The UAE is one of the best places for digital nomads in the world and here's why
The country just ranked second in the world for digital nomads in 2025, edging out the likes of the Bahamas and Hungary and landing just behind Spain.
Not bad for a place where winter means 25°C and your local café serves camel milk lattes (trust us, they're delish).
Thanks to top-tier internet, excellent safety, sunshine all year round and a slew of forward-thinking visa policies, the UAE has become a remote work magnet. According to the VisaGuide Digital Nomad Visa Index, the country jumped from fourth in 2023 to second in 2025, proving it's not just chasing the trend – it's leading it.
Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai are now locked in as must-consider destinations for anyone living the laptop lifestyle. Abu Dhabi ranks as the world's #4 city for remote work, while Dubai is #1.
So why is the UAE so attractive for digital nomads?
Besides the obvious draws (luxury living, beach clubs, world-class coworking spaces), the UAE was one of the first to launch a remote work visa back in 2021.
This visa lets you live in the UAE while working for companies abroad – meaning you get all the perks of city life, without the local job hunt.
There's more:
Ultra-fast internet (because buffering is a buzzkill)
A diverse, multicultural expat community
Top-notch healthcare
Zero income tax
Next-level safety and stability
And then there's the lifestyle – from early morning runs along the Corniche to late-night shawarma runs in Reem and lazy Sundays on the beach in Saadiyat.
Digital nomadism is no longer niche
Fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, the remote work movement has gone mainstream. Nearly 40 million people now identify as digital nomads – that's more than the population of Canada.
By 2035, that number could balloon to 1 billion, thanks to 5G, smart tech and a global craving for flexible work-life balance.
And entrepreneurs and remote professionals are already flocking here – and leaders say the country is just getting started.
Whether you're a startup founder, freelance creative, or Zoom call warrior, the UAE is open and welcoming to digital nomads from around the globe.
With smart policies, next-gen infrastructure and a world-class lifestyle, this country isn't just on the map – it is the map.
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