The Ultimate Guide To Moving To Dubai

Your moving to Dubai questions answered! If you are considering relocating to Dubai, you probably have a ton of questions. Is it safe? Is it expensive? Can I get a job? These are just a few of the things that might be running through your head right now. Here is our guide to moving to Dubai and what to expect when you get here!

Do I Need a Job Before Moving to Dubai?

While you don’t technically need a job before coming to Dubai, it’s definitely much safer to have something secured. Otherwise, you will need substantial savings behind you to support yourself while job hunting in Dubai. The Dubai job market has lots of opportunities, but it’s also competitive.

What is the Renting Process In Dubai?

Before moving to Dubai, you’ll need to look at rental options. If you’re coming alone, looking at apartment shares might be a good idea until you get yourself sorted. An apartment share is also a great way to meet new people! There are a couple of great sites for renting properties and rooms in Dubai. Check out Dubizzle and Property Finder to weigh up your options. Property Finder also verifies its listings to help prevent you from running into time-wasters! If you’d like to live in an area with fellow expats, we recommend looking into these locations:

Dubai Marina

Downtown Dubai

Arabian Ranches

Palm Jumeirah

Jumierah Beach Residence (JBR)

JVC (Jumeirah Village Circle)

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Will I Need a Visa?

Once you have secured a job, your employer is responsible for providing you with a residence visa at their cost. If you have gained employment before moving to Dubai, your company will advise you on the visa process. If you do not have a position secured, you will automatically get a free 30-day tourist visa upon arrival in Dubai.

How Does the Cost of Living Compare?

Compared to London or Dublin, Dubai is slightly cheaper but by no means cheap. That said, it all depends on your salary, where you live, and your lifestyle. This comparison can give you an idea of the cost differences.

Will I Pay Taxes?

One of the primary reasons people move to Dubai is for the tax-free life! Dubai does not impose a tax on your income, so what you earn, you take home. That being said, it’s best to check out your home country’s government guidelines about taxes when living abroad. For the UK, you can find it here, and for Ireland, here. Although there is no income tax in Dubai, there is a tax on some goods and services as well as municipal tax.

Is Dubai Safe?

Crime rates are extremely low in Dubai compared to the UK or Ireland. The UAE is also one of the safest cities in the MENA region, so personal safety is not a high risk. There are, however, rules and laws in Dubai that do not exist in most of Europe, for example, drinking in public. It’s wise to familiarise yourself with these laws before making the move to Dubai.

What’s the Healthcare Situation?

If you get yourself a job in Dubai, it is mandatory for your employer to provide you with health insurance. Note, this does not apply to some part-time or freelance positions. However, if you are coming to Dubai and don’t have employment, you will need to purchase your own health insurance. You can use Yalla Compare to get the best quotes for both basic and comprehensive health insurance.

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Is There a British/ Irish Expat Community?

The British and Irish communities in Dubai are pretty substantial, with over 250,000 people living in Dubai. To connect with others in the community, you can get in touch with the British Business Group or the Irish Business Network for networking opportunities. On the social side of things, there are lots of social media groups you can join to meet new people and join get-togethers.

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Is it Easy to Get Around in Dubai?

Driving

While Dubai is relatively easy to navigate, you’re likely to experience a lot of traffic if you’re driving or taking taxis. Peak hours in certain parts of the city can be pretty brutal. If you can avoid peak time, you shouldn’t have too much of an issue in most areas.

Public Transport

If you want to escape the traffic altogether, you can take the metro. The metro is a rapid transit train system that runs from the very South of Dubai to Northern Dubai. The metro even runs directly into the DXB airport terminal and is super cheap. A 25-minute journey can cost around EUR 3. There is also a tram and a network of buses that can help you get around Dubai on a budget.

Taxis

Taxis in Dubai are relatively cheap compared to the UK or Ireland. The taxis in Dubai are all regulated by the government and run on metres. Dubai taxi drivers have to follow strict rules; if the driver doesn’t start the meter, the journey is free. You’d have to be very unlucky to get ripped off by a Dubai taxi driver! However, you might come across an unofficial taxi every now and then that might try and charge you an overpriced fare. We recommend downloading the Careem app before you arrive. Careem is similar to Uber, but you can also book Dubai’s registered taxis on the app, which saves a bit of money.

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Car Rental in Dubai

If you want to rent a car when you arrive in Dubai, there is no shortage of car rental companies. Depending on the time of year, you’d be looking at around EUR 400 per month for a small car. There are international car rental chains like Hertz and also local companies; we recommend Invygo. If you are in Dubai on a tourist visa, you can use your current driving license to rent a car. Once you have your residence visa from your employer, you will need to convert your driving license to a UAE license.

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