A detailed guide to living in Dubai for Saudis

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its neighbor, the United Arab Emirates, are connected by historical relations, a shared culture, and similar customs and traditions that have extended for thousands of years, in addition to tribal and familial ties and kinship between many citizens of both countries.

The land border between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates extends for approximately 457 km, with both countries connected by a single main land crossing dedicated to commercial exchange (goods transport) and individual passage, known as the Al Batha border crossing.

Both the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are founding members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which is a political, economic, and security organization comprising six countries overlooking the Arabian Gulf, united by high-level mutual understandings and strong relations.

Can Saudis move to live in Dubai easily?

The federal laws and regulations in the United Arab Emirates allow all citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (including Saudi Arabia) to enter the country without a prior entry visa, requiring only a passport or ID to be shown at the various border crossings.

Additionally, Saudi citizens do not need a sponsor or to provide a reason for staying in the UAE, and they can reside in the country for an unlimited period, conduct business, engage in daily activities, and live and settle in the country with complete freedom.

The number of Saudi citizens residing semi-permanently in the UAE ranges between 70,000 and 100,000, most of whom are students or investors. According to 2018 statistics, the number of Saudis residing in the Emirate of Dubai alone reached about 6,000 people.

What are the living conditions in Dubai for Saudis?

Living in Dubai does not require complicated conditions for Saudis, as Saudi citizens are treated like Emirati citizens in the United Arab Emirates. However, there are general conditions that can be mentioned regarding living in Dubai for Saudis, as follows:

• Entering the country legally through official border crossings (with an entry stamp)
• The Saudi citizen wishing to live in Dubai should not have any security issues or legal obligations in their country
• Complying with and adhering to the laws and regulations in force within the UAE, including the Emirate of Dubai

What are the advantages of living in Dubai for Saudis?

Many citizens of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia prefer to live and reside in Dubai to enjoy numerous advantages, the most important of which are:

• Benefiting from the laws in Dubai that facilitate investment, money transfer, and international remittance
• Relying on Dubai’s global environment, which includes major investors and branches of international companies from various sectors around the world
• Taking advantage of a fully developed and modern infrastructure equipped for investment in production, industry, trade, and other sectors
• Enjoying a lifestyle that achieves the highest levels of comfort and luxury, with attention to the quality of daily life in all aspects
• Benefiting from an open educational environment characterized by innovation, knowledge exchange, and cultural diversity, serving as an incubator for future projects
• Living and settling in an environment similar to the home country in terms of customs, traditions, climate, and general atmosphere

What are the disadvantages of living in Dubai for Saudis?

Environmental challenges such as desertification, drought, and the resulting issues are among the main disadvantages of living in Dubai in general. However, the government in Dubai is always working to solve these problems with innovative ideas and solutions to ensure the continuation of life, luxury, and the readiness of the city’s infrastructure for the ongoing natural lifestyle of residents.

Cost of living in Dubai for Saudis

The cost of living in Dubai varies depending on several factors and the lifestyle adopted by individuals. However, in general, Dubai is considered one of the global cities with a high cost of living compared to other places around the world.

As for the cost of living in Dubai for Saudis, the close exchange rates between the UAE dirham and the Saudi riyal do not make a significant difference in the cost of living in Dubai. Therefore, it can be said that the cost of living for Saudis in Dubai ranges from reasonable to somewhat moderate.

Read more: Monthly cost of living in Dubai

Can Saudis own property in Dubai?

Saudi citizens can own all types of properties in the Emirate of Dubai, within areas designated by the Dubai government, whether in freehold zones or other areas that allow usufruct rights for up to 99 years under different conditions.

Citizens of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are among the nationalities that purchase and own the most properties in Dubai, with Saudi nationality ranking first among Arab countries and fourth worldwide in property purchases in Dubai.

Saudi citizens tend to purchase residential apartments in Dubai at a high rate, followed by villas, with villa ownership reaching 20% of the total properties purchased by Saudis in Dubai.

Related: Conditions for buying property in Dubai for Saudis

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