offers rental services and dock stations across the city.
🏖️ Best Beach Nearby Jumeirah Beach is the closest and most popular beach area.
✈️ Top Regional Airline Emirates is the main airline, connecting to regional destinations.
✈️ Top International Airline Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways dominate international travel.
🛣️ Highway Access Key roads include Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Quds Street.
🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub The Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station is a major transport hub.
🚍 Public Transport Passes NOL Card system covers metro, bus, and water transport access.
✈️ Regional Travel Buses and taxis or ride-sharing apps effectively connect to nearby cities like Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

Health and Wellness

🏥 Best Hospital Dubai Hospital is the premier healthcare facility in the region.
🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers The Yoga Studio offers various classes in Dubai Marina.
🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers Fitness First and Gold's Gym have numerous locations offering memberships.
🧺 Laundry Services Laundry services can be found easily; notable ones include Laundry Dubai.

Food and Drink

📱 Best Food Delivery App Zomato and Deliveroo are widely used for food deliveries.
🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try Try Shawarma or Al Harees for a local culinary experience.
🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options Look for Wild & The Moon and Govindas for plant-based dining.
🍫 Best Dessert Spots Atisuto and Baked by Melissa are famous for their pastries.
🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots The Dubai Spice Souk offers affordable local foods and spices.
🛒 E-commerce/Online Store Amazon.ae and Noon.com are primary online shopping platforms.
🛒 Grocery Delivery Talabat offers grocery delivery from various local supermarkets.
🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area Areas like JBR and Downtown Dubai are known for vibrant nightlife.
🍻 Local Brewery The Basement is a local pub with craft beers in Dubai.
🍷 Wine Bars The White Bar in the Meydan Hotel offers a range of wines.
🍲 Street Food Stalls The Global Village features numerous street food options.
🍕 Popular International Cuisine Top international spots include Zuma for Japanese and Ronda Locatelli for Italian.

Culture and Attractions

🎟️ Must-See Landmarks Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and Palm Jumeirah are iconic attractions.
🏛️ Museums & Art Venues Dubai Museum and Alserkal Avenue are noteworthy cultural sites.
🏰 Historical Sites The Al Fahidi Historic District showcases Dubai's heritage.
🕍 Religious Sites The Grand Mosque and Jumeirah Mosque are prominent spiritual sites.
🎉 Annual Events Dubai Food Festival and the Dubai Shopping Festival attract many visitors.
🎨 Cultural Districts Al Quoz hosts contemporary art galleries and cultural hotspots.
🎭 Theater Venues The Dubai Opera offers a luxurious venue for performances.
🛍️ Local Markets The Gold Souk and Spice Souk are must-visit markets.
🎼 Music Scene Clubs like White Dubai host international DJs regularly.
🎨 Street Art The Al Seef Area features vibrant street art and murals.
🧑‍🍳 Cooking Classes The Arabian Culinary Club offers cooking classes featuring local cuisine.
👩‍🎨 Art Galleries Art Sawa in Alserkal Avenue exhibits contemporary art.
🕰️ Historic Buildings Bastakiya District features restored buildings over 100 years old.
🏴 Local Heritage The Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood represents traditional emirate architecture.

Nature and Outdoor Activities

🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes Hatta Mountain, about 1.5 hours away, offers hikes and kayaking.
🏞️ National Parks Nearby The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve features protected wildlife.
🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths Dubai Marina has promenades perfect for walking and cycling.
🌄 Scenic Viewpoints At the top of Burj Khalifa provides stunning skyline views.
🦉 Birdwatching Locations Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is known for migratory birds.
🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots Kite Beach has designated areas for bonfires.

Other Services and Amenities

📦 Parcel Delivery Service DHL and Aramex offer reliable parcel delivery services.
🛠️ Tech Repair Services Places like iFix offer electronic repairs across the city.
🏓 Table Tennis Spots Table tennis clubs can be found at many community centers.
🧑‍🏫 Language Classes The British Council offers various language courses.
📚 Libraries & Study Spots The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library is a new cultural hub and reading space.
🏘️ Community Centers Dubai Community Center hosts various cultural events and activities.
🕹️ Gaming Lounges Keen gamers can check out Geek Garage for a good gaming experience.
🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls Casinos are not prevalent; however, gaming machines are available in select hotels.

Business

🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. AED 13,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = AED 520,000).
🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. AED 9,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = AED 360,000).
🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. AED 11,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = AED 660,000).
🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. AED 8,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = AED 510,000).
🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. AED 10,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = AED 800,000).
🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. AED 7,300 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = AED 584,000).
💼 Corporate Tax 0% corporate tax rate for most entities.
💵 Dividend Withholding Tax No dividend withholding tax.
🏦 Tax System No income tax for residents; revenues primarily from VAT.
📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket 0% personal income tax.
🧾 VAT Standard VAT rate is 5%.
🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules No strict CFC rules exist, encouraging foreign investment.
🏠 Property Tax No annual property tax; registration fee only.
🏠 Property Transaction Tax Property registration fee is 4% of the property value.
💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads Dubai's zero income tax policy is very appealing for digital nomads.

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