Moving to Dubai: A Step-by-Step Plan for Your First 90 Days

01Why the order of steps matters

Moving to Dubai is not hard, but many tasks depend on each other. You need a visa before you can get an Emirates ID. You need an Emirates ID for many bank accounts, a tenancy contract and a postpaid phone plan. You need a tenancy contract to set up water and power. If you do things in the wrong order, you wait in queues twice.

This guide gives you the order that works for most people who arrive on an employment visa or a family visa. Your case may differ a little. For example, if you are a business owner, a freelancer or a Golden Visa holder, some steps change. Use this page as your map, and open the full guide for each step.

Rules and fees change, so treat the numbers on any website, including ours, as a guide. Always check the official source before you pay. Our first-month checklist lets you tick off each step as you finish it.

02Before you fly

The more you do before you land, the calmer your first week will be. Here is what to settle at home.

• Your visa or entry permit. Most people get an employment visa through their employer, or a family visa through a sponsor who already lives here. Ask your employer or sponsor for the entry permit and read the rules for your case in our UAE visas guide.
• Passport validity. Check that your passport is valid for a long time. Many visas need at least six months of validity, and a new passport is slower to get when you are abroad.
• Documents. Keep digital and paper copies of your passport, photos, marriage certificate and birth certificates for children, and degree certificates. Some documents need to be attested (officially confirmed) in your home country. Ask your employer which ones you need.
• Health records. Bring vaccination records for children, and a short summary of any long-term treatment. Ask your doctor for a letter in English.
• Short stay. Book a hotel or serviced apartment for the first one to two weeks. Do not sign a one-year contract for a flat you have not seen. You can look at homes properly once you are here.
• Money. Keep a card that works abroad and some cash. Your UAE bank account may take a few weeks, so plan for that gap. See the money section below.
• Your pet and your car. Pets need paperwork and sometimes a permit before you travel. Read our family and pets guide early, because some steps take weeks.

03Your first week

In your first week, finish the steps that unlock everything else.

1. Medical fitness test and biometrics. Residents on most visa types must pass a medical test, and give fingerprints and a photo. Your employer or a typing centre will usually guide you. This starts your Emirates ID process.
2. Visa stamping or residence visa status. After the medical test, your residence visa is processed. Today this is often digital, but keep your documents with you.
3. Emirates ID. The card arrives by post or courier after your application. Until it arrives, your application receipt and passport are usually enough for simple tasks. Read the Emirates ID and UAE Pass guide.
4. A SIM card. Buy a prepaid SIM on arrival. You can switch to a postpaid plan later, once you have your Emirates ID. See our SIM card guide.
5. Get around. Buy a nol card for the Metro and buses, and download the RTA app. See our nol card guide.
6. Start the housing search. Visit areas on different days and at different times. Rush hour changes how a place feels. See best areas to live in Dubai.

04Your first month

In the first month you settle into a home and set up daily life.

Sign a home and register the contract

Choose a home that fits your budget and commute. Always use a registered agent, check the landlord's documents, and make sure the tenancy contract is registered with Ejari in Dubai. Our housing guide and Ejari guide explain the steps, the deposit and the cheques.

Set up water, power and internet

In Dubai, DEWA handles power and water. You will need your contract and Emirates ID. Internet comes from e& or du. Follow the steps in our utilities guide.

Open a bank account

A UAE account makes rent, salary and bills easier. Banks usually ask for your passport, visa, Emirates ID and a salary letter or contract. Compare fees and minimum balance rules. See our banking guide.

Health insurance

Health insurance is required in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and your employer usually pays for your own cover. Check what the plan covers for family and for pregnancy. See health insurance and healthcare.

Driving licence and car

If you plan to drive, check whether you can convert your home licence or must take lessons and tests. See the driving licence guide and transport guide. Many residents use the Metro, taxis and ride apps for the first months before they decide to buy a car.

05Days 30 to 90: make it feel like home

By day 30, the paperwork is mostly done. Now make the city feel like yours.

• Learn your area. Find the nearest supermarket, pharmacy, clinic and Metro or bus stop. Save their numbers.
• Check your budget. After one full month you know your real costs. Use the cost of living guide to compare and adjust.
• Schools and childcare. If you have children, start early. Popular schools have waiting lists. See the education guide.
• Make friends. A new city is easier with people. Read making friends in the UAE and join our free community.
• Know your rights and rules. Read the basics about your contract, working hours and end of service pay in our employment guide.
• Learn local customs. Dress, public behaviour and Ramadan etiquette are simple to follow once you know them. See our culture guide.

06Common mistakes to avoid

• Signing a long contract too fast. A cheap price in a bad area costs more in time and stress. Stay in a short-term place first if you can.
• Paying cash with no receipt. Use bank transfer, cheque or the official payment channels, and keep every receipt.
• Using an unregistered agent. Ask for the agent's RERA permit number, and check it before you pay.
• Forgetting renewals. Your visa, Emirates ID, insurance and car registration all expire. Put the dates in your phone the day you receive them.
• Trusting rumours. Fees, rules and processes change. Check the official website or app before you act on a tip from a group chat.
• Skipping insurance. One unplanned hospital visit can cost more than a year of cover.

07Money to keep ready in the first month

The first month costs more than a normal month, because many payments happen at once. Plan for these, and use the real figures from your employer, landlord and provider:

• Visa, medical test and Emirates ID costs, if your employer does not pay them.
• A hotel or short-term stay for the first days.
• A rent deposit, agent fee and the first rent payment or cheques.
• The DEWA deposit and internet set-up fees.
• Furniture and basic items for your home.
• A SIM, a nol card and taxi or ride-app trips.

Our cost of living guide has a small calculator you can use to turn this into a monthly budget. Ask your employer which of these costs they cover, because many cover visa and insurance for the employee.

FAQFrequently Asked Questions