Dubai vs Singapore (Which City is Better?) Lifestyle, Visas, Costs, Taxes, Weather, etc
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 มี.ค. 2022
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Dubai and Singapore are both amazing cities that have lots to offer.
But if we compare them, which would be my first choice? How do they compare when it comes to architecture, infrastructure, costs, immigration and visas, taxes, safety, etc?
Singapore is considered to be the best city in the world, by many criteria. It's called the city in the garden. It's incredibly clean, so clean that chewing gums are not allowed! It is also extremely safe, and quite pricy.
Needles to say it's one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Dubai is got extremely popular in the last few years. It's a hub for wealthy expats and entrepreneurs. It offers ZERO taxes, and is quite easy to immigrate too. Like Singapore it is also quite clean, safe and expensive.
So, how do these two amazing cities compare? Which one is better? Which one should you consider? Let's find out!
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Singapore: Greenery, Urbanism, Walkability, Food
Dubai: Car, Tax, Immigration
Seems like Dubai is trying to become Singapore. I always felt like Dubai is in construction while Singapore is pretty much completed.
Singapore is not completed. It is still progressing but is in her diminishing return stage. Singapore need to create a new product curve as a country to be way ahead of other countries.
@@Tungku66 T5, RTL, MRT expansion, 2nd CBD, deep tunnel sewerage etc is not diminishing
lol y’all have to see the other emirates, comparing a state and a whole country is irrelevant
@@NewmaticKe T5 = T1+T2+T3+T4 + (The Jewel) , Tuas MEGAport. MRT just tap in and out simply using your Visa/Mastercard. Drink water straight from the tap. .....don't forget Greenery. Haze at other's mercy, just like desert sand storm - beyond our control.
@@drowningfish75 Yes need to compare UAE vs SG. Not Dubai city vs Singapore city. UAE is not just Dubai. Also need to consider Cultural and Historical background.
Extremely balanced and nuanced comparison. Loved it. 👍
Glad to hear!
Very accurate assessment, a few things to add from someone who has recently lived in both (currently in Singapore):
Singapore - Pro: lots of cute areas and neighbourhoods with heritage architecture (shophouses) with cafes etc. which I miss in Dubai. The local culture is more prominent, more history and traditions. Travel is amazing. People are generally very polite and friendly. Everything is super functional and efficient, especially government run processes (set up process super easy), public transport and infrastructure is excellent. I had a great experience with the work culture (although this varies between companies but I prefer it here to when I worked in Dubai). Depends on what you do but in general I think jobs and career progression is better in Singapore, given it is a more developed market with industries that have been around for decades. Often lots of interesting travel opportunities with jobs. Great place for families, with excellent schools (albeit expensive). Food and taxis are great value which significantly reduces cost of living, so saving potential is high in Singapore (this applies to Dubai as well). The city is very lush with lots of well planned integration with greenery. Strong innovation culture.
Cons of Singapore: it is a rules based society, both in terms of the law and culturally. All the things that make it a great place to live also make it a frustrating place to live. Small but frequent irritations in your day to day (e.g. poor customer service in restaurants due to inflexibility is a common complaint for many expats! computer says no attitude is common). There's often one rule for expats and one rule for locals, which creates an 'us and them' divide and can feel unwelcoming and I think is a significant reason why people eventually leave. It's super hard to get jobs and visas at the moment so job opportunities are harder to land for expats in Singapore (especially in you're not a c-suite exec with a chunk of family money). The weather and the feeling of being on an island gets claustrophobic, most people i know tend to leave every 4-6 weeks to travel (but then of course you're only a short plane ride to thailand/indonesia/malaysia). Even though the city is green, you definitely don't feel like you're in nature and the little that exists isn't particularly pleasant to walk around due to the heat/humidity. I definitely miss walking in Singapore, more so than I did in Dubai (I lived in the marina). The reputation that it is boring is true... it's nice to live but a little flat, more family bbqs and dinner parties than going out party vibes. City is dead by 10pm in most areas. Dubai is more 'buzzy' with a more energetic vibe. This is for entertainment, as well as sports events, and general entrepreneurial spirit. Having said that, Dubai can feel flashy and materialistic (I don't get the appeal of mega malls - they all have the same shops with the same stuff, not a meaningful way to spend your time. It's more of a convenience than a unique selling point IMO).
All things considered, I think I enjoyed my day to day and living in Dubai more (I'm european so it's also closer to home) and we're definitely considering moving back. However, on a more long term basis Singapore is better for the career and is also a pretty good place to live :)
Thank you for your input
Thanks for the insights
Hello Michael. Great channel do you have any videos covering the Isle of Man?
Singapore and Singapore always
Excellent explanation and gives us a better vision of these 2 amazing cities.
Glad you think so!
Which one would you rather go for and why? :)
@@OffshoreCitizen With all the information you have provided over the last several months we would set up in UAE. A bit of a pain in the beginning but for business and clarity it would be our choice.
Great summary, coming from a Singaporean who lived in Dubai for a year.
Enjoyed this video!
Happy to hear that!
What's your vote?
@@OffshoreCitizen Singapore!
Excellent review. Singapore is one of my favourite cities in the world to visit.
Thank you, Jay!
What makes it your favorite? :)
@@OffshoreCitizen #1 airport hands down!, ease of transport, nice parks, clean, good shopping, amazing variety of food, nice hotels, beautifully designed city. I live in Perth and most of our flights transit through Singapore. I always take the opportunity to stay a few days whenever possible.
@@OffshoreCitizen I like dubai
I prefer Singapore than Dubai for so many reasons.
Thanks Michael. Can you provide a vlog regarding which banks in Dubai you would recommend?
Hey, Louie
Have you watched this video th-cam.com/video/MtNak3wwK3Y/w-d-xo.html ?
Another great video! I visited Singapore in 2019, lovely city but the humidity and haze was a bit much.
Thank you!
What about Dubai? Any plans to visit?
@@OffshoreCitizen hopefully soon, I will contact you soon for a consultation
Dubai and Singapore are my two favorite cities worldwide. But all said and done if Singapore had zero personal income tax I would prefer Singapore, and if Dubai implemented a 22% personal income tax I would prefer Singapore. Dubai has the edge simply because of taxes and ease of immigration.
Ease of migration, I won’t call it an advantage. When they let anyone in, without any barrier or minimum wage. Those people service you and me everyday.. I will just leave it there..
@@jayteng7340 advantage in Dubai is no tax, good quality of life and safety- no robbery, stabbings. does your country offer that? I will just leave it there....
Good insight
Thank you! ☺️
What would you choose and why?
Great info, as always! Could you maybe make a video on those "inadvertently get in trouble with the law" things you mentioned? I'm aware of the obvious no drinking, no having babies if unmarried, no same sex, no criticizing the govt etc. stuff, but curious about the "inadvertently" aspect. Basically, some kind of do's & don'ts if you don't want to get in trouble in Dubai would be awesome. Thanks for putting out so much great content!
Most of those you mentioned actually aren't illegal but yes we can see about making some content on this
@@OffshoreCitizen thanks, that'd be great )
Thank you, Michael
You’re welcome, Vimal!
How did you like the video? Any thoughts?
@@OffshoreCitizen Yeah, It was an awesome comparison and I think I'll choose Dubai Over Singapore. If I can have a second residency of Schengen countries alongside Dubai PR then Dubai is the perfect place to live for 6 months in winter and form a company.
@@OffshoreCitizen what do you think about tech startups in Dubai? Can they compete with Silicon Valley?
Thanks! Have there been any recent changes to Defi? I see that I cannot now use Celcius now? AND some great news... we've been approved for stage 1 - D7 for Portugal. Only took a month for approval.
Awesome congrats!
Congratulations 🎈🎉🍾 I’m so happy for you. I keep reading on expats forums about the long waits and annoying bureaucracy , so it’s nice that it took only one month.
By the way , what is Defi ?
@@hellophoenix DeFi stands for "decentralized finance"
Singapore is my Favorite County 🥰❤️
Living in Dubai but Singapore the best country for me ❤️😆
Don't forget to mention that the marina bay in Singapore has a massive casino the reason they build it in the first place.
You do not need to live inside in Dubai in Summer - if you leave. 2-4 months out of the country are perfect for a second residence. And short enough not to have tax problems and be able to do it with tourist / non residence visas. For someone with either enough money or - a job that allows mobility - well, there is an easy solution. Heck, you can even be here for a sort of summer holiday, or drop in for a week or two and just handle it if you need business meetings and such. But really, it is not a real problem. I actually love the warm water in summer here. Just - nice.
I totally agree with you , if you could go for 3 to 5 months to Europe you won’t become a tax resident and enjoy the 0 tax of Dubai and the great life style
same thought
Someone posted this 2 yrs ago on one of your videos: Isle of Many you will need to pay for a virtual office, power of attorney to "manager" etc. The annual fee works out to just under 1000 euro per year. $1K EURO is cheap for having a Corp. in a zero/low tax "country"... Would one have to have a UK passport also? or is Canadian OK....?
Isle of Man is way more than 1k/yr
No, you don't need a UK passport
What do you think of Abu Dhabi and the other emirates that are not Dubai?
Good question maybe I'll make a video in the future
I am still confused which according to you is the best place to work.
Question for you Michael: would it be advantageous to have an offshore holding company that owns all the shares in a CDN corp....... we would pay CDN Corporate taxes on Net after expenses but then the remaining funds would be sent offshore where I paid zero personal tax.. A) If i was a CDN Citizen B) If i was a UK Citizen OR is that called tax evasion?
Your personal tax is owed to where you have personal tax residency, not just where you have an offshore account.
Complex question, best to book a call to discuss how it applies to you and what the best approach is but as a general rule it doesn't usually make sense to have a foreign company own a Canadian company
Great info Michael. Yeah, i simply love Singapore. Been there many times when living in Malaysia. I love Sentosa beach, love walking in the city, it is full of life and extremely safe. But that haze is nasty. Very harmful to your lungs as it comes from the palm trees burnings in Indonesia. This is a very old political issue. There are days that even schools close and the government tells people to stay indoors. Same happens in Malaysia. I got days that it is so strong u can't see nothing. You can smell the ashes, like same smell of an open fireplace.
Did they make Sentosa "beach" larger? Because as of 10 years ago it wasn't really a beach.
Haze is no longer
@@NewmaticKe never say never , we don't know when Indonesia decided to start burning again .....
Can you do a video about Brazil vs Malaysia vs South Africa vs South Korea? All of the countries have massive potential to keep growing. However, you are not able to get a citizenship in Malaysia or South Korea.
Which of these countries do you think can become the next Singapore or UAE (South Korea is the most developed followed by Malaysia)?
I don't think either of them will be they are fundamentally different places
@@OffshoreCitizen I think you can develop a playlist of UAE compared to other top countries around the world.
@@OffshoreCitizen Is there a big difference between the seven parts of the UAE in terms of lifestyle?
Both amazing cities BUT I would choose Kuala Lumpur, it's best of both Dubai and Singapore all in one city, very laid back, great for families, great for a night out, BEST for food, pretty cheap and high quality of life
Have you seen some of our videla on Malaysia? 😁
@@OffshoreCitizen yes I've been watching your videos for almost a year now, great info and great content. Thanks
only the traffic is horrible.
Is it possible to open a brokerage account in Singapore as a non resident and non citizen of Singapore??
Yes depending where you're from
In my fictional world, both cities are great
Why didn’t Dubai go underground? I can imagine some absolutely 22nd architecture, tropical forests, a really futuristic city.
its expensive as fuck
its base is sand how
Haze? That haze came from Indonesia where they keep burning the palm oil plantation after harvesting yearly. The previous leader just ignore complaints from Singapore. Eversince the new leader came into power, situation has improved.
Walk ability is underrated
haha how so? 😄
Dubai is an open city particularly compared with other Arab states but no where near as free as in Singapore.
Dubai also has an an appalling human rights record regards it OFW particularly those working int he Construction industry and domestic workers .
Personally , I don't drink Alcohol but in Dubai, it is not freely and readily available as it is in Singapore.
Relationships are forbidden in Dubai, men and woman can be together in the context of marriage. Singapore no issues at all dating is normal like many countries in the world.
Singapore is tropically diverse ..beautiful. Dubai, just desert.
I have felt safe and secure in both countries, however, I find the vibe more chilled and relaxed, with the diverse cultures in Singapore better integrated in society.
Both are great hubs for international travel.
Finally , if your a foodie Singapore is a foodies paradise!
Don't get me wrong I like Dubai but but I prefer Singapore.
One thing that hasn’t been mentioned is that in both countries you could face death penalty for anything drug-related.
I’m not necessarily talking about actively pursuing recreational stuff, that’s often illegal in many places (although not as severely punished).
But let’s say you need a specific type of medication, or you have been indirectly exposed to said drugs in another country and then land in DUB or SG: the authorities can take a blood test and still convict you with extremely harsh sentences.
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Great comparison between the 2 cities. Both have disadvantages and advantages and you were fair to both of them
I’ve always wondered why Singapore 🇸🇬 doesn’t carry that deep seated anger towards it like Dubai where most of the negative views are baseless
Agreed, I think it's mainly religious bias unfortunately especially post 9/11 you got a lot of anti middle eastern propaganda that tainted people's views of the reality
Why must compare...?
Each has its own unique and beauty.
In my fictional world, Malaysia surpasses Singapore in every area because they have Boboiboy and Ejen Ali
My impression from afar, just looking at the broad demographics perspective, Dubai's proper comparison city is Hong Kong, but not Hong Kong today, rather Hong Kong in the 1980s because a similar dagger hangs over the heads of residents in terms of uncertainty. As a monarchy, Dubai has a long term uncertainty similar to the pending transfer of jurisdictional power that loomed over Hong Kong in the 1980s.
There was little clarity about what would happen for Hong Kong when it was no longer a Crown Colony and that uncertainty was greater when the Republic of China was no longer the internationally recognized government of greater China.
The Emerati leadership has been quite forward thinking and progressive, especially for a government in a region which has for the most part been dominated by autocratic strongmen, but the fact that the families in charge of the Emirates in the current generation of leaders have been quite progressive, is no guarantee that despite a successful development regime, the open and progressive policies adopted in recent years will continue.
While success would typically improve the prospects of stability for policies the risk with a monarchy is a greater degree of uncertainty than is typically associated with a long standing republic.
True
Yeah that's a fair criticism though the fact that the Crown Prince is already deeply involved in the running of the government it's probably more like Singapore under Lee Kwan Yew
Moved to Dubai a few months ago. Very different to NZ where I am used to lots of greenery and nature. Lots to do but the single women are ice cold / frigid
Are you getting used to it?
Why did you move?
Where do you get the most pretty girls? Ahaha also i am interested in what you said about having a base of living in Kuala Lumpur. I was in thaliland last month and malayidia border was closed, but KL is in my travel bucket list
Malaysian here. The border is opening on April 1st!
Depends on your taste in girls, tons of eastern European girls go to Dubai it's probably the escort capital of the world but depends what you're after
@@liyentan112 hope it's not an april fool joke! Ahah kidding, i will plan a visit then!
In both cities, you get eventually bored. So you need to plan to move to next city after saving some substancial tax
You got bored in both cities?
@@OffshoreCitizen eventually
@@Kinai89 So Which City Do You Not Eventually Get Bored In?
@@Wilonda Wakanda
singapore is the ideal place if you had a college degree and a job that pays high! it’s more green and very well planned as a city towards more sustainable lifestyle etc. Disagree with your video assessment saying you don’t like the water in singapore lmfao dude what are you saying??? yes it could be your personal preference on water but singapore water is not hard water it’s safe drinking water on regular taps just like back in states. Singapore also scores high on safety and public transport facilities. Food is quite cheap and easily cosmopolitan with a huge selection both cuisine wise and cost wise. However, it’s post covid extremely expensive and difficult to maintain a decent lifestyle lifestyle unless you earn in the higher bracket plus saving money is a fine balance. Also singapore government has now passed laws to restrict foreign employment in the city state, many foreigners have left and only high paying jobs are accepted now and taxation is still considered competitive for now, there is no capital gains tax in the city state, though now they are raising GST from 7% to 9% and also are in the planning stages to introduce a wealth tax on higher income individuals. Corporate taxes are also going up next year.
Dubai can actually take over singapore if sheik Maktoom wants to present the world with a long term vision to make dubai a smart city hub with connectivity, green energy and sustainable development of the city, greening the city like how saudi arabia is doing now; attracting both of expats and high skills working community- MNC’S could be asked to set up regional HQ’s or global HQ’s there! open up Crypto investments and financial services sector along with tech and start-up ecosystem it will do a damn good job to become the best city state on the planet
In the long run 20 years + Dubai will be the best in the world the vision the money the projects tells you dubai haves more will to be number 1
Is that true that Singapore's government is more socially liberal than the UAE's, but that Emirati expatriates are more forward-thinking and liberal than Singaporeans?
Depends on in what area, difficult to generalize large populations
@@OffshoreCitizen Thanks! Great video btw
新加坡🇸🇬
Singapore is much more attractive than Dubai, would love to live there.....
Singapore is Nothing Infront Of Dubai 👍👍
Definitely Dubai is no comparison
Which do you prefer?
All these videos comparing Singapore and Dubai is missing one key point that underlies all other points: Singapore is a authoritarian democracy while Dubai is a theocratic dictatorship.
Being fundamentally a democracy, it is both in the Singapore government's interest and mandate to ensure the long term sustainability, happiness, and growth of its *CITIZENRY* (the voting bloc). This "forces" it to focus on policies such as education, ethics/morality, family wellness, employment and employability, etc.
Being a theocratic dictatorship, the Dubai (and UAE at large) government has no reason to develop and maintain liberal values such as equity, equality, and liberty. As such, their system is designed to serve the rich and powerful, and the masses and foreign talents serve only to bring to reality the visions (some say fantasies) of the government elites.
Singapore is the best 🇸🇬🇸🇬🇸🇬
What do you like about Singapore?
bro i loce dubai but the laws there are um... interesting. once they fix all that shit id move there straifht away 😭😭😭
Talk about the laws is highly overrated for the most part it's not that different from being in the US
Haze in Singapore all the time ? Hmmm 🤔, since when 😆😆😆
Dubai is great as a tourist with excellent hardware. However, you must be willing to put up third world software… it’s like living in a top world city paying first world prices and served by third world people. It’s like the frustration of calling offshore call center 24/7.. if one day they can fix that issue, it would be the greatest city on the planet….
I used to live in Dubai and I am a Singaporean. Dubai is nice no doubt. B I have to disagree with you in certain issues.
Regarding entertainment, Singapore is not too bad. As for the green, I do not Dubai’s because their is too fake. In act I prefer the natural green in Jordan. Singaporeans are also more inclusive unlike the Arabs where only mostly mingle among themselves. Singapore has a very diverse and rich cultures from different races. When come to immigration department in Dubai, officials there are mostly very arrogant. Getting a visa for my adopted daughter was such an hassle even though we have legally adopted her in Indonesia. Lastly, when Dubai rains it was like hell. This is mainly due to the lack of sewage system in Dubai. Can you imagine human waste floating around!
I am glad I read your comment.
its almost impossible to get a EP in Singapore :(
No huoguo in Dubai 🥺
inclusive ? Try to be a western person in Singapore. Being insulted on the street and people making you understand that you always be a 2nd class citizen. Tried to get PR, but nowadays they prefer to give it to Malaysian hairdressers than whites with college degrees. Yeah that's racism at his finest. Another example, when a white guy critisises SIA he is the worse scum on earth, but when a Singaporean critizes the airline then it's OK. please. All in all you never really feel welcome, always an outcast. In the expat world people often say 21st century infrastructure but 19th century mentality... anyway, the rest is good, good quality of life and magnificent greenery everywhere. modern, clean etc. But I think in the end it will remain very Asian as they don't really want anyone else a bit like Japan etc. As for Dubai it's not as pretty, but at least it feels truly international.
Apples and Oranges. Singaporeans find Dubai a completely foreign place, and vice versa. The only 'similar' characteristic is that both cities went through a lot of economic development in recent decades, but that's like saying that if two people grew up in the same decade it automatically makes them comparable - eventually places will develop economically sooner or later (or never). Also the diversity in the local culture - Singapore is way more multicultural, and it's deep rooted multiculturalism, they even have something called Singlish (pidgin English mixed with the four main languages there and a few other dialects, that all the locals there can speak along with their own individual 'mother tongue' languages and standard English). It's also the most religiously diverse country in the World (source: Pew research)
singapore is better 100 times
What do you think makes Singapore better?
Dubai is much better. You have houses with backyards and Singapore is talking about raising tax.
Have you been to both of the cities? How were the experiences?
@@OffshoreCitizen No. I look at rent in both and Singapore just really small apartments very expensive.
@@emmanueljames2487 haha. That's so narrow. It's true houses and cars are more expensive but Singapore has great food, green parks, cycling routes, excellent public transport, excellent education etc.
Plz speak more clearly thx mumbling sometimes ….
DUBAI is the best.
Both are just too damn hot 😂🥴
Haha what do you think is a fitting alternative?
@@OffshoreCitizen If I weren’t so sensitive to heat, I’d pick Singapore easily. I’d just have to suck it up and hopefully get used to it 🤷🏾♂️
@@OffshoreCitizen Alaska, Greenland?
Singapore is Nothing Infront Of Dubai 👍👍
U sure indian
Opinion of straight white male. Pretty irrevelant, you should also mention if women, LGBT and others immigrants from Asia and Africa prefer Dubaï over Singapore.
his opinion matters more than your 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️, who shouldn't even exist with proper education and social environment
As a singaporean I feel Dubai is better than Singapore
Interesting. Why do you feel so? :)
@@OffshoreCitizen because I have been to Dubai the atmosphere, the attractions like Burj Khalifa, Burj al Arab,dessert etc are awesome the food is great there’s a lot to explore compared to Singapore which is a small island
@@krisnanstravelvlogscomings3893
when did you go ?