Ten Steps For Moving To Dubai

1. Job assurance

Make sure that your company is reliable, you have a copy of the contract in hand and have discussed all the key details of your profile with your employers before you move to Dubai. Fraudsters do exist and its easy to get duped, so have all the confirmations in black and white and do a thorough background check of the company in advance.

2. Visa Process

Most companies will provide you with a temporary visit visa and arrange to get your residence visa once you move to the city. But in case your company does not provide a residence visa for your family, you can sponsor them once you get your formalities cleared.

3. Emirates ID card

A compulsory requirement for a permanent resident in the UAE. Currently, the government has made it compulsory to apply for the ID before you can apply for your residence visa. Even if that does not happen in your case, make sure you apply for it immediately, as the fine for not having an ID card is Dhs20 per day.

4. Phone connection

Dubai currently has two mobile operators, Etisalat and du. You can pick up a post-paid or pre-paid SIM card from either by depositing an application form along with your visa and passport copy. Both Etisalat and du have stores and counters across the city, and are also present at the airport.

5. Local Money

You will need UAE dirhams to travel by taxi and buy products at smaller grocery stores. While it is preferable to pick up dirhams before arriving in the UAE, you have currency exchanges in the airport, malls and public centres around the emirate. The UAE dirham is pegged to the US dollar, and the exchange rate stands at $1=Dhs3.67.

6. Accommodation

Dubai abounds in hotels and hotel apartments across a wide price range. So you will be pampered with choices, and have no shortage of options in this regard.

While looking for a more permanent home, apart from the rent, make sure to take into account the distance from your office (traffic jams are notorious), access to public transport, hospitals/clinics, malls/convenience stores, schools (if you have children) and other basic facilities.

7. Transport

In terms of public transport, the Dubai Metro is extremely convenient and has gradually become one of the most popular modes of transport for visitors and residents in the city. However, it only connects the main areas, and you may need to use buses or taxis to reach your exact location.

However, most migrants to the city begin the car-hunt soon after they land, since petrol is cheap, and you can get great deals on vehicles around the year.

8. School facilities

Despite new private schools springing up in the city, the best and well-known ones are usually filled quite quickly. Also, since schools in Dubai are based on a variety of international educational standards, year-terms vary wildly. So it is recommended that you start researching schools for your children beforehand.

9. Connect with local residents

Whether its your long-lost childhood friend, a far relative or the friend of a friend of a friend; make sure that you connect with someone living in Dubai. While most procedures in the emirate tend to be hassle-free, touching base with a local person can prove invaluable. If nothing else, you will at least have the comfort of a known face in a new place.

10. Come prepared for the heat

Dubai is a desert and it promises heat and more heat throughout the year (except between November and February). So ensure that you bring along the right clothes (make sure they are not too revealing), comfortable footwear and a cool mind so that your move into the city becomes a smooth one.