Moving to Dubai and the UAE: Complete Checklist

This checklist covers moving to Dubai from the UK in 2026, in order, from attesting documents before you fly to your first month in the UAE.

What changed in 2025 and 2026

The biggest recent changes for anyone moving to the UAE are compulsory health insurance in the northern emirates since January 2025, a wider list of nationalities and residents who can get a visa on arrival, a relaxed Dubai property-linked visa, and the move to fully digital work and residence processing. If you are working from a checklist written before 2025, update it against the table below. For the background to each step, see our complete expat guide to moving to the UAE.

Change	What it means for your move	Status
Health insurance compulsory in the northern emirates	Since January 2025, private-sector employees and domestic workers in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah must hold basic health cover. Employers must buy a policy before issuing or renewing a residence permit.	In force since 1 January 2025
Wider visa on arrival	Ordinary-passport holders from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa who hold a valid residence permit from the US, the UK, an EU state, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada can now get a 14-day visa on arrival (AED 100, extendable once) or a 60-day visa (AED 250). A similar route already existed for Indian nationals.	Announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 25 June 2026
Dubai two-year property visa eased	The AED 750,000 minimum property value for a sole owner has been removed; joint owners each need a share worth at least AED 400,000.	Announced by the Dubai Land Department in April 2026; confirm the current rules before buying
Visa suspensions for some nationalities	New visa issuance for nationals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan was suspended from 6 June 2026 as a precaution against Ebola, alongside tighter entry checks for travellers from those countries.	May be extended; check before booking
Work Bundle	Work permits, residence visas, the medical test and Emirates ID fingerprinting are handled through one bundled service, which the government says cuts processing from 30 days to five working days and documents from 16 to five.	Launched in Dubai in March 2024, being rolled out across the UAE

The UAE moving checklist at a glance

Most of the paperwork happens in two bursts: attestation and permits before you leave, then visa, ID and housing registration in your first four weeks. Use this timeline as your master list. You can find providers for each stage in our UAE expat directory.

When	Task	Who or where	Typical cost or timing
3–6 months before	Attest degree, marriage and birth certificates	Home-country authorities, UAE embassy, then Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the UAE	MOFA fee AED 150 per personal document, plus home-country and embassy fees
3–6 months before	Start pet preparation (microchip, rabies vaccine, titre test if needed)	Your vet; accredited laboratory	Titre sample at least 21 days after a first vaccination
1–3 months before	Secure a job offer, licence or other visa route	Employer, free zone or ICP/GDRFA	Varies by route
1–3 months before	Book international removals; prepare inventory	Removal firm	Used household goods are normally duty-free
1–2 months before	Apply for controlled-medicine approval	Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) online	Free; up to three months’ supply
Once flights are booked	Apply for pet import permit	Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE)	Commercial sources quote AED 200
Arrival	Enter on your entry permit or visa	Airport	Start the clock on your residence deadline
Week 1–2	Medical fitness test	Approved health centre (DHA in Dubai)	About AED 250–320 standard; 90-day validity
Week 1–3	Emirates ID biometrics and residence visa	ICP or GDRFA, usually via employer or typing centre	Often bundled by your sponsor
Week 2–4	Sign lease and register it	Ejari (Dubai) or Tawtheeq (Abu Dhabi)	Ejari about AED 120–220
Week 2–4	Connect electricity and water	DEWA in Dubai, or your emirate’s provider	DEWA deposit AED 2,000 (apartment) or AED 4,000 (villa)
Week 2–4	Open a bank account, get a local SIM	Bank, telecoms provider	Needs Emirates ID or proof of application
Month 1–3	Exchange your driving licence	Emirate traffic authority	Eye test about AED 140–180, plus licence fees
Month 1–3	Sponsor your family, enrol children in school	ICP/GDRFA; schools	Family visa: salary of AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation

Three to six months before: documents and attestation

Start document attestation first, because it is the slowest step and you cannot do the most important part once you have left your home country. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so foreign documents go through a chain of legalisation rather than a single apostille stamp.

The usual sequence is:

1. Notarise the document in your home country if required.
2. Legalise it with your home-country authorities (for degrees, typically the education ministry or equivalent and the foreign ministry).
3. Attest it at the UAE embassy or consulate in the country that issued it.
4. Attest it at MOFA in the UAE after you arrive. This step can be done online through UAE Pass or the MOFA app.

Document	Why you will need it in the UAE	Attest before you fly?
Degree certificate	Employment visas for skilled roles; Green and Golden Visa skilled-worker routes	Yes
Marriage certificate	Sponsoring your spouse	Yes
Children’s birth certificates	Sponsoring children; school enrolment	Yes
Police clearance certificate	Requested for some visa and licensing applications	Check with your sponsor
Driving licence	Exchange for a UAE licence (some licences need an official translation or embassy letter)	Usually no, but check
School reports and transfer certificates	School enrolment	Ask the school; some require attestation

Other early tasks:

• Check passport validity for every family member. Allow plenty of remaining validity, as your residence visa is tied to it.
• Take advice on your home-country tax position. The UAE does not tax salaries, but leaving your home tax system is not automatic. See Taxes for Expats Living in the UAE and our directory of tax advisers.
• Collect medical and dental records, vaccination records and prescriptions for each family member.

One to three months before: visa, housing, schools and money

Before you book a one-way flight, confirm which visa route you are using, because it determines who processes your paperwork and how quickly you can sponsor your family. Most people move on an employer-sponsored work visa, where the employer handles the entry permit, work permit and residence application. Freelancers, investors and property owners follow different routes. If your situation is unusual, see how to find an immigration lawyer in the UAE.

Checklist for this stage:

• Confirm your visa route. Compare the options in UAE Residence Visa: Requirements & Application and UAE Golden Visa: Requirements & Application.
• Ask your employer what they cover. Clarify whether they pay for the medical, Emirates ID, family visas, health insurance for dependants, a housing allowance, temporary accommodation and shipping.
• Shortlist neighbourhoods, but do not sign a lease remotely unless you have seen the property or used a trusted agent. Our guides to Renting in the UAE and Best Places to Live in the UAE explain the main areas.
• Budget for upfront housing costs. Landlords commonly expect rent in a small number of post-dated cheques, plus a security deposit, agency fee and utility deposit. See Cost of Living in the UAE for Expats and How Much Does It Cost to Move to the UAE?.
• Apply to schools early. Popular international schools have waiting lists, especially for September entry. See International Schools in the UAE.
• Plan your money. You will usually need your Emirates ID (or proof that it is being processed) to open a local bank account, so arrange enough access to funds for your first few weeks. See How to Open a Bank Account in the UAE.
• Arrange temporary accommodation for at least your first two to four weeks.

Shipping your belongings through UAE customs

Used household goods and personal effects are normally exempt from customs duty in the UAE once inspected, but goods judged to be in commercial quantities attract 5% customs duty. Dubai Customs asks for a copy of your passport, a copy of your residence visa and a written list of the goods being imported.

What this means in practice:

• Time the shipment to arrive after your residence visa is issued, as the clearance documents include a copy of your visa. Sea freight usually takes several weeks, so you can ship before you fly and let goods wait in storage if needed.
• Prepare a detailed inventory in English, listing items room by room. Avoid packing multiples of new, boxed items that could look commercial.
• Vehicles are treated separately. Used vehicles attract 5% duty on their assessed value, and you should check registration requirements with your emirate’s traffic authority before shipping. Many expats find it simpler to sell at home and buy locally.
• Check prohibited and restricted items with your removal firm before packing, including certain publications, e-cigarette products, some foods and anything that could be classed as a controlled substance.

For a shortlist of firms, see Best International Moving Companies for the UAE or browse relocation services.

Moving to the UAE with a pet

Every pet entering the UAE needs an import permit from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), and dogs and cats must travel as manifested cargo, not in the cabin or as checked baggage. Begin preparations at least three to four months ahead if your pet needs a rabies antibody (titre) test.

Requirement	Detail (as reported in 2026)
Import permit	Mandatory; apply online once flight dates are confirmed. Commercial sources quote about AED 200 and validity of around 30 days, but MOCCAE’s own guidance on validity has been inconsistent, so confirm it
Microchip	ISO 11784/11785 standard, implanted before the rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination	At least 12 weeks old when vaccinated; at least 21 days before travel
Rabies titre (FAVN) test	Required if your country is not on MOCCAE’s low-risk list; result of at least 0.5 IU/ml from an accredited laboratory, sampled within 12 months before travel
Minimum age at import	15 weeks from higher-risk countries; 12 weeks from low-risk countries
Number of pets	Commercial sources report a limit of two pets per person per year
Banned breeds	Including pit bull types, several mastiff breeds, the Japanese Tosa and their crosses
Arrival inspection fees	Commercial sources report about AED 500 per dog and AED 250 per cat

Bringing prescription medicines

If you take a controlled or semi-controlled medicine, such as some painkillers, sleeping tablets, anxiety and ADHD medication, apply for approval from the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) before you travel. The permit is free and covers up to three months’ supply.

You will need:

• A prescription issued within the last three months, stamped by the treating facility, showing your full name, the medicine, dose, form and duration.
• A medical report issued within the last year, showing your diagnosis and treatment plan.
• Your passport (or Emirates ID if you are already resident).

Apply through MOHAP’s online service for importing medicines for personal use, then print the certificate and carry it with the medicine in its original packaging. MOHAP publishes a list of more than 200 controlled and semi-controlled medicines; ask your doctor to check yours against it.

First two weeks: entry permit, medical and Emirates ID

Your first priority on arrival is to complete the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics so that your residence visa can be issued within the deadline on your entry permit. If your employer is sponsoring you, they or their government relations officer will usually book these steps for you.

Step	What happens	Timing and cost (indicative)
1. Enter on your entry permit	You arrive on an employment or other entry permit, or change status inside the UAE if you are already there on another visa	Status change is typically processed within 48 hours
2. Medical fitness test	Blood test (HIV for all applicants; other tests depend on occupation), chest X-ray for tuberculosis and a short examination	About AED 250–320 standard (24–48 hours); express and VIP tiers cost more. The certificate must be used within 90 days
3. Emirates ID biometrics	Fingerprints and photograph at an ICP service centre, if requested	Often bundled with the visa fee
4. Residence visa issued	Recorded electronically; no passport sticker	Work Bundle target of five working days end to end
5. Labour contract and work permit	Recorded with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) for mainland employers	Typically two working days per step
6. Emirates ID card	Collected or delivered	Keep a digital copy in the UAE Pass app

Also in your first fortnight:

• Get a local SIM. Providers can usually issue a SIM on your passport and entry details, then link it to your Emirates ID once it is issued; check the documents your chosen provider asks for.
• Set up UAE Pass, the national digital identity app, which you will use for MOFA attestation, government services and many private-sector checks.
• Complete MOFA attestation of your home-country documents if you have not already done so.

For the full visa process, including Green and Golden Visa routes, see UAE Residence Visa: Requirements & Application.

First month: tenancy, utilities, bank and insurance

Once you have your Emirates ID, you can sign a lease, register it, connect utilities and open a bank account, usually in that order. In Dubai, tenancy registration (Ejari) is the key that unlocks utilities, family visas and many school applications.

Housing and utilities checklist:

• Sign your tenancy contract and agree in writing who will register it. Officially this falls to the landlord in Dubai, but in practice landlords, property managers and tenants all do it.
• Register the lease. In Dubai, Ejari costs about AED 120–155 through the Dubai REST app or about AED 215–220 at a Trustee Centre. Abu Dhabi uses its own system, Tawtheeq. You will need the signed contract, your Emirates ID (or passport and visa), the landlord’s passport, the title deed and the DEWA premises number.
• Connect electricity and water. In Dubai, DEWA asks for a refundable security deposit of AED 2,000 for an apartment or AED 4,000 for a villa, plus an activation fee of AED 100 (small meter) or AED 300 (large meter) and small administrative fees.
• Check for district cooling (chiller) charges, which some buildings bill separately from DEWA.
• Book internet and television, which also usually requires your Emirates ID and tenancy registration.

Money:

• Open a current account with your Emirates ID, passport, visa details and a salary certificate from your employer. Many employers pay salaries only into a UAE account.
• Set up a credit history gradually; UAE banks do not see your home-country credit score.

Health insurance: health insurance is mandatory for residents in every emirate, but who must pay for your family depends on where your visa is issued.

Emirate	Who must insure the employee	Who must insure dependants	Notes
Dubai	Employer / visa sponsor (minimum Essential Benefits Plan)	The person sponsoring the dependants, which is usually you rather than your employer	Essential Benefits Plan premiums are low, but so are the benefits; compare quotes for your family
Abu Dhabi	Employer	Employer, typically for one spouse and up to three children under 18	Most generous default rule of the three
Northern emirates (Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah)	Employer, compulsory since 1 January 2025	The basic scheme covers employees; check what cover your employer offers for dependants	Policy must be in place before a residence permit is issued or renewed

First three months: driving licence, family and schools

After the essentials are in place, turn to the tasks that unlock everyday life: your driving licence, your family’s visas and school places.

Driving licence. Holders of licences from a published list of countries and territories, including the UK, most EU states, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, China and the GCC states, can usually exchange their licence for a UAE one without a driving test once they are resident. You will need an eye test (typically about AED 140–180) and your valid foreign licence; some licences need an official translation or embassy letter. Published counts of eligible countries differ between sources and between emirates, so check your licence against your emirate’s traffic authority before you assume you can skip lessons. See How to Get a Driving Licence in the UAE and Driving in the UAE as a Foreigner.

Family visas. You can sponsor your spouse and children once you hold a valid residence visa and earn at least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 a month plus accommodation. Family members aged 18 and over must pass the medical fitness test, and the federal portal states that you have 60 days from a dependant’s entry to apply for their residence visa. You will normally need attested marriage and birth certificates, your tenancy registration and health insurance for each dependant.

Schools. Submit applications with attested birth certificates, previous school reports, passport and visa copies and, in Dubai, often your Ejari. See Best International Schools in the UAE or browse education providers.

Other tasks for months one to three:

• Register with a family doctor or clinic in your insurer’s network.
• Transport: get a Nol card in Dubai or the local equivalent elsewhere.
• Find your community: see What Is It Like Living in the UAE as an Expat? and lifestyle and community listings.
• If you plan to work for yourself, read How to Start a Business in the UAE as a Foreigner.

Common mistakes to avoid

Most problems for new arrivals come from documents prepared too late or deadlines missed in the first weeks, not from the move itself.

Frequently asked questions