Moving Guide

Typically 6–10 weeks total. Week 1–2: employment contract finalised and entry permit issued by employer. Week 3–4: medical test, biometrics, Emirates ID. Week 4–5: bank account opened, driving license transferred. Week 5–8: belongings arrive by sea freight. By week 8–10, most expats have their full setup complete. Your employer's PRO team will drive most of the visa paperwork - the quality of their support significantly affects the timeline.

No - English is the de-facto language for all business, retail, government services (translated to English), and expat social life. Arabic is the official language and knowing even basic phrases ('shukran' for thank you, 'marhaba' for hello) is appreciated by Emirati nationals. However, you can comfortably live in the UAE for years without speaking a word of Arabic. In practice, Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog, and Malayalam are also very widely spoken given the South Asian and Filipino expat communities.

Technically yes, but it is rarely worth it. UAE customs duty on imported vehicles is 5% of the vehicle's value. Left-hand drive vehicles (European or American) are permitted. The process requires: original registration documents, customs clearance, UAE registration, and roadworthiness inspection. Given how easy it is to buy a car in the UAE (second-hand market is large; new car prices are competitive), most expats simply buy locally. UAE car prices are often lower than Europe or Australia given lower import duties on new vehicles.

Dubai has 200+ international schools following British, American, IB, Indian (CBSE), and other curricula - regulated by KHDA (Knowledge and Human Development Authority). Abu Dhabi schools are regulated by ADEK. Top-rated schools (GEMS, Raffles, Hartland International, British International School) have long waitlists - register as early as possible, even before you arrive. Fees range from AED 20,000 to 100,000+ per year. Many employers include school fee allowances in expat packages - negotiate this before accepting an offer.

Not with the right tools. Exchange houses like Al Ansari Exchange offer competitive rates with zero or minimal fees for major corridors (AED to INR, PKR, PHP). Wise is excellent for transfers to EUR, GBP, USD, and AUD. Bank SWIFT transfers work but are expensive (AED 50–100 fee + poor exchange rate). UAE-to-India transfers are particularly well-optimised given the volume - Al Ansari or Lulu Exchange typically beat Wise on INR rates. For large amounts, compare rates before each transfer.