Is 35,000 AED a Good Salary in Dubai?
As a gaming content creator who has lived in Dubai for 5 years, I get asked this question a lot. New gamers moving to Dubai or looking for jobs here often wonder if 35,000 AED per month is enough to live well as a gamer in the city.
The short answer? Yes – 35,000 AED is considered an excellent salary in Dubai, even for passionate gamers. It puts you safely in the top 10-20% of incomes here. But Dubai is an expensive city, so budgeting wisely is still key.
Cost of Living in Dubai
Dubai has a notoriously high cost of living, especially for housing. The average monthly expense for a family of 4 is about 12,000 AED (Source):
| Expense | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Rent (1 bedroom) | 3,000 – 10,000 AED |
| Utilities | 2,000 – 5,000 AED |
| Groceries | 2,000 – 3,000 AED |
| Eating out | 1,500 – 2,500 AED |
As you can see, housing alone can cost 36,000 – 130,000 AED per year (Source). So budgeting is crucial even on a high Dubai salary.
Average Dubai Salaries
The average monthly salary across Dubai is 16,775 AED (Source). But gamers and tech professionals tend to make quite a bit more:
| Role | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Game Developer | 19,000 AED |
| Game Designer | 17,000 AED |
| Software Engineer | 24,000 AED |
As you can see, 35,000 AED per month positions you quite well compared to even top tech talent here. You‘d likely be in the top 10-15% of Dubai salaries.
Can You Live Well on 35,000 AED in Dubai?
In my experience as an avid gamer and content creator, 35,000 AED lets you live very comfortably here.
You can easily afford a nice 1-2 bedroom apartment, have plenty of spending money for games and gear, and still save a substantial amount. Healthcare and taxes are also negligible on this salary bracket.
However, to live lavishly with luxury cars, villas etc – you‘d probably need closer to ~60-80k per month. But for most gamers, 35k AED provides a great lifestyle.
Here‘s a sample monthly budget:
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Rent + Utilities | 7,000 AED |
| Commute | 800 AED |
| Groceries | 2,000 AED |
| Eating Out | 2,000 AED |
| Gaming Gear | 1,500 AED |
| Entertainment | 1,200 AED |
| Miscellaneous | 1,000 AED |
| **Total Costs** | **15,500 AED** |
| **Savings** | **19,500 AED** |
As you can see, you can save a substantial amount even after accounting for rent, food, entertainment and excellent speeds for gaming utilities.
Gaming Culture in Dubai
Dubai has a thriving community and culture for games and esports. Top titles like Fortnite, CS: GO, PUBG and new releases are widely popular here.
With a 35k salary, you can build a dream gaming setup with triple monitors, high FPS rigs, top accessories and enjoy Dubai‘s digital entertainment scene. Events like Comic Con, gaming tournaments and new release parties happen regularly too.
Or for variety, Dubai offers cool gaming cafes to hang out and test new hardware. From PC to console, gaming is mainstream for all ages rather than a niche here.
So in summary – as a gamer, content creator and esports fan, 35,000 AED lets you thrive in Dubai‘s gaming culture while still saving well over 50% of your income. It‘s more than enough for most gaming lifestyles and budgets.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
