If you intend to relocate to Dubai there are a number of key issues that are useful to get ready before you leave your home country:

Register your children in a school as soon as you can in advance. Due to Dubai’s ever increasing population and limited number of school spaces there are waiting lists for most schools. You can register online but we advise you to do this as soon as you can;

Legalise all educational certificates, marriage certificate & birth certificates of your children before you leave your home country. This is necessary for residency visa & other applications & is required by Dubai Courts to confirm the original documents are legitimate documents;

Familiarise yourself with the do’s and don’ts & dubai’s custom & culture so you are aware of the country before you arrive

Copy all important documents that you have and keep them in a safe place. It is easier to replace lost documents if you have copies of the originals.

If you are coming to Dubai to live on a permanent basis look at the table below and make sure the documents are prepared as required before ou leave your home country. This will save a lot of time and problems

A number of copies of your passport (photograph & visa pages)  

A number of passport sized photographs (4cm x 6cm in colour with white background) as these are required for almost all procedures. Always keep a few in your wallet.  

Original Examination Certificates & Certificates of Membership for any professional organisations. These are required if looking for a job & to assist with residency visa application. 

Marriage Certificate (get a copy of it attested by UAE Embassy in your home country) - this is required if you want to sponsor your spouse for a residency visa so they can stay in Dubai permanently.  

Photocopies of all the above documents in case the originals are lost or stolen.  

Birth Certificates of your children  

Immunisation records for your children if they need to apply for a school place.

 

A transfer certificate from your child’s previous school & school records. This is required to register your child in a school in Dubai.  

A credit card is required for hiring a car.  

Take out Health / Medical Insurance  

Cheque books are only issued from local banks to those who have a residency visa to stay in Dubai. As rent cheques are often paid up front (1 years post-dated cheques in advance) it is advisable to bring a cheque book.

 

Copy of your Tenancy Agreement for accommodation you rent in Dubai 

What you must do when you are a Resident:

You must change your driving licence to a UAE Driving Licence. If you don’t and you have a car accident the insurance is deemed invalid.

You can get a cheque book from a local bank account. (This is useful when paying rent as landlords usually ask for a year’s rent up front)

You can apply for credit cards and loans etc from local banks. (Mortgages are available for residents and non-residents)

You can apply for a medical card to receive subsidized health care and dental treatment.

You can get your own P.O.Box to receive mail

You can get a liquor licence to buy alcohol

New to Dubai