A British woman living in Abu Dhabi says the glamorous lifestyle frequently shown by influencers on social media can hide steep everyday costs, warning prospective migrants to be prepared for higher prices on routine items and rental arrangements.
Rachel Burns, 35, who moved from Newcastle to Abu Dhabi in 2021, told the Daily Mail that while the city offers beaches, clubs and luxury services, the day-to-day cost of living can exceed what she paid in the United Kingdom. Burns, a radiographer, said she pays about £12,700 a year in rent, which in the UAE commonly must be paid in six-month or annual lump sums rather than monthly instalments.
Burns described a series of additional housing-related charges that she said are common in Abu Dhabi, including a 5 percent commission fee on rent, a £600 deposit for air-conditioning and roughly £100 a month to run it. She said phone contracts, clothing and imported Western food items also cost more than in the UK. As an example, she cited packs of bacon priced as high as £14 and said the quality can be poor.
At the same time, Burns noted some expenses are lower than in Britain. She said fuel is significantly cheaper — she pays around £70 to fill the tank on her Jaguar XE, compared with roughly £250 a month for a smaller car when she lived in the UK — and that electricity and water bills can be about half the price her family pays in Britain, at around £80 a month.
Residential complexes in Abu Dhabi commonly provide on-site staff and amenities, which Burns said contribute to the appeal: security, groundskeepers, swimming pools, fitness centres, saunas and 24-hour maintenance teams. She also noted the availability of social events such as ladies’ nights and weekend brunch packages that can reduce the cost of socialising for younger expatriates.
Burns said living the influencer lifestyle comes with additional regulatory costs. She said an influencer permit and trade licence are required to monetise online activity in the UAE, and that those licences can cost from about £500 to £3,000. She also said filming in public can require permission from people appearing in videos, even if they are in the background.
Despite the expenses she described, Burns said she has no plans to leave Abu Dhabi and characterised her position as financially tight but sustainable. "I don't have a massive amount spare each month but you pay for the amazing lifestyle here," she told the Daily Mail. "I love it and won't be leaving anytime soon — but you have to be at the top of your game to live here sustainably."
Her account highlights the complex cost trade-offs facing expatriates in the United Arab Emirates, a tax-free destination that remains a major draw for international workers. Costs vary by neighbourhood, accommodation type and personal habits; lump-sum rent payments, residency rules and additional fees for services and permits are among the practical considerations prospective residents are advised to research before relocating.
The details in Burns’s interview were reported by the Daily Mail. UAE authorities and independent cost-of-living indices say expenses in Abu Dhabi and other emirates depend heavily on lifestyle, housing choices and whether an individual has family dependents or employer-subsidised benefits.