Before moving to the UAE: Jobs, visas, schools and more

So you have decided to move to the UAE – congratulations!

You are one of many expats who have chosen to leave their home country for a new life in the Emirates. As an ever-evolving nation that puts people first, more are deciding to move here and also stay longer.

But emigrating to a new country can be daunting. This is where we can help.

At the forefront of daily news, The National keeps UAE residents up to date with everything you need to know about life in the sunshine.

We have condensed all that information into useful handbooks to get you started.

So make sure you're up to speed with everything below before grabbing your passport (and check it's not about to expire!)

Work and visas

If you are moving to the UAE because you have accepted a new job then congratulations again! Your employer will sort out your visa for you as well as pay for it. It will involve a medical check, including a blood test, X-ray and fingerprinting, and will need renewing before it expires.

Here's our all-encompassing guide to what kinds of visas are available and who can apply.

If you are the spouse of someone who has been offered a job you will be sponsored by them, meaning you will get a residence visa attached to theirs. Read more about visa sponsorship here.

If you will be looking for work when you come over, then you will need to apply for a job seeker's visa. The minimum education level should be a bachelor's degree and you will be allowed to stay for up to 120 days. A deposit is required, as well as a fee for the visa.

The UAE offers a range of other visas, including:

Golden Visa: The UAE's long-term residence visa is valid for 10 years. Golden Visas can be applied for under a range of different categories with specific requirements that are listed in full on the ICA website or the GDFRA in Dubai.

Green Visa: Similar to the Golden Visa but valid for five years and available to residents who earn more than Dh15,000 a month.

Remote Working Visa: This allows you to work remotely from the UAE and is valid for one year.

Schools

There are hundreds of great schools to choose from in the UAE, so your children will be well looked after. The UAE offers private schools that are for-profit or non-profit, as well as public schools (these are free for Emiratis but foreign nationals must pay for schooling).

Dubai has a plethora of outstanding schools but they can sometimes be costly so we have put together a list of the better, more affordable schools.

Abu Dhabi is also home to top-tier education options. Here are the nine best-ranked private schools in the emirate.

Here's our guide to how to enrol your child in school in the Emirates.

Some parents choose to live very close to their children's school so for around seven months of the year they can walk to class in the morning. But be aware it may be too hot to do the same at pickup. Temperatures can reach 50ºC in the summer, and even during the height of winter they can still be around 26ºC with no cloud cover when the school bell rings.

Booking a hotel apartment

Things move fast in the UAE, and home hunting is one of them. Before you arrive you may want to arrange accommodation in a serviced apartment. It takes the stress out of the move and allows you to live somewhere furnished until you can find a home of your own.

Often, renters will move into a new place just a week after they find it so anything you see before you arrive is unlikely to stay available for long. Reduce stress by starting the search for your home once you are here. The bonus is you will have a better idea of which area is good for schools, traffic and the commute to work.

There are plenty of hotels in the UAE that offer long-stay options that you can book before you move or on arrival.

Guests can book a room at Hyde Hotel in Business Bay for six months at a special price. Photo: Hyde Hotel
Ibis Al Barsha recently underwent renovation. Photo: Ibis Al Barsha
Guests staying at Anantara Eastern Mangroves can get a discount at the property's spa. Photo: Anantara Eastern Mangroves
Rooms at the funky Studio One Hotel feature pop art prints and bold graphics. Photo: Studio One Hotel
The swimming pool at Jumeirah Living Marina Gate. Photo: Jumeirah

Salary and savings

Before accepting a job in the UAE, it's wise to research the market and plan your finances based on your salary.

Moving can be expensive, and many expats say they do not start saving money until a year after moving to the UAE, so make sure you have some savings to call on in the meantime.

In the UAE you should aim to save an amount that corresponds with the tax band you had in your home country, experts recommend.

Living expenses should be no more than 70 per cent of income and it is good practice to keep a month’s salary as cash for miscellaneous expenses.

The National has put together a comprehensive salary guide for 2023 below.

Pets

Many people bring their furry friends on their new adventure, but transporting pets can be stressful and costly (in the thousands of dirhams).

Dogs must be registered, vaccinated and microchipped with Dubai or Abu Dhabi Municipality’s vet services section. Any other animals being imported into the UAE require an import permit and health certificate.

Here's how to move your pet to the UAE.

Documentation

It is worth your while to get various documents verified while still in your home country.

Getting university degrees and diplomas as well as marriage and birth certificates notarised and stamped by the UAE embassy at home is much easier than after you have moved. Once you are in the Emirates and employers ask to check your certificates, they will see UAE officials have already verified them.

This avoids a lengthy and costly exercise having things couriered back and forth.

See you next time …

We hope this has helped you prepare for the big move. Make sure to check out our next guide: Living in the UAE: Just Arrived

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Company profile

Company: Rent Your Wardrobe

Date started: May 2021

Founder: Mamta Arora

Based: Dubai

Sector: Clothes rental subscription

Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded

Story%20behind%20the%20UAE%20flag

%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20flag%20was%20first%20unveiled%20on%20December%202%2C%201971%2C%20the%20day%20the%20UAE%20was%20formed.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIt%20was%20designed%20by%20Abdullah%20Mohammed%20Al%20Maainah%2C%2019%2C%20an%20Emirati%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMr%20Al%20Maainah%20said%20in%20an%20interview%20with%20%3Cem%3EThe%20National%3C%2Fem%3E%20in%202011%20he%20chose%20the%20colours%20for%20local%20reasons.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20black%20represents%20the%20oil%20riches%20that%20transformed%20the%20UAE%2C%20green%20stands%20for%20fertility%20and%20the%20red%20and%20white%20colours%20were%20drawn%20from%20those%20found%20in%20existing%20emirate%20flags.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

France and Covid-19

France orders 250 million masks to ease shortage

Cannes Film Festival postponed due to coronavirus outbreak

France opens housing for infected homeless people

While you're here

Damien McElroy: It's too early to say who will win the vaccine hurdle race

Mustafa Alrawi: To get the 'jab' done, governments must show patience and empathy

Editorial: The fight against Covid-19 should be guided by science

Getting there

The flights

Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.

The stay

Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net

Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama

Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com

England World Cup squad

Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Other workplace saving schemes

The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.

SPEC SHEET

Display: 6.8" edge quad-HD dynamic Amoled 2X, Infinity-O, 3088 x 1440, 500ppi, HDR10 , 120Hz

Processor: 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/Exynos 2200, 8-core

Memory: 8/12GB RAM

Storage: 128/256/512GB/1TB

Platform: Android 12

Main camera: quad 12MP ultra-wide f/2.2, 108MP wide f/1.8, 10MP telephoto f/4.9, 10MP telephoto 2.4; Space Zoom up to 100x, auto HDR, expert RAW

Video: 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, full-HD@60fps, HD@30fps, super slo-mo@960fps

Front camera: 40MP f/2.2

Battery: 5000mAh, fast wireless charging 2.0 Wireless PowerShare

Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC

I/O: USB-C

SIM: single nano, or nano and SIM, nano and nano, eSIM/nano and nano

Colours: burgundy, green, phantom black, phantom white, graphite, sky blue, red

Price: Dh4,699 for 128GB, Dh5,099 for 256GB, Dh5,499 for 512GB; 1TB unavailable in the UAE

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

How to avoid crypto fraud

Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

While you're here

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Sholto Byrnes: Time for an uninhibited China to lead Asia

Damien McElroy: BRI has changed the rules of the game

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

How to tell if your child is being bullied at school

Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety

Shows signs of depression or isolation

Ability to sleep well diminishes

Academic performance begins to deteriorate

Changes in eating habits

Struggles to concentrate

Refuses to go to school

Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings

Begins to use language they do not normally use

Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

MORE FROM ED HUSAIN: The UAE-Israel accord is a win for every Muslim

Before moving to the UAE: Jobs, visas, schools and more

Everything you need to know before getting on your flight to the Emirates

Work and visas

Schools

Booking a hotel apartment

Salary and savings

Pets

Documentation

See you next time …

Living in...

On Women's Day

On Women's Day

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SPEC&nbsp;SHEET

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

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UAE%20medallists%20at%20Asian%20Games%202023

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

How to tell if your child is being bullied at school

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

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Company profile

SPEC SHEET