Country by country
| Country | Salary rule | Main yearly government costs |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | No single salary figure; your profession and employer must allow a family visa | Dependents fee of 400 SAR a month for each family member (4,800 SAR a year), plus iqama and insurance |
| UAE | Usually 4,000 AED a month, or 3,000 AED with housing from your employer | Entry permit, residence, Emirates ID and medical test: about 1,200 to 1,800 AED per adult when first issued, less for children (no medical test) |
| Kuwait | 800 KWD a month | Residence 20 KWD a year for wife and each child, plus health insurance 100 KWD a year each |
| Qatar | 10,000 QAR a month, or 6,000 QAR with family housing from your employer | Residence permit 500 QAR a year each, health card 100 QAR |
| Oman | Reported differently; check with the Royal Oman Police | Family joining visa once, resident card 5 OMR for each year |
| Bahrain | 400 BHD a month for wife and children | Residence permit 95 BHD per application, CPR card, and health insurance |
Fees change often. The figures above are the ones our calculators use; always confirm with the official portal (Absher, GDRFA/ICP, Kuwait MOI, Qatar MOI, ROP, LMRA) before you apply.
The costs people forget
- School fees are usually the biggest cost, often far more than all government fees together.
- Health insurance is required in most Gulf countries and its price depends on the plan.
- Housing: a family needs a bigger flat than a single worker.
- Flights home for the whole family in the holidays.
- Attestation of your marriage and birth certificates in your home country and at the embassy.
Work out your own costs
- Saudi Arabia: the iqama and dependents fee calculator.
- UAE: the family visa cost calculator for Dubai and the other emirates.
- Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain: the family residence fees calculator.
- A visit first? See the Saudi visit visa and Umrah cost calculator.