Why the UAE: 7 reasons Russians choose the Emirates for life and business
Why do thousands of Russians choose the UAE over Turkey, Serbia or Armenia? Seven real advantages of living and doing business in the Emirates — with figures and comparisons.
When people talk about leaving Russia, the shortlist usually includes Turkey, Serbia, Armenia, Georgia and Kazakhstan. So why do more and more of them settle on the UAE — a more expensive and more distant country? Let us look at the substance.
1. Zero income tax
The UAE has no personal income tax, no capital gains tax and no inheritance tax. You earn 10,000 USD a month — and 10,000 USD is what you receive.
For comparison: personal income tax in Russia is 13–15%, in Germany up to 45%, in the United Kingdom up to 45%. Even the countries treated as tax havens next to the UAE — Turkey or Serbia — do charge income tax.
Corporate tax was introduced in 2023, but it is only 9% on profit above 375,000 AED (~102,000 USD).
2. The UAE is not an “unfriendly” country towards Russia
That matters enormously in the current climate. The UAE has not joined the Western sanctions, has not restricted transactions with Russian citizens and has not closed entry. You can open a bank account here, receive transfers and run an international business.
This is exactly why, in the first quarter of 2026 alone, the volume of Dubai property deals grew by 31% year on year and reached 252 billion AED (~68.6 billion USD) — according to the Dubai Land Department, Russians made a significant contribution to that growth.
3. Safety on a par with the best cities in the world
Dubai is among the ten safest cities in the world. Street crime is among the lowest on the planet. You can leave your phone on a café table and come back half an hour later — it will still be there. That is not an exaggeration, it is the everyday experience of thousands of expats.
For families with children this is one of the strongest arguments.
4. Setting up a business is simple
A company in the UAE can be opened in 7–14 working days. That is not an exaggeration: the procedure is digitised, it runs online, and specialists can start the process before you even land. Registration in a free zone starts at 20,000 AED. For comparison: registering a company in Russia takes 3–5 days, but getting it a workable bank account with international transactions is now impossible.
A company in Dubai means access to international markets, SWIFT transfers and a business reputation the whole world recognises.
5. A large Russian-speaking community
Tens of thousands of Russian-speaking expats live in Dubai. There are Russian schools, restaurants serving borsch and pelmeni, Russian-speaking doctors, lawyers and accountants. The Telegram channels of Dubai expats are living communities with thousands of members, where you can find the answer to any everyday question.
Settling in is markedly easier here than in European countries, where you may have no Russian-speaking neighbours at all.
6. Excellent infrastructure and quality of life
Dubai is one of the few cities in the world that has a beach, mountains, world-class shopping malls, restaurants of every cuisine, excellent roads and an airport with direct flights to anywhere on the planet — all at once. Healthcare is of international standard. The internet is among the fastest in the region.
DXB is one of the busiest airports in the world: you can fly anywhere from here without a connection.
7. Flexible, well-designed immigration programmes
Over the past three or four years the UAE has radically simplified its immigration law. Visas appeared for digital nomads, retirees and creative professionals. The ten-year golden visa became available to far more people.
So let us compare the most popular destinations for relocation from Russia against these key criteria:
| Criterion | UAE | Turkey | Serbia | Georgia |
| Income tax | 0% | 15–40% | 10–20% | 20% |
| Starting a business | 1–2 weeks | 1–3 weeks | 1–2 weeks | 1–3 days |
| Russian-speaking community | Very large | Large | Medium | Medium |
| Sanctions against Russia | No | No | No | No |
| Safety | Very high | Medium | High | High |
| Cost of living | High | Medium | Low | Low |
| International business | Very convenient | Harder | Harder | Harder |
The UAE is not the cheapest option. But it is a country where you pay for safety, tax efficiency, an international business reputation and a genuinely high quality of life. For entrepreneurs and professionals with a good income, that pays for itself many times over.