Hello everyone,
Although the United Arab Emirates has very impressive aspects from an urban and infrastructure perspective, there are also several realities about the country that are important to understand before considering living there.
When you start observing how the society functions beyond the tourist image, some significant issues become visible.
Here you can read the first part of this post:
An economic model built on migrant workers and modern slavery
One of the most debated aspects of the United Arab Emirates is its dependence on foreign migrant labor. Currently, approximately 85–90% of the country’s population is foreign. Most of these workers come from countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.
Many of these workers are employed in sectors such as construction, cleaning, maintenance, hospitality, and domestic work.
For decades, the country’s labor system has been linked to the sponsorship system (kafala), which tied a worker’s legal residency directly to their employer. Various international organizations have criticized this system because it could facilitate situations of labor abuse.
Among the problems reported for years are extremely long working hours, very low wages, passport confiscation, and difficulties changing jobs.
These migrant workers also often arrive in the country after paying high commissions to recruitment agencies in their home countries, which creates situations of debt even before they start working, and therefore significant economic vulnerability.
Another aspect that is not very visible to many visitors is the existence of “labour camps”, residential areas where many migrant workers employed in construction or services live. These camps are usually located on the outskirts of cities, far from tourist or residential areas. Reports from human rights organizations have pointed out problems such as overcrowding, limited facilities, and long transportation times to workplaces.
Although conditions vary depending on the company and the sector, this type of housing reflects the large social separation between different groups of population within the country.
During our trip we saw scenes that inevitably make you think about these conditions. In the Dubai hotel where we were staying, there were buildings under construction around it and workers were operating throughout the night.
It is difficult not to wonder under what working conditions much of that urban development is being produced.
Different realities depending on the type of job
It is also true that the experience can vary greatly depending on the type of employment.
For example, speaking with a hotel worker originally from India, he told us that for him working in the United Arab Emirates was better than working in his country. According to him, in India he worked 12 hours per day, while in the UAE he worked eight hours and earned more money.
However, the system still generates very marked social inequality between different groups of population.
A society with significant social inequality
The United Arab Emirates has a very particular social structure. On one side there is a minority of Emirati citizens, representing around 10–15% of the population. On the other side there is the vast majority of foreign residents, who work in the country but do not have the same social rights.
Emirati citizens have access to benefits such as state-funded public healthcare, social assistance, housing programs, and economic support in certain situations.
Foreign residents, on the other hand, generally do not have access to these benefits.
The legal status of foreigners
In the United Arab Emirates, the residency of most foreigners depends on a visa linked to employment or to a company.
This means that if a person loses their job, their residence permit may be affected. There is usually a limited period to find another job. If this does not happen, the person may be required to leave the country.
This is very different from what happens in many European countries, where unemployment benefits, social assistance, and more stable residency rights exist.
The healthcare system
Emirati citizens usually have access to state-funded public healthcare.
Foreign residents, however, require mandatory private health insurance. Many companies provide it to their employees, but if they do not, the resident must pay for it themselves.
Medical costs can be very high, in some cases comparable to private healthcare systems such as the United States.
The issue of nationality
Another important aspect is that obtaining Emirati citizenship is extremely difficult. Citizenship is mainly based on family lineage, especially through the paternal line.
Even people who have lived and worked in the country for decades usually remain foreign residents without access to citizenship.
In some exceptional cases, the government may grant citizenship to people who have made special contributions to the country, but these situations are rare.
The issue of nationality, marriage, and divorce in the United Arab Emirates is complex and highly influenced by citizenship law and family law based on Sharia.
What happens if a foreign woman marries an Emirati man
When a foreign woman marries a citizen of the United Arab Emirates, she may apply for citizenship, but it is not automatic.
Usually, it requires several years of marriage (traditionally around 7 years with children or 10 years without children), approval by authorities, and in some cases renouncing previous nationality.
In other words, marriage does not grant immediate citizenship, but the possibility of applying for it.
If a foreign woman obtains citizenship through marriage and later divorces, the authorities may review or revoke that citizenship, especially if they consider that the connection to the country disappears.
This reflects the fact that citizenship in the country is considered primarily linked to Emirati family lineage.
Children of an Emirati father automatically receive Emirati nationality.
After a divorce, physical custody of young children usually goes to the mother during the early years, but the father maintains legal guardianship and authority over major decisions, such as education or travel. In many cases, when the children grow older, custody may pass to the father.
If the foreign mother loses legal residency or leaves the country, she may face difficulties maintaining custody.
The reverse situation: Emirati woman with a foreigner
For many years, if an Emirati woman married a foreign man, their children did not automatically obtain nationality. This generated criticism regarding gender inequality.
In recent years, reforms have been introduced allowing children of Emirati women to apply for citizenship, although the process remains more complex than when the father is Emirati.
Gender equality
In general terms, female participation in the labor market has increased significantly in recent years.
- Approximately 54% of women of working age participate in the labor market
- Male participation, however, is much higher, close to 90%
This means that although female participation has grown, a significant gender gap in employment still exists.
Women represent approximately 34.6% of the total workforce in the country.
In positions of power the numbers show a mixed reality. In the corporate sector, only 22% of management positions are held by women, and around 13% of top executive (C-suite) roles are occupied by women.
In corporate governance, women occupy approximately 15% of board positions in listed companies.
Interestingly, in the public sector female representation is much higher. Women occupy around 66% of public sector jobs, and approximately 30% of government leadership positions. Several women also serve in the country’s Council of Ministers.
The country has also attempted to improve female representation in politics. The Federal National Council has gender parity, meaning approximately 50% of its members are women.
Women are particularly present in sectors such as education, healthcare, and public administration.
In the Global Gender Gap Index of the World Economic Forum, the country usually ranks in a middle position globally, with roughly 72% gender equality across indicators.
However, several international organizations have pointed out that important legal inequalities still exist, especially in family law, where Sharia-influenced rules may affect marriage, divorce, child custody, and inheritance.
Abortion
In the United Arab Emirates, abortion is heavily restricted by law.
In general, terminating a pregnancy is illegal and only allowed when the mother’s life is in danger or when the fetus has severe malformations incompatible with life.
In such cases, the procedure must usually occur before 120 days of pregnancy (around four months). The procedure also requires approval from specialized doctors, performance in authorized hospitals, and proper medical documentation. Outside these circumstances, abortion is prohibited.
For many years, sexual relations outside marriage were also criminalized, making unwanted pregnancy an even more sensitive issue.
Although some legal reforms were introduced in 2020, abortion remains highly restricted.
Illegal abortion can lead to prison sentences and fines for both the woman and anyone assisting the procedure.
Prostitution: between legal prohibition and social reality
Legally, prostitution is prohibited in the United Arab Emirates. Criminal law punishes both prostitution itself and related activities.
However, in practice, many observers and organizations indicate that there is a significant clandestine prostitution industry, especially in cities such as Dubai.
Unlike abolitionist models used in some European countries, the UAE legal system penalizes prostitution itself, meaning women engaged in prostitution may face legal penalties, which can make reporting abuse or exploitation more difficult.
Another related issue is human trafficking. The UAE government itself has acknowledged the existence of trafficking networks involving women for sexual exploitation.
In recent years, media and social networks have also reported on private parties organized by wealthy men, where women are hired to participate in sexual encounters.
Some stories have generated international controversy, particularly when cases of violence or abuse have been reported. One widely reported case involved a foreign woman found seriously injured at a construction site in Dubai after attending one of these parties.
These episodes have fueled debate about the existence of a hidden side behind the luxury and wealth of the city, where economic inequality and the vulnerability of some women may lead to situations of exploitation.
The real cost of living in the United Arab Emirates
Another important aspect is the cost of living. The UAE is often described as a tax haven, but when you start calculating expenses the situation can be more complex.
Although there is no personal income tax, the cost of living in cities like Dubai can be very high. Major expenses include high rents, private health insurance, transportation dependent on cars or taxis, expensive leisure activities.
When all these factors are added together, it is possible that the money saved in taxes ends up being spent on the cost of living.
In our case, for example, we already own a home in Portugal, which completely changes the economic equation.
In our opinion, the United Arab Emirates probably benefits mainly people with extremely high incomes.
Safety and experience as a woman
A friend who travels frequently to Dubai had told me that men there were very respectful toward women.
However, my personal experience was somewhat different.
For most of the trip I was with Diego, but in the few moments when I was alone in public spaces, several men approached me to talk, comment that I was beautiful, or try to start a conversation.
These were not serious incidents, but frequent enough to be noticeable.
This reflects something that also happens in many other countries in the region: street harassment toward foreign women is not uncommon.
Freedom of expression and political system
Another important aspect to understand about the United Arab Emirates is its political system and the limits on freedom of expression.
The country is not a democracy. The United Arab Emirates is a federal monarchy made up of seven emirates, each ruled by a royal family. Political power is concentrated in these ruling families, and there are no open democratic elections to choose the national government, as is the case in many Western countries.
In this context, freedom of expression is very limited. The country’s laws strongly restrict criticism of the government, political leaders, state institutions, or other topics considered sensitive. Publishing content that authorities interpret as harmful to the state can lead to fines, detention, or deportation, particularly for foreign residents.
There is also strict control over what is published on social media. During our stay, for example, rumors began circulating that the government was penalizing people who shared videos or images of the missiles or bombardments that were occurring in the region.
This created an uncomfortable feeling, because in addition to the concern about the security situation, there was also the fear of facing legal consequences simply for showing or commenting on what was happening.
For these reasons, international organizations often rank the United Arab Emirates among countries with very limited press freedom and freedom of expression, and many people — especially foreigners — prefer to avoid discussing political issues publicly.
Vegan food experience
Before booking both hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, we specifically asked whether there would be vegan options in the buffets. In both cases we were told that there would be many options and that, if we needed anything else, the chefs would be happy to prepare vegan dishes.
In practice, the reality was different. In the buffets there were almost no vegan options, and even dishes that would normally be vegan —such as plain rice or pasta— were not, because they were cooked with ghee (clarified butter).
At the hotel in Dubai, they at least tried to adapt: if we informed them when booking the restaurants, they would prepare a vegan dish for us when we arrived. At the hotel in Abu Dhabi, however, it was much more complicated. There was nothing available in the buffet and many chefs did not seem to clearly understand what vegan or plant-based meant. Several times they told us a dish was vegan, and later we discovered it contained milk, butter, cream, or eggs. Even though we spoke with a different chef every day and asked them to prepare something suitable, the situation did not improve during our stay.
This is surprising because both cities have fully vegan restaurants, and supermarkets also have sections dedicated to vegan products. For that reason, the lack of knowledge and adaptation in international hotels stands out. It can also be problematic not only for vegans, but for people with food allergies, intolerances, or specific dietary needs, such as those with celiac disease.
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After this trip, our conclusion about the United Arab Emirates is quite clear. Personally, it is not a destination I would recommend even for tourism. For the type of travel I enjoy, it simply does not offer anything particularly interesting beyond modern architecture, shopping, and luxury.
In addition, the trip turned out to be extremely expensive. A regional conflict complicated our return and forced us to stay longer than planned and purchase several additional flights. The final flight that allowed us to leave the country cost nearly 5,000 euros.
From the perspective of living in the United Arab Emirates or establishing tax residency, our conclusion is also negative.
Air pollution, the absence of public healthcare for foreigners, the very limited freedom of expression, the extremely harsh climate for much of the year, the lack of access to nature, and a social model that does not align with my values make it a place where I would not consider living.
More about the trip to the United Arab Emirates: