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Moving to Dubai

Your Guide for Moving to the City of Gold

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Are you moving to Dubai, the City of Gold? With such warm weather, a business-friendly environment, and no income tax, it’s no wonder the city is such a popular destination for expats and international companies. So, let us help you start your international removal to Dubai! With our expert knowledge on moving, we’ve compiled this essential guide with removal costs, an amazing checklist, tips, and even free removal quotes, you can just think about how easy and stress-free life will be.

Cost of Moving to Dubai

It’s time to discuss the cost of removals to Dubai from the UK! So, to give you an idea, an average 3-bed house removal to Dubai from London can cost between £5,900 – £6,850.

Of course, the actual price you will pay when moving to Dubai from London, or anywhere in the UK will be affected by different factors. To learn how you can save money on your move, read our international moving costs page!

Furthermore, you have two options: air freight or sea freight. And although air freight is the fastest option, we would recommend sea freight as it’s much cheaper! Below find the estimated costs of moving to Dubai from London:

Household SizeSea FreightAir Freight
1-bed flat£3,700 – £4,400£7,500 – £8,350
3-bed house£5,900 – £6,850N/A
5-bed house£8,800 – £10,200N/A

Disclaimer: These prices are only estimates. The actual cost of moving will differ.

Request International Removal Quotes to Dubai

Whether it’s your first move or 100th move, having professional help for removals to Dubai will make the entire process easier! However, the difficulty comes in finding several removal companies to compare. Calling each company and asking if they offer the route you want along with receiving removal costs quotes is a lengthy and time-consuming process.

Fortunately, Sirelo is here to make finding a company for removals to Dubai from the UK a much simpler process. We’ll do the hard work of finding removal companies and you’ll receive up to 5 removal quotes to compare and select the best price, saving you time and money. Removals to Dubai have never been easier with a little help from Sirelo!

Need Help with a Removal to Dubai?
Request up to five free moving quotes to do so!

Checklist for Moving to Dubai

Before you go pulling out your hair from the stress of moving, we’re here to help. Moving from the UK to Dubai isn’t as hard as it looks, especially when you’ve got a great guide. So, be sure to use Sirelo’s to see you through.

Furthermore, you won’t be alone in the process. For the most part, your employer will be handling bureaucratic tasks, as is required. So, from banking to visas, your employer will be your new best friend as everything will be sent to them, not you.

Thus, it’s important to have your job sorted before you move as it will make the visa process and in turn everything else, much easier.

✔️ Visas and Work Permits

Moving to Dubai isn’t as easy as just packing your belongings and boarding a plane, there are a few bureaucratic matters to attend to first. You’ll need to organise a visa and likely a work permit.

As mentioned above, your employer will play a big role in moving to Dubai with visas and work permits being normally being organised with their assistance. They will start the process on your behalf, all you need to do is provide the required documents.

Once your work permit and visa are sorted, you need to apply for additional documents. It is required for expats to get a residency permit and a healthcare card after they move to Dubai. Your employer must apply for your e-card and e-contract within 60 days following your move to Dubai.

For further information, you can visit the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.

✔️ Important Documents

When moving to Dubai, there is some key documentation that you should ensure you prepare before you go since they’ll be very important for establishing yourself in Dubai. Furthermore, ensure that you keep these documents safe and consider making duplicates:

  • Passport
  • Birth Certificate
  • Marriage certificate (if applicable)
  • Medical Documentation (including dental and immunizations)
  • University Degree(s) and qualifications (consider getting them accredited)
  • Financial Statements
  • UK Criminal Record Check (for certain jobs)
  • Health Insurance Policy
  • Employment Contract

✔️ Choosing a Removal Company

With an international removal from the UK to Dubai before you, it would be a wise choice to investigate some of the top international removal companies. Find the right removal company for peace of mind!

✔️ Packing

Removals to Dubai wouldn’t amount to much without your favourite belongings. So, start packing early and be sure to label your boxes well. If you need help with packing, we recommend our expert packing guide, it’s worth it for a less stressful move!

✔️ Healthcare

Public healthcare in Dubai provides a very high standard and great coverage to all residents. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was first created in 2007 to oversee UAE’s private and public healthcare facilities.

In the emirate of Dubai, employers are required to provide health insurance coverage for their employees, however, if you are moving there for retirement then your best option is to apply for a health card from UAE’s Ministry of Health (MOH); with this, you will be able to receive care at a public facility.

However, it’s very common for expats to see care through the private healthcare system as it can be more convenient. Thus, it is important to consider availing of private health insurance.

✔️ Tax

With an international removal to Dubai, it’s imperative that you inform HMRC that you’ll no longer be in the UK.

If you’re wondering about paying tax in Dubai, you’ll be glad to hear there is no income tax and most products are free from sales tax. Sounds almost too good to be true! However, there are situations where it will be mandatory to pay some form of tax.

For example, a hotel visit will have a 10% tax charge added to your bill. Alcohol is also taxed heavily. You are required to pay 50% to bring it into the city and 30% if you want to buy it to drink at home.

✔️ Banking

Before moving to Dubai, especially if you’re going there to work, companies will prefer you to open a bank account in Dubai. It is in fact, very similar to opening one in the UK.

When you go to open your account, remember to take:

  • Your passport
  • A letter of no-objection from either your sponsor or employer
  • Residency card

Some banks to consider opening a local bank account with are:

It is also possible that your bank might be present in the region, so be sure to enquire before you go!

✔️ Planning on Bringing a Pet?

You’ll be glad to hear that if you want to move to Dubai with a dog, cat, or other pet, it’s not too hard! All your pet needs are:

  • Microchipped
  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • General certificate of health

For more information, you can visit the Ministry of the Environment’s page on importing pets.

That was pretty comprehensive, if we may say so. However, if you love checklists as much as we do, you should read our moving abroad checklist!

Dubai Skyline at night

Life in Dubai

For British expats, a move to Dubai from the UK has become more and more popular and it’s understandable why. Dubai boasts a rapidly growing economy as well as an exciting lifestyle with plenty of opportunities for expats, all under their sunny blue sky.

You can meet people from all over the world as 85% of Dubai’s population is made up of expats and English is widely spoken in Dubai so there’s no pressure to be fluent in Arabic. But it is important, like with any move, to prepare for the changes you will experience – That’s where we can help 😊

The Job Market in Dubai

Good news! Dubai is renowned for offering tax-free salaries and fantastic professional opportunities. It’s probably the reason why so many expats move there every year! We recommend sourcing a job before you move as it can be difficult to source when you’re out there.

Check out these websites for job opportunities:

You will need to adjust to a new working week. Friday is a holy day in Islam which means the weekend starts then! Sunday is the new Monday which will take some getting used to but once you’re settled, it will become the norm.

Following the Rules is important!

Dubai is an extremely safe city to live in and it offers a whole new lifestyle and culture to any expat moving there. The culture is completely different, as is the weather but the City of Gold is certainly the place to be.

However, low crime rates in Dubai didn’t just happen! It’s due to their harsh punishments and zero-tolerance outlook. The UAE has a lot of rules and regulations so it would be important to read up on them. Some examples are:

  • Eating and Drinking are forbidden on all forms of public transport (including pedestrian crossings)
  • Swearing in public is punishable by up to a year in prison or 10,000 dirhams (£2,157) fine
  • Taking a photo of someone without consent is subject to a year in prison and 10,000 dirhams fine as well as the risk of deportation
  • Poppy seeds are an illegal substance in the UAE as they can be used to create opium. We would recommend you leave them out of your banana bread recipe in Dubai!

Ready to Move to Dubai?

So, congratulations! Removals to Dubai from the UK don’t seem so daunting now do they? With all this knowledge you’re ready to take on a move to the City of Gold and have it go smoothly. Just remember, it can get really hot in Dubai, so pack some sun cream and enjoy the AC.
One last thing, why not explore Sirelo further to answer any further moving related queries. We have even linked some useful articles below, just click on one! And good luck with your move!