United Arab Emirates
Dubai
4.0 million people in the metro
The gist
A safe, tax-free, expat-majority city where most residents are transient professionals. Marriage intent is strong among long-term expats. The catch: the male-skewed ratio and the fact that most people eventually leave.
The score, in four parts
The pool
How many people you could realistically meet, and how balanced the odds are.
Singles 25 to 34
285,000
Never-married people in their late twenties and thirties, estimated
Never married
55% / 40%
Men / women age 25 to 34 who have never married
Balance
More single men than women
199 single men per 100 single women, age 25 to 34
First marriage
29 / 26
Median age for men / women
The scene
Whether people here actually get married, and how open the city is to someone like you.
Want to marry
65%
Single adults who say they want to marry
How fast people marry
20 per 1,000
Weddings per 1,000 unmarried adults each year
Marrying foreigners
20%
Marriages between a local and a foreigner
How people meet
Apps 6/10
Matchmaking and singles events 6/10
The costs
What dating, marrying, and raising a family costs here, against what people earn.
Date night
$120
Dinner for two, drinks, a movie
Family rent
$3,200/mo
Two incomes expected
A wedding
$30,000
Typical total cost
Household income
$60,000
Median per year
The reality
Safety, stability, and what daily life is like after the honeymoon phase.
Safety
Very safe streets
95 out of 100
Divorce
Elevated divorce rate
2 per 1,000 people a year
Healthcare
80/100
Quality of care
English
Learn the language
Everyday usability for a foreigner
The culture
Not scored. Whether these are features or mismatches depends on you.
- Religion shapes daily life
- Family approval matters
- Traditional roles common
- Living together first is rare
Marriage payment custom: Mahr customary (Islamic dower).
* Some numbers come from national statistics and might differ from the city itself. Last updated August 22, 2026.