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Relocation to the UAE

Relocation services in Dubai: move to the UAE with confidence

Our relocation services in Dubai help professionals and employers make the move with clarity — from the job offer and employment visa to Emirates ID, housing, schools and your first month in the UAE.

Try the Relocation Calculator Plan my move
  • For professionals & employers
  • Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Sharjah
  • Family-friendly guidance

End-to-end support

Everything that matters when moving to Dubai for work

Relocating is exciting, but the details pile up. We bring the practical pieces together so you can focus on starting well.

Job placement

Introductions to employers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah across finance, technology, healthcare, engineering and hospitality.

Visa & Emirates ID

Plain-English guidance on each step, working alongside your employer's PRO team.

Housing & areas

Help choosing a neighbourhood for your commute and budget, and understanding tenancy registration.

Schooling

Curricula, admissions timelines and what to ask when shortlisting schools.

Family sponsorship

The documents to attest before you travel and the steps once you arrive.

Banking & salary

Opening an account, WPS salary transfer and reading a UAE package with allowances.

Visas, Emirates ID & licences

How to relocate to the UAE legally: the official steps

A summary of the main routes, checked against official UAE sources. Rules change, so always confirm the latest requirements through the linked government pages.

Dubai employment visa

Your employer obtains a MOHRE work permit and entry permit. Once you arrive, the medical test, Emirates ID and residence visa must be completed within 60 days of entry. Employers bear these costs.

ICP — issuing residency

Jobseeker visit visa

Eligible skilled professionals and recent graduates of top-ranked universities can enter for 60, 90 or 120 days to look for work without a sponsor. You cannot work on a visit visa.

u.ae — jobseeker visa

Golden Visa UAE

A 5- or 10-year renewable residence with no employer sponsor, for investors, entrepreneurs, specialised talent, outstanding students and others who meet category criteria.

u.ae — Golden Visa

Family sponsorship

Residents can sponsor a spouse and children with a salary of at least AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. Dependants need health insurance.

u.ae — family residence

Driving licence

Licences from eligible countries can be exchanged once you are resident, in the emirate that issued your visa. Others need lessons and a test.

RTA — licence exchange

Health insurance

Health cover is mandatory for employees in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and employers must provide it for private-sector staff when issuing or renewing residence.

u.ae — health insurance

It is illegal to work on a visit or tourist visa, paid or unpaid. Recruitment and visa costs are the employer's responsibility — never pay a recruiter for a job. How to spot recruitment scams.

Your first month

The first 30 days in Dubai: a practical checklist

The order matters: most things depend on your Emirates ID, and your lease depends on your bank account. Here is the sequence we walk new arrivals through.

Week 1

Arrive & register

  • Enter on your employment entry permit and keep your passport copy handy
  • Buy a local SIM card using your passport
  • Attend the medical fitness test your employer books
  • Complete Emirates ID biometrics at an ICP service centre
Week 2

Bank & base

  • Open a UAE bank account for your salary (usually needs Emirates ID or application)
  • Shortlist areas and view homes; ask about the number of rent cheques
  • Confirm your health insurance card with HR
  • Download the UAE PASS, ICP and your emirate's government apps
Weeks 3–4

Settle in

  • Sign your lease and register it (Ejari in Dubai, Tawtheeq in Abu Dhabi)
  • Connect electricity and water — DEWA in Dubai, SEWA in Sharjah
  • Start your driving licence exchange or lessons
  • Begin family sponsorship and school applications if relevant

Tenancy contracts in Dubai are registered through Ejari with the Dubai Land Department; you need a registered contract for utilities and family sponsorship.

Cost of living in Dubai

Is the offer right for your life in the UAE?

There is no personal income tax on salaries, but rent, school fees and car costs vary widely by area. Housing is usually the biggest line, and landlords often ask for rent in one to four cheques up front, plus a security deposit.

  • Compare your current salary with a UAE offer
  • Factor in housing, schooling, transport and 5% VAT on most spending
  • See the difference between Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah
Open the UAE Relocation Calculator

Neighbourhood guide

Where to live in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah

A starting point for your search. Pick your area around your office and school run first — traffic at peak times matters more than distance on a map.

Browse property with our partner
Dubai

  • Dubai Marina & JLT

    Waterfront towers with metro and tram links; JLT is often a little more affordable than the Marina.

  • Downtown & Business Bay

    Central apartments a short commute from DIFC and major offices.

  • Dubai Hills Estate

    Newer master community with apartments, villas, parks and schools nearby.

  • Arabian Ranches & Mirdif

    Established villa communities that suit families wanting space and gardens.

Abu Dhabi

  • Al Reem Island

    High-rise island living close to the capital's main business districts.

  • Saadiyat & Yas Island

    Beach, cultural district and leisure-led communities with family homes.

  • Khalifa City

    Villa-focused suburb convenient for the airport and mainland offices.

Sharjah

  • Al Majaz & Al Nahda

    Popular with professionals who commute to Dubai and want lower rents.

  • Aljada & Muwaileh

    Newer developments near universities and main commuter roads.

Looking for a home in the UAE? Our real estate partner lists rental and purchase options across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, from apartments near the metro to family villas.

Visit our property partner

Your move, step by step

From offer to first day in the UAE

  1. 01

    Plan

    We discuss your goals, family needs and budget, and check offers with the Relocation Calculator.

  2. 02

    Place

    We match you with suitable roles at UAE employers and support you through interviews and offer.

  3. 03

    Prepare

    Guidance on visa, Emirates ID, document attestation, schooling and housing before you fly.

  4. 04

    Settle

    Help with banking, driving licence, family sponsorship and your first 30 days.

For employers

Relocation support that helps international hires stay

Bringing talent into the UAE is an investment. We combine recruitment with practical relocation guidance, so new joiners and their families settle quickly and focus on performing.

For senior international hires, pair relocation with our executive search in Dubai. For grading, allowances and mobility policy, speak to our HR consultancy team.

International hiring

Access talent from abroad for hard-to-fill roles.

Faster start dates

Well-prepared hires arrive ready to work sooner.

Settled families

Families who settle well support retention.

Compliant process

Aligned with UAE labour and immigration rules.

FAQ

Relocating to Dubai: your questions answered

General guidance only — immigration rules change, so always confirm current requirements with the relevant UAE authorities.

Still have questions?

Our consultants answer within one business day.

Ask our team

For most people, yes. The usual route is a Dubai employment visa sponsored by your employer, which is why we start with job placement. Other routes exist — a jobseeker visit visa for eligible graduates and skilled professionals, freelance permits, company set-up or the Golden Visa — and we help you judge which fits before you commit.

Your employer obtains a MOHRE work permit and an entry permit for employment. After you arrive, the employer arranges your medical fitness test, Emirates ID biometrics and residence visa. ICP requires residency to be issued within 60 days of entry, or delay fines apply. Under UAE labour law, recruitment and residency costs are borne by the employer.

The Golden Visa is a 5- or 10-year renewable residence that does not need an employer sponsor. Categories include investors, entrepreneurs, people with exceptional talent or specialised skills, outstanding students and humanitarian pioneers. Each category has its own criteria, which change from time to time, so confirm your eligibility on the official UAE Government or ICP channels.

Yes, if you hold a valid residence visa and meet the income rule. The UAE Government portal sets the minimum at a salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus employer-provided accommodation. You will typically need attested marriage and birth certificates, a tenancy contract and health insurance for each dependant, so attest documents before you leave home.

Start with your office location. DIFC and Downtown workers often choose Business Bay or Downtown; Dubai Marina, JLT and Dubai Hills suit many professionals; families look at villa communities such as Arabian Ranches or Mirdif. Some people commute from Sharjah for lower rents. In Abu Dhabi, Al Reem Island, Saadiyat and Khalifa City are common choices.

Holders of licences from a list of eligible countries can exchange them for a UAE licence once they have a residence visa, in the emirate that issued the visa. Others need training and a driving test. The eligible-country list is set by the licensing authority — in Dubai that is the RTA — so check the current list for your nationality.

After a residence visa is cancelled there is a grace period to find a new sponsor or leave. ICP lists 30 days for most categories, 90 days for skilled workers at levels 1–3 and 180 days for Golden and Green residence holders. Overstaying beyond the grace period incurs fines, so plan early.

Use our free UAE Relocation Calculator. It compares your expected take-home pay with typical rent, schooling, transport and everyday costs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, so you can see whether an offer supports the lifestyle you want — and negotiate housing or schooling allowances if it does not.

Related resources

Get ready for your move to the Gulf

Jobs in Dubai & the UAE

Search curated vacancies before you relocate — free for candidates.
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CV writing for UAE employers

A recruiter-written CV that follows Gulf conventions and passes ATS screening.
Learn more

Career coaching

Interview practice and salary negotiation for your UAE offer.
Learn more

Plan your move

Ready to relocate to Dubai or Abu Dhabi?

Tell us about your profession, target timeline and family situation — or the roles you need to fill from abroad. Our team will reply within one business day.

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