🇦🇪United Arab Emirates
Desert within living memory, and now the tallest building on earth, a Louvre and a marble mosque with 82 domes. One of the easiest first international trips there is — visa on arrival, English everywhere, and far cheaper than its reputation once you leave the hotel bar.
Cities
The UAE's capital, and the quieter, older-money half of the country. Slower than Dubai, cheaper than Dubai, and home to the two buildings most people leave the Emirates remembering.
Day budget
$75–160
Cheap meal
$2.50–6.00
Mid hotel
$65–140
A city that was mostly desert within living memory and now has the world's tallest building in it. Easier and cheaper than its reputation suggests — if you know which Dubai you're spending in.
Day budget
$90–190
Cheap meal
$2.50–6.00
Mid hotel
$75–160
At a glance
How United Arab Emirates’s cities compare. Rough 2025–2026 figures.
| City | Cheap meal | Mid-range hotel | Transit ride | Avg. monthly salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi | $2.50–6.00 | $65–140 | $0.55 | ≈ $4,400 |
| 🇦🇪 Dubai | $2.50–6.00 | $75–160 | $0.80–2.00 | ≈ $4,200 |