Dubai Vs. Abu Dhabi: How are they different?
Did you know that Dubai isn’t the capital of the United Arab Emirates? While most people know of Dubai, the UAE’s capital city and largest emirate is actually Abu Dhabi.
Now, what’s the difference between two of the country’s largest and most progressive cities?
If you prefer a busy city with a lot of options for leisure and entertainment, you’ll surely feel at home in Dubai. But if you’d rather be in a more relaxed city that still has its modern conveniences, Abu Dhabi would be the perfect fit.
To give you a better perspective, here’s a detailed comparison of both cities in terms of diversity and demographics, cost of living, attractions and career opportunities.
Diversity and Demographics in Dubai vs. Abu Dhabi
Dubai is the most populated city in the UAE while Abu Dhabi ranks third, according to recent statistics.
In terms of diversity, most of the UAE’s expat population is distributed between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, although Dubai has more expat residents than Abu Dhabi.
In a 2022 statistic data by Global Media Insight, Dubai had a population of 3,601,273 while Abu Dhabi only had a population of 1,567,000.
This means that Dubai is more densely populated than Abu Dhabi with both cities catering to both locals and expats.
In terms of diversity, the top nationalities in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi include Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Filipinos.
When you look at the geography of both cities, you’ll see that Dubai has a larger land area at 1,610 square kilometers as compared to Abu Dhabi with a land area of only 972 square kilometers.
Dubai is also located on the northern part of the country while Abu Dhabi is an hour drive away on the southern part.
Cost of Living in Dubai vs. Abu Dhabi
The cost of living in Dubai is 13.1% higher than Abu Dhabi including rent in both cities.
You would need at least AED 21,483 to live the lifestyle that you can enjoy in Abu Dhabi for only AED 19,000 every month.
Consumer, rent and restaurant prices are also significantly higher in Dubai than Abu Dhabi.
Using data from Numbeo, let’s break down some of the most common living expenses and how they fare in both cities:
| Type of Expense | Dubai | Abu Dhabi |
| Housing (Average Rent per Month) | ||
| 1-bedroom Apartment (City Center) | AED 7,496 | AED 5,604 |
| 1-bedroom Apartment (Outside City Center) | AED 4,322 | AED 4,327 |
| 3-bedroom Apartment (City Center) | AED 14,659 | AED 14,468 |
| 3-bedroom Apartment (Outside City Center) | AED 9,941 | AED 7,996 |
| Utilities (Average Monthly Bill) | ||
| Basic Utilities (Includes Electricity, Water, HVAC and Garbage) | AED 738 | AED 712 |
| Monthly Internet Plan (60 mbps or more) | AED 344 | AED 413 |
| Monthly Mobile Phone Plan (Includes calls and 10GB Data) | AED 231 | AED 226 |
| Transportation | ||
| One Way Ticket | AED 7 | AED 2 |
| Monthly Pass | AED 300 | AED 80 |
| Taxi Start | AED 12 | AED 12 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | AED 3 | AED 3 |
| Basic Groceries | ||
| Regular Milk (1 Liter) | AED 6 | AED 7 |
| White Rice (1 Kilogram) | AED 7 | AED 6 |
| Loaf of White Bread | AED 5 | AED 4 |
| Eggs (1 Dozen) | AED 11 | AED 10 |
| Chicken Filets (1 Kilogram) | AED 30 | AED 26 |
| Water (1.5 Liter Bottle) | AED 2 | AED 2 |
| Meals | ||
| Meal for One Person at an Average Restaurant | AED 40 | AED 47 |
| Three-Course Meal for Two People at a Mid-Range Restaurant | AED 250 | AED 280 |
| McDonalds Meal for One Person | AED 35 | AED 32 |
| Coke Bottle | AED 4 | AED 4 |
| Regular Cappuccino | AED 20 | AED 19 |
Looking at this data, you’ll see that most expenses are higher in Dubai, especially when it comes to monthly rental, utilities and transportation.
However, some groceries and expenses for dining out are higher in Abu Dhabi.
Real Estate in Dubai vs. Abu Dhabi
If you want to invest in property, you’ll pay more in Abu Dhabi as compared to Dubai if you’re buying an apartment.
However, you’ll be paying more for a villa in Dubai as compared to Abu Dhabi.
Real estate prices are generally more expensive in Dubai. But if you’re buying an apartment, Abu Dhabi is more expensive per square meter than Dubai:
| Type of Property | Dubai | Tokyo |
| Apartment in the City Center (Per Square Meter) | AED 15,005 | AED 17,103 |
| Apartment Outside the City Center (Per Square Meter) | AED 9,195 | AED 15,927 |
But if you’re looking to buy a villa, you can expect to pay AED 14,074 per square meter in Dubai but only AED 8,848 per square meter in Abu Dhabi.
Of course, there are factors that influence property prices in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. These include:
- The location of the property. Properties near the city center and those located in highly urbanized areas and exclusive villages tend to be more expensive than those outside the city center.
- Proximity to essential amenities. These include parks, shopping centers, hospitals, schools and other establishments that will make your life more convenient.
- Supply and demand. When there’s a high demand for property in an area, it tends to be more expensive than areas where there’s not a lot of development yet.
Attractions in Dubai vs. Abu Dhabi
Being a city with an economy driven mostly by tourism, Dubai has a more diverse list of tourist attractions covering almost every area that you can think of – from historical sites to modern museums.
Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, may not have as many tourist spots as Dubai. But it also has some very significant attractions that tourists have come to love.
Dubai is definitely a haven for tourists with everything that it has to offer. Are you on a budget? Dubai has some things that you can do for free.
Are you visiting during the summer? You’re covered with the best indoor activities in the city. Do you prefer to go out after sunset? Dubai has the best places to visit at night.
Are you more of a beach kind of traveler? You have the best public beaches in Dubai.
The city has no shortage of options when it comes to tourist attractions, and these are our top picks:
| Famous Landmarks in Dubai | Famous Resorts and Hotels in Dubai |
| Burj Khalifa Ain Dubai Museum of the Future Palm Jumeirah Dubai Opera Dubai Frame Dubai Creek Dubai Fountain | Atlantis the Palm Burj Al Arab Atlantis the Palm Atlantis the Royal Taj Exotica Resort and Spa Mandarin Oriental Raffles the Palm JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Palace Downtown |
| Famous Historical Sites in Dubai | Famous Shopping Centers in Dubai |
| Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood Deira Clock Tower Jumeirah Mosque Dubai Museum Hatta Heritage Village | The Dubai Mall Mall of the Emirates Dubai Marina Mall Gold Souk Spice Souk |
| Famous Theme Parks in Dubai | Famous Parks and Reserves in Dubai |
| Dubai Miracle Garden Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark Dubai Parks and Resorts Global Village Ski DubaiI MG Worlds of Adventures | Ras Al Khor Wildlife Reserve Al Qudra Lakes |
Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, may not have the most extensive list of tourist spots. But these attractions are also worth checking out:
| Famous Landmarks in Abu Dhabi | Famous Resorts and Hotels in Abu Dhabi |
| Al Bahr Towers Aldar Headquarters Burj Mohammed bin Rashid Capital Gate Building Etihad Towers Louvre Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Bridge Qasr Al Watan | Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Abu Dhabi W Abu Dhabi Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal Le Meridien Abu Dhabi |
| Famous Historical Sites in Abu Dhabi | Famous Shopping Centers in Abu Dhabi |
| Abrahamic Family House Al Jahili Fort Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Qasr Al Hosn Wahat Al Karama The Founder’s Memorial | Abu Dhabi mallMarina MallYas MallDalma MallThe Galleria Al Maryah Island |
| Famous Theme Parks in Abu Dhabi | Famous Parks and Reserves in Abu Dhabi |
| Ferrari World Yas Island Warner Bros. World Yas Waterworld Dreamland Aqua Park National Aquarium Abu Dhabi | Oasis GardenEmirates Park Zoo and ResortUmm Al Emarat ParkKhalifa ParkAlwathba Fossil Dunes |
Career Opportunities in Dubai vs. Abu Dhabi
Dubai ranked second in the best cities for expats around the world because of its ability to offer a lifestyle that satisfies both work and leisure.
Abu Dhabi ranked ninth on the same list highlighting the city’s bureaucracy and high quality healthcare system.
Both cities also has excellent career opportunities for expats, although Dubai has a more diverse selection of job offers.
Dubai also has a higher annual average base salary at AED 104,000 as compared to Abu Dhabi’s AED 99,000 per year.
To give you a better picture, we compare the average salaries for some of the top jobs in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi with data from Payscale:
| Dubai | Abu Dhabi | ||
| Accountant | AED 54,528 per year | Accountant | AED 54,242 per year |
| Project Manager | AED 208,944 per year | Civil Engineer | AED 60,200 per year |
| Civil Engineer | AED 63,965 per year | Mechanical Engineer | AED 60,490 per year |
| Operations Manager | AED 156,702 per year | Electrical Engineer | AED 82,766 per year |
| Mechanical Engineer | AED 66,998 per year | Registered Nurse | AED 96,894 per year |
| Business Development Manager | AED 148,942 per year | Project Manager | AED 241,397 per year |
| Finance Manager | AED 197,351 per year | Project Engineer | AED 107,247 per year |
Dubai vs. Abu Dhabi: How They Stack Up
After looking at different types of data, we reached the conclusion that Dubai fares better than Abu Dhabi when it comes to the general quality of living.
While Abu Dhabi is the country’s seat of government and it has experienced progress over the years, Dubai has established itself as a powerhouse in the UAE.
The decision whether to choose Dubai or Abu Dhabi will depend on your preferences. If you want to be in the middle of the action, then you’ll surely love being in the hustle and bustle of Dubai.
But if you want to be in a city that’s more relaxed and not as crowded, Abu Dhabi will surely impress you.