Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, sits off the mainland on an island in the Arabian Gulf. Its focus on oil exports and commerce is reflected by the skyline’s modern towers and shopping mega centers such as Abu Dhabi and Marina malls. Beneath white-marble domes, the vast Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque features an immense carpet, crystal chandeliers and capacity for 41,000 worshipers.
Abu Dhabi is one of the safest cities in the world and a great place for families – The UAE is home to a wide range of universities, both public and private. UAE citizens can attend government institutions free of charge, and the UAE has one of the highest application participation rates in the world. The distance between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is only 150 KM.
Culture
A home to people from all different nationalities, the United Arab Emirates is a fantastic place to experience a variety of food, festivals, religions and traditions, and learn new languages living in peace and enjoying tolerance. Expats in Abu Dhabi can build their careers by networking with new people every day, and learn new ways of working. Bringing the past and future together; Abu Dhabi has formed an unprecedented partnership with France for cultural exchange; and the highlight of this would be the establishment of Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island representing the dynamic nature of the Arab world while celebrating the region’s vibrant multicultural heritage.
Learn more about culture and tourism in Abu Dhabi
Health Sector
Are you planning to move to Abu Dhabi?
We would like to answer the most common questions in your mine, to make your decision built on data, and here are some figures about health care sector in UAE and Abu Dhabi.
- What kind of health care system is there in Abu Dhabi and Dubai?
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a national health service, which is overseen by the Ministry of Health and Prevention. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have their own health authorities — Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) and Dubai Health Authority (DHA) — that shape the policies in their respective emirate.
- Are there private hospitals?
Yes. In fact, there are more private hospitals than government-funded hospitals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. These facilities tend to be state-of-the-art, and their role in everyday medical care in the UAE is growing. Most private medical centers offer a range of inpatient care (where hospital admission is required for treatment) and outpatient (where treatment is administered without requiring admission to hospital) clinics.
- Do you need health insurance if you intend to live there?
Yes, it’s a legal requirement for all residents in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to have private medical insurance. Your employer is responsible for arranging a minimum level of cover. However, you may want to upgrade your own cover to make it more comprehensive, or consider international private medical insurance for any family members living with you, if they’re not covered by the policy provided by your employer.
- What is the quality of care like in Abu Dhabi and Dubai?
Health care in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is high quality, at least matching the standards of the USA, UK and other high-earning Western countries. In addition, new hospitals and medical centers are being built in areas that most need them.
Non-Taxable Income
The UAE government offers tax-free income, allowing professionals to achieve high savings as well as building a strong financial future; this is one of the many reasons to live and work in Abu Dhabi. Higher salary potential and greater financial incentives set the pace for the 270,000 new jobs to be created in the UAE before 2021.
Learn more Abu Dhabi government services and information
High Employment Standards
Convenient working hours and high standards are part of the attraction of the UAE. Those who Live and work in Abu Dhabi work a maximum amount of eight hours a day or 48 hours per week, which is regulated by the UAE Labor Law, and which is reduced by two hours per day during Ramadan. Annual leave can range from 22-30 days per year.
Climate
The warm and sunny climate is enough of a reason to move to the UAE – the Emirates sees an average of 2,000 hours of sunshine every year, with 13 hours of sun a day in June, its brightest month. In the hottest month of the year, August’s average temperature of 36°C (96°F) and the coldest is January at 18°C (64°F).
Economy
Abu Dhabi is the center of political and industrial activities in the UAE, and due to its position as the capital of the Emirates, it is vital to the UAE’s flourishing economy, which is predicted to grow by 3.1% in 2021. Abu Dhabi accounts for two-thirds of the rapidly growing $multi-billion United Arab Emirates economy, and the potential for financial success attracts many works to the city.
Lifestyle
Home to The Corniche, a beautiful stretch of white sandy beaches, Abu Dhabi offers plenty of leisure activities for an active and fulfilling lifestyle, as well as excellent standards of healthcare and education. State of the art facilities and international events including the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the Volvo Ocean Race saw Abu Dhabi voted the happiest Arab Country in 2017.
Travel Opportunities
In addition to the sunshine and beaches of the UAE, those who live and work in Abu Dhabi also enjoy the opportunity to travel all over the world. From the Middle East to Addis Ababa, from India, Nepal and Sri Lanka to Turkey and Greece, a wealth of exciting trips around the globe are less than a four-hour flight away. Abu Dhabi offers job opportunities combined with unforgettable life experiences, hence it’s not surprising that so many engineers and doctors are moving their lives and careers there.
Educational Sector
When you want to move to Abu Dhabi, you will think how my children will continue their education, here you can find helpful information.
The Government of Abu Dhabi is continuously working to provide an education system that encompasses all ages and meets the needs of the national labor market in the future. The educational system includes public and private sectors, where the public education is fully financed by the government and is provided for free to all UAE nationals up to the university level.
Department of Education and Knowledge
The Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is responsible for overseeing, organizing and leading development initiatives in all sectors of education in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi from the foundation and secondary levels to higher education, technical, vocational and adult education.
ADEK supports education in the Emirate by partnering with key international institutions that provide high quality educational opportunities. The Department has already established partnerships in the higher education and school sectors. Partnerships include the Louis Grand School in Abu Dhabi, the Finnish Education System Administration, Vanderbilt University and others.
The Ministry of Education and the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi have announced the unification of the educational system at country level with to achieve their strategy 2021 for improving education and focusing on the development of an educational system that meets the needs of the national labor market.
Public Education in Abu Dhabi
Public education is compulsory for all UAE nationals and the Government is committed to mobilizing all its resources to provide free education to its citizens. Non-UAE nationals may attend government schools as fee-paying students. Government schools, including universities, are gender-segregated.
Kindergarten
Abu Dhabi Government is giving Children its utmost attention, and considering Children the corner stone and start point for society development.
Department of Education and knowledge has approved the “whole child philosophy” in the New School Model. The kindergarten in Abu Dhabi is using bilingual curriculum.
The kindergarten program in Abu Dhabi consists of two levels:
- First year (KG1): for children who will complete 4 years on December 31st of the Academic year
- Second year (KG2): for children who will complete 5 years on December 31st of the Academic year
Primary and Secondary
Public Education in Abu Dhabi comprises of three stages: Cycle 1 (Grades 1 to 5), Cycle 2 (Grades 6 to 9) and Cycle 3 (Grades 10 to 12). Children who have reached or will reach the age of five years and six months by October 1 are admitted to the first year of public education (Grade 1).
Language of Instruction
The language of instruction at public schools is Arabic, with English used for some science and technical subjects. The 10-Year Strategic Plan launched by the Department of Education and knowledge in 2009, places particular emphasis on enhancing the Arabic and English language skills of pupils in Abu Dhabi schools from kindergarten to high school.
The plan also seeks to raise the English language proficiency among teachers through the provision of specialized programmers. Moreover, ADEK has started the recruitment of native English-speaking teachers to teach English in government schools across Abu Dhabi.
Private Education in Abu Dhabi
The private sector has emerged as one of the key providers of education in the UAE in response to the education needs of expatriate communities. A greater number of expatriate students attend private schools although government schools may accept a certain number of them as fee-paying students.
There is a large network of private schools which comprises 181 private schools in Abu Dhabi, catering to more than 165,000 students who attend on a fee-paying basis. These schools offer a wide range of curricula including International Baccalaureate (IB), UAE Ministry of Education curriculum, British, American, French, Indian and Filipino syllabuses, among others. However, they must also offer core programs such as Islamic education, social studies and Arabic language.
On a national level, the sector serves more than 40 percent of the total number of students in the UAE and has recorded growth rates higher than the public sector. The Department of Education and Knowledge is also responsible for supervising and regulating the private sector education in Abu Dhabi through Irtiqaa. Parents can search for private schools that match their preferences using the School Guide.
Private School Fees
The Department of Education and Knowledge- ADEK is in charge of regulating private school fees in Abu Dhabi Emirate, and any hike in the existing fee structure should be approved by ADEK.
Schools are not allowed to charge more than ADEK approved fees or to charge for the entire year in one payment. As for the registration fee, parents have to pay it only when students join the school and the fee should be deducted from the tuition fees of that year. The registration fee is fixed at 5 percent of the annual tuition fee. It is also not allowed to charge for the re-registration of any student who is already enrolled at the school and intends to continue there for the following year.
