Cost of Living & Rights Hub
Know exactly where you stand in the UAE.
Rent increases, gratuity rules, visa costs, frozen bank accounts, school fees — the rules keep changing. This is a practical, current guide with free calculators so you always know your legal position, not just the market rumor.
Start with a calculator
Rent Increase Calculator
Check the maximum legal rent increase for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Sharjah.
Gratuity Calculator
Work out your end-of-service payout under the current UAE labour law.
Five things every UAE resident should understand
- Rent & Tenant Rights — know the exact legal cap on your renewal before you sign anything.
- Salary & End of Service — gratuity rules changed in 2022; most people still don’t know how it affects them.
- Visas & Residency — costs and rules for work, Golden, family, and freelance visas.
- Banking — why accounts get frozen, and how to avoid it.
- Schooling — budgeting for fee increases before they hit.
All guides reflect current UAE law as of July 2026 and are updated when rules change — including Abu Dhabi’s June 2026 rent freeze.
UAE Survival Guide 