Relocating to Dubai

Relocating to an entirely new land is a task easier said than done, especially when a family is involved. Moving to a different country and settling into a new life is a period of emotional and physical upheaval that must be tackled empathetically with the right help and guidance from friends, family, and established companies offering relocation services.

A new lifestyle indicates starting everything from scratch and taking care of especially the travel costs, visa procedures, health and medical tests, accommodation, getting accustomed to the culture, arranging for a driving licence, searching for the best school for your child, and much more. Employers offer help by funding the travel costs or arranging for a new home; however, this differs for employers and employees.

Residence Visa

Except for GCC nationals, citizens of other nationalities contemplating on working and residing in Dubai must apply for an employment visa, a mandatory legal document that allows foreign nationals to reside and work in the UAE. After arrival, acquiring a health card is essential, followed by a residence permit stamp on the passport and a labour card, which are crucial if you plan to work for the private sector.

The health card is a primary requisite for an expat to obtain a residence visa and labour card. This is done by undergoing medical and blood tests confirming that he/she is entitled to low-cost alternatives for health care services in Dubai. There are types of residence visas like the Green residence visa and the Golden visa, and one can select the types based on work, study, and other specific requirements.

For parents:
UAE expats can get a one-year renewable resident visa for their parents or in-laws. It is essential to prove that no one in the home country can take care of them. In case the parents are divorced, or one of them has deceased, the necessary documentary proof has to be produced.

For family (wife and children):
Families of expats (wife and children) residing outside the UAE should apply for an entry residence visa, and within 60 days after arrival under an entry permit, they must apply for a residence stamp. For the residence visa to remain valid, he/she should not travel outside the UAE for more than six months; however, there are exceptions to the rule.

For women sponsoring her family:
The rules for women sponsoring a family are slightly more stringent. A woman can sponsor her spouse and children if she holds a residence permit. Her profession needs to be related to the medical sector (like a doctor, nurse or other related professions) or be an engineer and teacher. Moreover, her monthly salary has set mandates. A single mother can sponsor her child, and she may have to provide extra documents.

For newborns:
Parents or guardians of newborns should apply for their residence visa within 120 days of her/his birth.

For maids or nannies:
The sponsor, commonly the head of the family, can apply for a residence visa for a maid or nanny who is over the age of 18. Unmarried men cannot apply for maid sponsorship. Only maids from India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and Indonesia can be sponsored.

There are two types of Residence Visas available for expats: Free Zone and Regular. Free Zone visas are issued if the company office is registered in free zones like Jebel Ali (JAFZA) or Dubai International Airport (DAFZA). It is important to remember that the free zone sponsors the expat and not the employer. Therefore, the expat can switch jobs within the free zone, giving him/her many opportunities to explore new career choices.

Regular visas are issued to those planning to work outside free zones. The employer will be the sponsor, limiting the expat's chance of seeking new avenues.

Getting a Driving License in Dubai

Citizens of key countries approved by the UAE can obtain their licence through a transfer procedure without undergoing training. Others can get their Emirati driving licences by undergoing training at an authorised school. They need to open a traffic file at a registered driving centre. Candidates will have to undergo a theory test, road test, and an eye test at a local optician. A passport (original & copy), residence permit copy, eye test certificate, current driving licence (original & copy), passport photo, and NOC from your sponsor are mandatory for obtaining the licence.

Renewal of the licence is a quick procedure at any RTA Traffic Office branch or mall outlet. Dubai also permits the renewal of licences and car registration of vehicles from other emirates.

TV & Satellite

TV is a prime source of entertainment and world news for an expat. Various international and local satellite channels are available in Dubai. There are a few terrestrial television channels also.

Getting a Bank Account

Expatriates can open a bank account if they provide proper, correctly filled documents, including a passport copy with a residence stamp, address proof, a NOC letter from the employer/sponsor, and an official identification document.

Salary Account: A salary account is mandatory for any expat working in Dubai. One needs to provide a NOC letter with salary details from the employer, a valid residence visa stamp, passport-sized photos, and other basic documents required by the bank.

Foreign Currency Account: Many expatriates send a part of their income to their home country. This necessitates opening a foreign currency account where the local Dirham is converted to widely used global currencies like dollars and pounds.

Telephone & Internet

The telecommunication industry is the most prominent service industry in Dubai. One of the largest market holders, Etisalat had built a great stronghold on the telecommunication industry until a few years back when it was the only service provider. Du and Al Yah Satellite Communications are set up to give tough competition to Etisalat by wooing customers through satellite telecom, fixed landlines, voice, data, video and content services either independently or under an agreement with Etisalat. Communication in Dubai is very cheap as local calls are free and there are a variety of options available to make international calls.

Internet charges depend upon the speed and companies. Choose the right one as per your requirements. Visit Etisalat or Du websites for more details.

How to Get a Mobile Phone Number:

Acquiring a mobile number in Dubai doesn't take much effort since not many formalities are necessary except for a passport copy with a residency stamp/proof.

International Calling:

Although Dubai is an expensive place to make International Calls, there are ways to save money using an international calling card, which will save up to 90% on international calls. Furthermore, UAE has granted VoIP licences to local Etisalat, Du, Yahsat and Thuraya, even though it has blocked international favourites like Skype and WhatsApp calls.

Water & Electricity

Accommodation