Moving to Dubai from UK?

Thinking of moving to Dubai from UK? If yes then Prospr has brought a comprehensive guide that helps you understand all the essential steps of moving. From getting a residency visa to moving all your home content to Dubai, everything is covered in this guide. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s find out what things you need to figure out before moving from UK to Dubai.

Step 1 – Apply for a UAE residency visa

The very first thing you need to do before making your move to Dubai is to get a UAE visa. Depending on your purpose of moving, you have many different kinds of visa options. Let’s explore some different types of visas for British Resident

• 5-year Green UAE Visa

This new kind of residency visa is issued to skilled workers, business partners, freelancers and investors. You can live in Dubai for up to 5 years and the best thing is you won’t need a sponsor. When you apply for a Green UAE visa, you need to get a 60-day work permit first. Once you have this permit, you will be allowed to enter the UAE and then complete the remaining steps of your residency visa application process.

• 10-year Residency Golden UAE Visa

If you are moving to Dubai  and you plan to settle down in the UAE for a long time? If yes, then you should make the most of your Golden UAE visa. It is designed for executives, investors, scientists, students and entrepreneurs who meet specific criteria. This visa is also available to an investor who makes significant investments in local real estate or other investments.

Other kinds of UAE visas for the British are work visas, study visas, and retirement visas.

How to apply?

You can apply for a UAE visa through your sponsor in Dubai or directly at the UAE embassy in London.

Step 2-Understand the Cost of Living in Dubai

Before relocating to Dubai from the UK, it’s always a good idea to know everything about the cost of living in the UAE. you must know how much you need to spend on housing, healthcare, education, and other aspects of life.

Cost of living Dubai vs London

Category	Dubai (UAE)	London (UK)
Housing	AED 7,000 – 14,000/month	£1,200 – £3,000/month
Food	AED 800 – 2,000/month	£350 – £500/month
Transportation	AED 500 – 800/month	£100 – £300/month
Utilities	AED 600 – 1000/month	£100 – £300/month
Healthcare	AED 600 – 1,600/month	£100 – £400/month
Education	AED 3,000 – 12000/month	£500 – £2,100/month
Entertainment	AED 1,000 – 4,000/month	£200 – £600/month
Clothing	AED 300 – 900/month	£50 – £150/month
Taxes	No income tax, VAT 5%	Income tax, VAT 20%

Now this quick comparison demonstrates the Dubai living cost is lower than London. With no income tax, you can keep all the money you make to yourself and enjoy a better lifestyle.

On average you spend £80 in the UK for a three-course meal for two people. So, if you are living in Dubai, you will spend only £56. A monthly public transport pass is available for £173 in the UK while you only spend £63 in Dubai. The monthly utility cost is £300 in the UK and you pay half in Dubai.

Read about why Brits are moving from UK to Dubai to avoid tax?

If you rent a one-bedroom apartment in Dubai, you will pay approximately £1400 whereas the same apartment will cost you £2200 in the UK. What if you want to buy a home in Dubai? In that case, you’ll find out that Dubai is 75 percent cheaper than London. The price of a city apartment per square meter is around £3,200 in Dubai while the same apartment will cost £13,000 in London.

Step 3-Managing healthcare while moving to Dubai

As far as the healthcare system is concerned after moving to Dubai, it comprises public and private healthcare systems. As a foreigner, you need to rely on the private healthcare system as public healthcare is specifically for Emirati nationals. The good news is that every expat is eligible for some form of private medical coverage. Normally, your employer provides you with this coverage. But if you are not employed then you will have to purchase a private health insurance policy in Dubai.

Step 4-Opening a bank account after moving to Dubai

As you are moving to Duabi from UK, you also need to move your finances there. In other words, you need a bank account through which you can handle day-to-day transactions. As a non-citizen, you can easily open a bank account in Dubai. But there are limited saving account options for you. Some banks may have high minimum balance requirements.

You need to provide some documents and verify your identity to open a bank account in Dubai. Requirements change from one bank to another. But here are some common documents required by UAE banks:

• A copy of your visa
• Your Emirates ID card
• A letter or salary certificate from a visa sponsor, your employer
• Proof of address
• Your recent utility bill or bank statements

Sometimes, banks ask you to provide them with a reference letter from your previous bank.

In case you don’t want to open a bank account in Dubai right away then certain digital banking options are also available such as:

• Yap
• Wiz
• Neo
• MBank UAE
• Liv Ban

Read the guide about moving to Dubai from the UK with a dog

Step 5-Finding a job in Dubai

If you don’t have a job but have a work permit in Dubai then you need to start job hunting in Dubai. Although the cost of living in Dubai is less than in the UK, without a job it will be difficult to survive here. And besides, you don’t want to consume all your savings, do you?

Wondering what will be your moving to Dubai cost? Check your moving to Dubai cost with our cost calculator

The good news is there are tons of job sites available to start your job search in Dubai. Here is a list:

• Khaleej Time Jobs
• LinkedIn
• com
• Indeed
• Glassdoor
• Gulf Talent

Another good news is you won’t have to pay income tax on your salary in Dubai.

Step 6-Arranging accommodation

You need a place to live in Dubai. You can either rent a home or buy it. When you are planning for moving to Dubai UAE, it’s always a good idea to decide about a location where you stay in Dubai.

Renting Space

Newcomers usually rent space in Dubai and later discover properties they want to buy, so you can try the same approach. Now the question is how to rent an apartment or home in Dubai. Well, the answer is to go online and explore the following platforms:

• Bayut
• Property Finder

Another option is to hire a local real estate agent and try the old-school technique of finding a rental property for yourself. But in this case, you will pay a fee to the real estate agent while the online option is free discovery.

Buying a home in Dubai

It’s a huge investment and you need to do it carefully. Although you won’t need to be a UAE resident to purchase a home in Dubai, you can shop only in designated areas as a foreigner. These areas are:

• Dubai Marina
• Emirates Hills
• Downtown Dubai
• Palm Jumeirah
• Barsha Heights

These areas are updated from time to time and you can get an updated list of areas from the official site.

Since you are going to make a big investment in Dubai, it’s always a good idea to hire a business consultant from Prospr. We help you locate the best property as per your budget and lifestyle requirements. Our years of experience make it easy for us to negotiate on your behalf and bring you the best value for your money.

Step 7- Understanding culture in Dubai for UK expats

There is a big cultural difference between Dubai and the UK, indeed. But once you live there, and experience the Dubai lifestyle of this country then you get used to its environment. The nightlife and glamour of the city are somehow similar to the UK and it’s even better than there as you get to meet people from other countries as well.

Languages

If we talk about language, you won’t have to worry much because most UAE residents speak English well, though the official language of the UAE is Arabic. Learn a few common words of Arabic to get along with locals.

Step 8- Trying different kinds of local and international food

Now the next thing is to wonder if you will find some tasty food as per your taste buds in Dubai. Sweat not, we assure you that you will not only find your favorite dishes served in British restaurants but also find some delicious local meals. There are tons of Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Continental and other cuisines restaurants in Dubai. Just like in the UK, you can use an app to order food at your place. If you want to experience an exquisite dine-in experience in Dubai, then you must visit the following top-rated British Restaurants in Dubai.:

• Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen & Bar s
• The Nine
• The Coterie
• Double Decker
• The Croft
• Rhodes W1
• The Eloquent Elephant

Step 9- Know about clothing

Dubai is a global village where expats come from different countries and stay. Thereby, you won’t have to worry too much unless you are wearing some revealing clothes. Women can wear sleeve tops and skirts but they shouldn’t go with crop tops or hot shorts. They can wear these clothing in nightclubs or beaches, but walking on streets with such outfits will attract few stares.

Whenever you plan to visit a mosque or some religious place, ensure that you avoid short sleeves and shorts. Both men and women should wear full clothes. A simple rule to walk freely in Dubai is to avoid wearing revealing clothes.

Step 10-Marriage

If you are a Muslim then you need to follow the Sharia Law in Dubai for marriage, which will make a legal bond between man and woman to start your family there. As a non-Muslim, you can follow the marriage law of your home country. One party must have a valid Dubai residence visa to marry in Dubai. There is a requirement for a premarital medical examination in UAE. After you get married in Dubai, you need to attest your marriage certificate from the British Embassy in Dubai.

Birth and Death

If you give birth at an Emirati hospital then you must have a maternity file at the hospital. Normally, you open this file by the seventh month of your pregnancy. You need to apply for a birth certificate at the Ministry of Health, if you give birth at a private hospital. However, public hospitals will immediately issue a birth certificate. You need to contact the British Embassy in the UAE for a child support matter.

If someone dies in your family, you will get a death certificate. It’s obligatory to inform the UK through the British Embassy in Dubai.

Step 11-Work Environment

If you are concerned about the work environment of Dubai before making your move from UK to Dubai then you will be surprised to see how professional everyone here is. At the workplace, you’ll get to meet highly competent and educated personnel. The next level of satisfaction comes from the fact that you will get a better salary and more benefits in Dubai as compared to UK. You need to work 9 hours each day or 47 per week. As per UAE labour law, you are entitled to 22 days of annual leave. It’s good to know that you may have to adjust for public holidays in Dubai, which are usually 14 days per year.

Step 12-Education

If you are moving to Dubai from the UK with your family then you need to think about schools where you are going to admit them after relocating to Dubai from the UK. You have a range of school options such as British schools, public schools, American schools, and Indian schools. The education fee of public and Indian schools is reasonable. If you choose a British school, then you will pay 15000 to 85000 AED on average.

Step 13-Moving to Dubai from the UK with your belongings

It’s going to be your last step but certainly the crucial one when moving to Dubai from the UK. The practical option is to ship everything. You can opt for either sea or air freight shipping. Get quotes from different shipping companies and then pick one that suits your budget. If you want to save money then travel with your essential things and then shop for everything later. You can buy all the content of your home as per your needs.

Learn why Brits move to Dubai from UK?

Summary

We know there are a lot of things to figure out and keep in mind before moving to Dubai from UK. So, here is a checklist of everything you need to know while planning to relocate Dubai.

• Research your visa option, gather all documents and apply for a UAE residence visa
• Find a place to stay (rental or mortgage)
• Search for a job and find one
• Get your private health insurance coverage
• Pick a school for your kid
• Understand the cost of living in Dubai
• Open a bank account or rely on digital banking in the UAE
• Tell HMRC that you are leaving the UK
• Get shipping quotes for moving your stuff
• Book flights and fly to Dubai.

Happy moving to Dubai from the UK!