Comparison · checked 23 October 2026
Doha or Dubai? Two offers, side by side
Neither city taxes your salary, so the differences sit in rent, schools, everyday costs and the rules. Here they are side by side, each with its source and date. Dubai figures are in dirhams with riyals alongside.
The riyal is fixed at QAR 3.64 and the dirham at AED 3.6725 to the US dollar, so AED 1 is about QAR 0.99. The National: the dirham has been pegged at 3.6725 to the dollar since 1997, Nov 2024
What changes most
- Dubai adds 5% VAT on most spending. Qatar has no VAT yet. PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Qatar, taxes on personal income, reviewed 17 Sep 2026; u.ae: taxation, undated; Fiscal Requirements: Qatar VAT status, 27 Jul 2026
- A one bedroom flat in a prime area costs about the same in both. Two bedroom flats in Dubai’s best known areas cost more, but Dubai rents are falling: Savills says Dubai Marina apartment rents fell 12.8% in a year. Darna: median asking rents in Qatar, 10 Oct 2026; Bayut: Dubai rental market report, first half of 2026, updated 14 Oct 2026; Khaleej Times: rents in Dubai fall over 12%, Savills third quarter 2026, 13 Oct 2026
- Driving costs far less in Doha. Petrol is about half the price, and Dubai adds Salik road tolls of up to AED 6.30 a crossing. QNA: QatarEnergy fuel prices for October 2026; Gulf News: UAE petrol and diesel prices for October 2026, 30 Sep 2026; Khaleej Times: VAT on Salik, 22 May 2026
- Bringing your family needs a far higher salary in Doha: QAR 10,000, or QAR 6,000 with family housing, against AED 4,000 in Dubai. QNA: revised rules for family residence visas, 3 Dec 2023; u.ae: residence visa for family members, updated 28 Sep 2026
- The gratuity is the same for five years. After that Dubai pays 30 days a year against Qatar’s minimum of three weeks. Pinsent Masons: Qatar Labour Law, what employers need to know, 10 May 2023; dubai.ae: end of service gratuity, 2026
- Dubai swaps UK, US, Canadian, Irish, Australian and New Zealand licences. Qatar keeps its own list, which Qatar Living says is on the Ministry of Interior’s e services. We could not read it, so check yours and plan for a possible test. RTA: licences from 57 countries replaced with UAE ones, 20 Jan 2026; Gulf News: which countries are eligible for UAE driving licence exchange, updated 29 May 2026; Qatar Living: transferring your driving licence to Qatar, 3 Sep 2026
- The US asks its citizens to reconsider travel to both countries. The UK advises against neither. US State Department: Qatar travel advisory, 2 Mar 2026; US State Department: United Arab Emirates travel advisory, 29 Aug 2026; GOV.UK: Qatar travel advice, updated 19 Aug 2026; GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice, updated 24 Jul 2026
Rent and moving in
These are asking rents from listings, which can sit above what tenants finally sign for. Dubai rents are quoted by the year; we show the monthly equivalent in riyals.
| Topic | Doha | Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| One bedroom flat, prime waterfront | West Bay QAR 9,500 a month. The Pearl, Porto Arabia, QAR 7,500. Darna: median asking rents in Qatar, 10 Oct 2026 | Dubai Marina AED 103,000 a year, about QAR 8,500 a month. Downtown AED 133,000, about QAR 11,000. Bayut: Dubai rental market report, first half of 2026, updated 14 Oct 2026 |
| Two bedroom flat, prime waterfront | West Bay QAR 11,077 a month. The Pearl, Porto Arabia, QAR 11,500. Darna: median asking rents in Qatar, 10 Oct 2026 | Dubai Marina AED 157,000 a year, about QAR 13,000 a month. Downtown AED 223,000, about QAR 18,400. Bayut: Dubai rental market report, first half of 2026, updated 14 Oct 2026 |
| One bedroom flat, lower cost area | Al Mansoura QAR 5,500 a month. Al Sadd QAR 7,000. Darna: median asking rents in Qatar, 10 Oct 2026 | International City AED 61,000 a year, about QAR 5,000 a month. Jumeirah Village Circle AED 79,000, about QAR 6,500. Bayut: Dubai rental market report, first half of 2026, updated 14 Oct 2026 |
| Three bedroom villa | The Qatar median is QAR 12,250 a month. Al Waab runs QAR 10,500 to 15,000. Qatar Living: best neighbourhoods for expat families, Oct 2026; Qatar Living: renting in Al Waab, Oct 2026 | Arabian Ranches 3 AED 170,000 a year, about QAR 14,000 a month. Mirdif AED 142,000, about QAR 11,700. DAMAC Hills 2 AED 112,000, about QAR 9,300. Bayut: Dubai rental market report, first half of 2026, updated 14 Oct 2026 |
| Deposit and fees when you sign | For a home, the landlord may not ask for more than two months’ rent as a deposit. Registering a lease carries a QAR 250 fee under the 2026 rental law. Gulf Times: the landlord’s obligations, Oct 2019; The Peninsula: tenancy law amended, QAR 250 registration fee, Aug 2026 | Ejari registration costs AED 177.75 online. Gulf News puts the agent’s fee at about 5% of a year’s rent, at least AED 5,000, and the deposit at 5% unfurnished or 10% furnished. Dubai Land Department: register or renew an Ejari contract, updated 14 Oct 2026; Gulf News: extra costs when renting in Dubai, updated 6 Oct 2025 |
Bills
| Topic | Doha | Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity and water deposit | Kahramaa takes QAR 2,000 for a standard account: 1,200 for electricity and 800 for water. Qatar Living: setting up Kahramaa, 9 Aug 2026 | DEWA takes AED 2,000 for a flat or AED 4,000 for a villa, refundable, plus AED 155 to connect small meters. DEWA: move in service guide, updated 16 May 2026 |
| Electricity, water and cooling for a flat | About QAR 311 a month for an 85 m² flat, from Numbeo’s crowd figures. Summer bills run higher. Numbeo: cost of living in Doha, 2 Oct 2026 | Bayut estimates AED 650 to 750 a month for a 900 sq ft flat, cooling included. Tenants also pay a housing fee of 5% of the yearly rent through DEWA: about AED 417 a month on an AED 100,000 rent. Bayut: cost of living in Dubai, updated 29 Sep 2026; Bayut: Dubai Municipality housing fee, updated 15 Sep 2026 |
| Home internet | Vodafone GigaHome, 1 Gbps, QAR 350 a month. Ooredoo Home+ Go QAR 365. Qatar Living: home internet providers and plans, 10 Aug 2026 | du Home Starter, 1 Gbps, AED 272 a month before VAT on a 24 month contract. e& eLife Ultra Starter AED 476.70 with VAT, at 500 Mbps with TV. Bayut: Dubai internet packages, updated 21 Sep 2026; e&: eLife Ultra Starter plan, undated |
Getting around
| Topic | Doha | Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| Public transport | A metro journey costs QAR 2, and you never pay more than QAR 6 a day. Qatar Living: Doha Metro guide, 21 Jul 2026 | A 30 day Nol Silver pass costs AED 140 for one zone, AED 230 for two and AED 350 for all zones. Single trips cost AED 3 to 7.50. RTA: Nol fares, undated |
| Petrol and diesel, October 2026 | Super 95 QAR 2.10 a litre. Premium 91 QAR 1.95. Diesel QAR 2.05. QNA: QatarEnergy fuel prices for October 2026 | Special 95 AED 4.28 a litre, about QAR 4.24. Super 98 AED 4.40. E plus 91 AED 4.21. Diesel AED 4.80. Petrol rose about 16% from September and diesel 11.6%. Salik road tolls add AED 4.20 to 6.30 a crossing, including the 5% VAT added in June 2026. Gulf News: UAE petrol and diesel prices for October 2026, 30 Sep 2026; Khaleej Times: VAT on Salik, 22 May 2026 |
| Swapping your driving licence | Qatar swaps licences from countries on a Ministry of Interior list. Qatar Living says it is on the Ministry’s e services, which we could not read. Our driving licence guide has the details. Qatar Living: transferring your driving licence to Qatar, 3 Sep 2026 | The RTA swaps licences from 57 countries. Gulf News lists the UK, the US, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand among them, and not India, Pakistan or Bangladesh. It also lists Texas separately, so US drivers should check their state. RTA: licences from 57 countries replaced with UAE ones, 20 Jan 2026; Gulf News: which countries are eligible for UAE driving licence exchange, updated 29 May 2026 |
Schools
| Topic | Doha | Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| British curriculum fees, a year | About QAR 20,000 to 75,000. Doha College runs from about 39,000 in the early years to about 75,000 in the sixth form. Qatar Living: expat school fees in Doha, Jun 2026 | At schools rated Outstanding, AED 43,084 to 111,799, about QAR 42,700 to 110,800. A school rated Very Good, Winchester, charges AED 14,950 to 33,352. Fees are frozen for 2026 to 2027. Khaleej Times: fees at Outstanding Dubai schools for 2026 to 2027, 15 Jul 2026; Gulf News: affordable Dubai schools and their KHDA ratings, updated 6 Aug 2026; Dubai Media Office: KHDA confirms no fee increase, 22 May 2026 |
| School inspection ratings | Qatar Living says the Ministry of Education publishes private school evaluation results through its school search. Qatar Living: checking school ratings with the Ministry of Education, 6 Aug 2026 | KHDA publishes ratings. Full inspections of most established schools paused for two years and resumed in 2026 to 2027. Only full visits give a new rating, so check when a school was last rated. Khaleej Times: KHDA inspections return, 28 Sep 2026 |
Family, pay and the rules
| Topic | Doha | Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| Salary to bring your family | In the private sector, a technical or specialised job and at least QAR 10,000 a month, or QAR 6,000 with family housing in your contract. QNA: revised rules for family residence visas, 3 Dec 2023 | At least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. That is about QAR 4,000 or QAR 3,000. u.ae: residence visa for family members, updated 28 Sep 2026 |
| Health insurance | The law puts cover for staff, a husband or wife and up to three children under 18 on the employer. Qatar Living says some employers ask staff to share the family cost. APRIL, an insurer, says the law forbids it. Clyde & Co: Executive Regulations to the mandatory health insurance scheme, Sep 2022; Qatar Living: expat health insurance rules, Jul 2026; APRIL (an insurer): Qatar employer health insurance obligations, 17 Aug 2026 | Employers must insure their staff and may not take the cost from pay. You must insure family members your employer does not cover. Gulf News: does your employer have to pay for your health insurance, updated 14 Jul 2026 |
| Income tax and VAT | No tax on salaries. No VAT: a draft electronic invoicing law, approved by the Council of Ministers in May 2026, prepares the ground, with no start date. PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Qatar, taxes on personal income, reviewed 17 Sep 2026; Fiscal Requirements: Qatar VAT status, 27 Jul 2026 | No income tax on individuals. VAT is 5%. u.ae: taxation, undated |
| End of service gratuity | At least three weeks of basic pay for each year, once you complete a year. Pinsent Masons: Qatar Labour Law, what employers need to know, 10 May 2023 | 21 days of basic pay for each of the first five years, then 30 days a year. dubai.ae: end of service gratuity, 2026 |
| Buying alcohol for home | Residents need a Qatar Distribution Company permit: over 21, with a residence permit and a letter from your employer. QDC’s two help files give the minimum salary as QAR 2,500 and QAR 3,000. Qatar Distribution Company: help file, undated; Qatar Distribution Company: help file, undated | The retailer MMI says you need a free licence from the LicenseDXB app, at 21 or over. A law firm says no licence is now needed. Dubai brought back its 30% sales tax in January 2025. MMI: getting an alcohol licence in Dubai, 11 May 2026; Mondaq: Dubai alcohol laws, 1 Sep 2026; Bird & Bird: reinstatement of alcohol sales tax in Dubai, 2025 |
What governments advise
| Topic | Doha | Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| UK government | Does not advise against travel to Qatar. GOV.UK: Qatar travel advice, updated 19 Aug 2026 | Does not advise against travel to the UAE. Warns of Iranian strikes across the region since 8 July. GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice, updated 24 Jul 2026 |
| US government | Level 3: reconsider travel, because of the risk of armed conflict. US State Department: Qatar travel advisory, 2 Mar 2026 | Level 3: reconsider travel, because of terrorism and armed conflict. US State Department: United Arab Emirates travel advisory, 29 Aug 2026 |
Ask both employers
- Is housing provided, or is there an allowance? Does it cover rent in the area you would live in?
- Is there an education allowance for each child, and does it cover the fees at the schools you want?
- Is health insurance included for your husband or wife and children, or do you pay for them?
- What is the basic salary? The gratuity is worked out on basic pay, not allowances.
- Is a car or transport allowance included, and does it cover fuel, tolls and parking?
- How many flights home a year, and for whom?
- What happens if airspace closes or the travel advice changes?
Check the Doha offer in the package check. For the full list, see the 25 questions to ask before you sign.
How we keep this page current
We read every source on 23 October 2026 and show each one’s own date. Rents, fees and fuel prices move every month, so open the source before you decide. This page compares the two cities. It is not advice on which offer to take.