Founded in 2025 by the Phillips family after relocating from Ireland to Abu Dhabi. We're not a relocation agency — we're an independent platform built by people who recently made the move and documented everything.
We share structured, honest guidance on visas, housing, schools, healthcare, banking, and the real cost of living in the UAE. No sales pressure. Just clarity before you commit.
The Phillips Family - Abu Dhabi, 2025
"Paul (Chartered Accountant), his wife (teacher), and their three boys"
In early 2025, my wife and I made the decision to relocate from Ireland to Abu Dhabi with our three boys. I'm a Chartered Accountant; my wife is a teacher. We had lived internationally before — Vancouver from 2012 to 2014, before the kids came along — so we thought we knew what to expect.
We were wrong. Every market is different. The UAE has its own rhythms, unwritten rules, and practical realities that don't show up in official guides or glossy brochures.
Everyone had conflicting advice — which bank to use, which neighborhoods to consider, how the property market really worked. School selection for our three boys was even harder. Websites showed availability, but understanding real reputations, admission processes, and waiting list strategies required insider knowledge we didn't have.
We realized there was a gap: plenty of visa agencies, real estate agents, and corporate service providers — but no one bringing it all together with a family-first, information-first approach. No one who had just done it themselves and could speak from recent, real experience.
So we built Relocate2UAE. Not as a relocation company, but as an independent knowledge platform — structured guides, honest breakdowns, and consulting when people need it. We document what we learned so others don't have to figure it out the hard way.
We're not a relocation agency trying to close deals. We're an independent platform focused on giving you clarity first. When you need connections to specialists — in housing, corporate setup, or schools — we can introduce you to people we trust. But only when you're ready, not before.
We're not career relocation consultants. We're a family who just moved here, documented everything, and built this resource so you don't have to start from scratch. Every guide is based on what we actually learned navigating visas, schools, housing, banking, and daily life.
The UAE offers incredible opportunities, but it's not perfect. We share both the advantages and the challenges — cost of living, school fees, visa requirements, cultural adjustments — so you can make informed decisions with your eyes open.
Founder | Chartered Accountant
Paul Phillips is a Chartered Accountant with 15+ years of global finance and relocation experience.
Originally from Ireland, Paul (Chartered Accountant) and his wife (teacher) lived in Vancouver, Canada from 2012-2014 before having children. In 2025, they relocated to Abu Dhabi with their three boys and identified a need for comprehensive, honest UAE relocation guidance. Paul offers educational consulting (school selection, area recommendations) and business consulting (company setup, banking solutions) based on recent, real-world experience.
As we grow, we're building partnerships with licensed professionals for visa processing, real estate, and other specialized services.
Book a ConsultationRelocate2UAE is an independent platform built by expats who recently made the move. We share structured, honest information about relocating to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the rest of the UAE — visas, housing, schools, healthcare, banking, business setup, and the real cost of living.
We don't sell relocation packages. We don't earn commissions. We provide clarity first — and when you're ready, we can introduce you to trusted specialists if you need hands-on support.
Real experience. No sales agenda. Just honest information to help you decide with confidence.