The Figures You Need to Know About Relocation to the UAE and Saudi Arabia

They say numbers don’t lie, so we have gathered all the most important facts and figures from 2025 to show why the UAE and Saudi Arabia are the destinations to watch. Here are the top data-led facts you need to know about both locations to understand why individuals, entrepreneurs and investors are considering relocation to the UAE and Saudi Arabia as a way to launch their next chapter.

The UAE

1. The UAE is home to over 1.2 million companies and 94% of them are owned by entrepreneurs.
2. The UAE startup scene has created 14 unicorns – including Careem, Kipoti, Souq and Dubizzle.
3. The UAE has more than 40 multidisciplinary freezones that enable 100% foreign ownership, tax exemptions and easy global market access.
4. The UAE is one of the world’s top destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI), with a 48% year-on-year growth rate that demonstrates strong investor confidence in the nation’s long-term economic stability.
5. UAE startups raised over $1 billion in venture capital in 2025.
6. The UAE welcomed 23 million hotel guests in just the first nine months of 2025 and the tourism sector contributed over $70 billion to the nation’s economy.
7. There are six different types of business licenses available in the UAE for those wishing to start a business – Commercial License, Industrial License, Professional License, Tourism License, E-Trader/Freelancer License and Agricultural & Artistic Licenses.
8. The UAE’s GDP per capita was over $52,000 in 2025, demonstrating its high purchasing power and premium marketing opportunities for new ventures.
9. Residents in the UAE pay 0% income tax and the nation’s corporate tax is one of the lowest in the world at only 9%.
10. The UAE has the lowest crime index in the world at just 14.8, making it one of the safest and most secure countries in which to build a new life with your family.

Saudi Arabia

1. There are 24 transformative mega-projects in Saudi’s ambitious Vision 2030 including NEOM, The Line, King Salman International Airport and the Diriyah Project.
2. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has assets of over $1 trillion, providing an unprecedented pool of capital funding for giga-projects and local investment programs.
3. Saudi Arabia had a record 114 venture capital deals in H1 2025 and grew its VC deployment to $860 million.
4. Saudi welcomed over 60 million visitors in the first half of 2025, with tourism revenue for the same period reported at over $13.6 billion.
5. The Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC) has financed 54 funds that have invested in over 800 startups and small businesses, across vital sectors such as e-commerce, fintech, healthcare, education technology, transportation and logistics.
6. Salaries for certain roles in Saudi Arabia can be up to 15% higher than in other destinations.
7. Saudi Arabia the largest economy in the Middle East and it is growing at an average of nearly 5% year-on-year thanks to heavy investments in areas like sustainability, workforce skill development and artificial intelligence.
8. There are 9 different business license types available for foreign investors in Saudi Arabia including an Industrial License, Service License, Commercial License and a Real Estate License.
9. For those wishing to live in the capital, Riyadh offers a wide range of gated, western-style communities to choose from, many of which include 24/7 security, schools, supermarkets and state of the art amenities like pools, gyms and tennis courts.
10. Residents in Saudi Arabia pay 0% personal income tax and there is a flat corporate tax rate of only 20% on foreign-owned businesses.

Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE hold unrivalled promise for those looking for a fresh start. Alongside attractive government incentives, modern infrastructure and strong economic outlooks, both countries have cultivated environments that are welcoming and engaging for people from all walks of life. The quality of lifestyle on offer can often exceed that of many home countries, which is why so many individuals and families are choosing not only to relocate, but to stay long term. Could 2026 be the year you consider relocating to the UAE or Saudi Arabia?

If you would like to find out more about UAE and Saudi Arabia relocation, or any of our relocation, immigration or corporate services across the Middle East, please reach out to our expert local teams today on info@eerme.com.