Moving to Abu Dhabi as a tech professional
Short answer
We don't cover Abu Dhabi in detail yet. It has the same UAE visa system and no income tax, and it's about 1.5 hours from Dubai by car.
Updated Oct 2026
Same as Dubai
- UAE visa rules
- No income tax
- English at work
What's different
- Fewer tech jobs
- More government and energy employers
- Rent a little lower
Living and working
- About 1.5 hours to Dubai
- Some people live in one city and work in the other
Get an email when we add Abu Dhabi
Questions about Abu Dhabi
Is Abu Dhabi cheaper than Dubai?
A little, mostly for rent. In Dubai one person spends about AED 9,150 a month; expect Abu Dhabi to be slightly less. We'll publish Abu Dhabi numbers when we add the city.
Can I live in Dubai and work in Abu Dhabi?
Some people do, but the drive is about 1.5 hours each way. Most people live in the city where they work, or pick an area on the Dubai side near the border.
Is the work visa the same?
Yes. Both are in the UAE, so the employment, green and golden visas work the same way. The steps and the residence permit are federal; the fees and the office you deal with can differ by emirate.