What if you were born in United Arab Emirates?

If you had grown up in United Arab Emirates instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Dubai could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Dubai Marina skyline. Photo: Norlando Pobre, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in United Arab Emirates

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in AED and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in United Arab Emirates: AED 9,580Rs 722,000
Rent (city centre): AED 2,770
Transport (public transport): AED 488
Food: AED 1,380
Saved: AED 1,440

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in United Arab Emirates: AED 22,000Rs 1,660,000
Rent (suburbs): AED 5,610
Transport (public transport): AED 1,120
Food: AED 3,740
Saved: AED 3,300

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in United Arab Emirates: AED 35,700Rs 2,690,000
Rent (city centre): AED 8,730
Transport (car): AED 3,340
Food: AED 4,370
Saved: AED 9,990

Try it with my own income

A day in Dubai

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Dubai, a city of mild winters around 20°C and hot summers near 35°C, and rain is rare.
Commute
You take a bus and a train: about 40 minutes, a bit longer in bad weather.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Arabic at home, and English works almost everywhere.
Lunch
Lunch might be machboos: spiced rice with meat or fish, flavoured with dried lime.
Evening
You get home with AED 3,300 saved each month. Walking home late feels completely normal here.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast and the mountains.

United Arab Emirates compared with Pakistan

	United Arab Emirates	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	3.0× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	83 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	57 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	2.2%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	28°C	26°C
Languages	Arabic	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	AED	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs United Arab Emirates, living in United Arab Emirates and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in United Arab Emirates?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around AED 22,000 a month at the same level in United Arab Emirates (about Rs 1,660,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is United Arab Emirates more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 3.0 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in United Arab Emirates?

Mainly Arabic. English is widely spoken.

Can I actually move to United Arab Emirates?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs United Arab Emirates page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.