The complete guide for Australian expats
Breaking Australian tax residency with no tax treaty to fall back on
Capital gains tax on the day you leave
Your home, super, HELP and Medicare
Visas, attestation, schools, pets and your first 90 days
Relocate2UAE Editorial Team | relocate2uae.com/moving-from-australia-to-uae
Every factual claim carries a source tag so you can see how much weight it will bear.
| Tag | What it means |
|---|---|
| LAW | Set by Australian or UAE legislation. Stable until the law changes. |
| OFFICIAL | Published by a government body (ATO, Treasury, DFAT, Services Australia, DAFF, AEC, u.ae, ICP, GDRFA, RTA, KHDA, ADEK, MOCCAE). |
| MARKET | Current market practice or pricing, checked across several listings or providers. Moves with the market. |
| REPORTED | Reported consistently by reputable secondary sources but not yet confirmed on a primary government page. |
| VERIFY | Rules differ between sources or change often. Confirm with the named authority before you act. |
| ESTIMATE | Our own worked estimate. Useful for planning, not a quote. |
This guide is general information only. It is not financial, tax, legal, immigration, medical or investment advice, and it does not take your personal circumstances into account. Relocate2UAE does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence, is not a registered tax agent or BAS agent, and is not regulated by ASIC or any UAE financial regulator. Rules, thresholds and fees change often and can differ between the published rule and how an authority applies it. Before acting, check the current position with the relevant authority and take advice from a suitably qualified and, where required, licensed or registered professional. Contacting us does not create an adviser relationship. Some organisations mentioned are Relocate2UAE partners and may pay us fees. Please read the full Legal notice at the end.
Some organisations named in this guide are Relocate2UAE partners, and each is labelled "a Relocate2UAE partner" where it appears. Relocate2UAE may receive fees, commission or other benefits from partners, including where you use their services after reading this guide. A mention is not a recommendation that a partner is right for you. You are free to use any provider, and we encourage you to compare several and to check each provider's licensing and terms yourself. Other businesses named in this guide are mentioned for information only.
Australia and the UAE side by side, for the things that change most.
| 🇦🇺Australia | 🇦🇪United Arab Emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax on salary | 0% to 45% income tax plus 2% Medicare levy for residents LAW | 0% personal income tax OFFICIAL |
| Capital gains | Taxed as income. Residents get a 50% discount on assets held 12 months or more LAW | No tax on individuals OFFICIAL |
| Tax treaty between the two | None. The UAE is not on Treasury's list of Australian income tax treaties OFFICIAL | See left |
| Death taxes | No inheritance tax, but super death benefits paid to non-dependants are taxed LAW | No inheritance tax OFFICIAL |
| Consumption tax | 10% GST LAW | 5% VAT LAW |
| Retirement saving | Employer super guarantee of 12% on top of salary LAW | No super. End-of-service gratuity for private-sector expatriates LAW |
| Healthcare | Medicare | Insurance-based. No reciprocal health care agreement with Australia OFFICIAL |
| Working week | Monday to Friday | Monday to Friday for most private employers OFFICIAL |
| Time difference | AEST, AEDT, AWST | GMT+4, no daylight saving. 6 hours behind Sydney in winter, 7 in summer, 4 behind Perth |
| Plugs | Type I, 230V | Type G (UK style), 230V. You need adapters, not converters REPORTED |
| Driving | Left | Right. Australian licences exchange without a test in Dubai OFFICIAL VERIFY |
| Flight time | About 14 hours from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. About 11 hours from Perth MARKET | |
| Australians in the UAE | Official estimates range from about 16,000 to 25,000, most in Dubai REPORTED | |
A UAE visa does not end your Australian tax residency. Residency is decided by four ATO tests, not by your Emirates ID. The domicile test in particular presumes you stay resident unless the ATO is satisfied your permanent place of abode is outside Australia. LAW OFFICIAL → Section 6.2
There is no tax treaty to rescue you. Australia has no double tax agreement with the UAE, so there is no treaty tie-breaker if you look resident in both places. The domestic tests decide alone. OFFICIAL → Section 6.3
"Under 183 days" does not make you non-resident. The 183-day test can make you resident. Staying away for more than half the year does not, on its own, make you non-resident. OFFICIAL → Section 6.2
Leaving is a capital gains tax event. The day you stop being a resident you are treated as selling most assets that are not Australian real property, such as shares, at market value. You can choose to defer this, with consequences. OFFICIAL → Section 6.6
Selling your old home after you leave can cost you the whole exemption. Foreign residents cannot claim the main residence exemption on property sold after 30 June 2020, not even in part, unless a narrow life events test applies. OFFICIAL → Section 6.7
Every Australian property sale now needs a clearance certificate. From 1 January 2025 the buyer withholds 15% of the price unless the seller provides one, and foreign residents cannot get one. LAW → Section 6.7
Your HELP debt follows you. Tell the ATO within 7 days of leaving if you will live overseas for 183 days or more in any 12 months, then report your worldwide income each year. OFFICIAL → Section 6.9
An SMSF can stop being an Australian fund. If the people running it move overseas for good, the fund can fail the residency rules and lose its tax concessions. LAW → Section 6.8
Medicare does not work in the UAE. The UAE is not one of Australia's reciprocal health care countries. You need UAE health insurance from day one. OFFICIAL → Section 11
Bringing a pet back to Australia takes at least six months of preparation. Pets returning from the UAE go through rabies blood testing, a 180-day wait and quarantine at Mickleham. Starting the rabies steps before you leave Australia saves time later. OFFICIAL VERIFY → Section 14
The tax case is real. An Australian resident earning A$150,000 in 2026/27 pays about A$36,570 of income tax plus A$3,000 of Medicare levy, roughly 26% of salary ESTIMATE. In the UAE the same salary arrives untaxed OFFICIAL. But the comparison is not just tax. An Australian package also carries 12% super guarantee on top of salary, about A$18,000 a year on that income, which a UAE employer does not pay LAW ESTIMATE. And the tax saving only arrives once you are genuinely non-resident (Section 6).
Most Australian movers choose Dubai, but it is not the only option and it is not always the best value.
| Emirate | Who it suits | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Most sectors, the biggest Australian community, the widest choice of schools | Highest rents in prime areas. Housing fee of 5% of annual rent billed through DEWA OFFICIAL |
| Abu Dhabi | Government, energy, defence, aviation, finance, healthcare, families wanting space | Separate systems: ADEK for schools, Tawtheeq for tenancies, Darb road tolls, DoH health insurance rules OFFICIAL |
| Sharjah | Lower rents for people working in north Dubai, and home to the UAE's longest-established Australian curriculum school | Alcohol is not permitted. Government works a four-day week. Heavy commuter traffic into Dubai OFFICIAL REPORTED |
| Ajman, RAK, UAQ, Fujairah | Lower costs, beaches, mountains, lifestyle movers and remote workers | Fewer international schools. RAK is growing fast with new resort development REPORTED |
For the full comparison see our Dubai vs Abu Dhabi property guide and UAE Housing Guide.
Australian passport holders get a free visit visa on arrival, normally for 30 days REPORTED VERIFY. That lets you view homes and schools but not work or rent long term. To live in the UAE you need a residence visa and an Emirates ID OFFICIAL.
| Route | Who it suits | Headline requirement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Anyone with a UAE job offer | Employer sponsorship and work permit | Usually 2 years, renewable OFFICIAL |
| Green Visa (skilled employee) | Skilled staff who want independence from their employer's sponsorship | Bachelor's degree or equivalent, MOHRE skill level 1 to 3, salary at least AED 15,000 a month OFFICIAL | 5 years, self-sponsored |
| Green Visa (freelancer or self-employed) | Consultants, creatives, contractors | MOHRE freelance permit and self-employment income of at least AED 360,000 a year for the previous two years, or proof of financial solvency OFFICIAL | 5 years, self-sponsored |
| Golden Visa | Property investors, high earners, founders, specialists | Examples: property worth at least AED 2 million, or a qualifying professional salary (commonly quoted as AED 30,000 a month) OFFICIAL VERIFY | 5 or 10 years, no 180-day absence rule |
| Remote work | People keeping an Australian or other overseas employer | Employer letter, salary of at least USD 3,500 a month, UAE-valid health insurance OFFICIAL VERIFY | 1 year, renewable |
| Investor or partner | Founders with a UAE company, often in a free zone | Trade licence with a visa allocation | Usually 2 years MARKET |
| Retirement | Over-55s | 15 years' work history plus a financial test. Thresholds differ between the federal route and Dubai's own scheme VERIFY | 5 years |
| Family | Spouse and children of a resident | Sponsor earning AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation OFFICIAL | Tied to the sponsor's visa |
| Job seeker | People searching for work in person | No sponsor needed | 60, 90 or 120 days OFFICIAL VERIFY |
Remote work visa and Australian tax. Keeping an Australian employer while living in the UAE is the route most likely to leave you Australian resident, because your job, income and often your home stay anchored in Australia. Your employer may also keep PAYG and super obligations. Take Australian tax advice before choosing this route. LAW VERIFY
Visa categories, thresholds and fees change regularly, and the final decision always rests with ICP, GDRFA or the relevant authority. Nothing in this guide guarantees eligibility or approval. Our UAE Visa Requirements Guide covers every route in detail. For complex cases, specialist immigration lawyers can advise. Davidson & Co. (a Relocate2UAE partner) is one option.
You accept the offer and sign the MOHRE offer letter OFFICIAL.
Your employer applies for your work permit and entry permit. You travel on the entry permit.
You complete a medical fitness test in the UAE (blood test and chest X-ray) and give biometrics for your Emirates ID OFFICIAL.
Your residence visa is issued electronically and your Emirates ID card follows OFFICIAL.
You can then open a bank account, sign a tenancy in your name and sponsor your family OFFICIAL.
The in-country part typically takes one to three weeks when documents are in order REPORTED. Most delays come from unattested certificates (Section 5).
UAE offers are quoted as a basic salary plus allowances. The split matters because end-of-service gratuity is calculated on basic pay, and family sponsorship is assessed on your salary certificate LAW REPORTED.
Replace the super you are giving up. Ask whether the employer runs a savings or pension plan, or will pay an allowance you can invest yourself. Australian employers pay 12% on top of salary. UAE employers are not required to. LAW
Housing allowance. Compare it with real rents near your likely school (Section 9), not the employer's estimate.
School fees. Ask whether the allowance is per child, capped, or covers registration and deposits too.
Health insurance for dependants. In Dubai the sponsor must insure dependants. If your employer does not, budget for it. OFFICIAL
Annual flight home. Economy or business, for the whole family or just you. Flights to Australia cost far more than to Europe in peak weeks. MARKET
Relocation allowance and temporary housing. 2 to 4 weeks of serviced accommodation is common. MARKET
End-of-service gratuity. 21 days' basic pay for each of the first five years and 30 days for each year after, capped at two years' pay. LAW
Probation and notice. Up to six months' probation is allowed under UAE labour law. LAW
Our Family Relocation Guide includes an "Is this offer actually enough?" calculator built for exactly this conversation.
A standard residence visa can be cancelled automatically if you stay outside the UAE for more than 180 consecutive days. Golden Visa holders are exempt VERIFY. That matters for long trips home, for example a parent returning to Australia for a birth or to care for family. If your visa is cancelled because you leave your job, you have a grace period to find a new sponsor or leave, which varies by visa type OFFICIAL.
Two scoreboards run at once
180 days abroad can cancel your UAE visa. Separately, the ATO asks whether you still reside in Australia, whether your permanent place of abode has moved, and how long you spent in Australia in the income year (1 July to 30 June). You can hold a valid UAE visa and still be an Australian tax resident. Keep a travel log, boarding passes and your UAE entry and exit report from day one.
Australia is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, but the UAE is not, so an apostille alone will not do. Australian documents for UAE use need DFAT authentication followed by UAE attestation OFFICIAL.
Notarise or certify (if needed). Documents that are not issued by a government body, such as degree certificates, are usually notarised by an Australian notary public first. REPORTED
DFAT authentication. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade authenticates the signature or seal on the document. For a non-Hague country such as the UAE, DFAT issues an authentication rather than an apostille. OFFICIAL
UAE Embassy in Canberra. The Embassy attests the DFAT-authenticated document. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs runs a digital attestation service through the Canberra embassy in which one application covers both the embassy step and the Ministry step. OFFICIAL
MoFA in the UAE (if still needed). Documents not attested digitally may need a final Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation after arrival. OFFICIAL VERIFY
Documents apostilled as a bundle are not accepted by the UAE Embassy in Canberra, and documents issued outside Australia must be attested through the UAE mission in the country that issued them OFFICIAL. That catches people with a UK or New Zealand degree: it goes through that country's chain, not Canberra's.
Fees quoted by Canberra notaries in 2026 were around A$102 per document for DFAT and around A$140 per document at the UAE Embassy, plus notary and agent fees. MARKET VERIFY
| Document | Needed for | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Degree certificate | Work permit, Green Visa, Golden Visa, professional licensing (teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers) | Check the university name is exactly as printed on the certificate |
| Marriage certificate | Sponsoring a spouse | Use the official certificate from your state or territory Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, not the decorative one signed on the day REPORTED |
| Children's full birth certificates | Sponsoring children, school registration | Order the full version listing both parents from the state or territory registry REPORTED |
| AFP National Police Check | Some employers, Golden Visa and licensing routes | Often must be recent at submission, commonly within 90 days REPORTED VERIFY |
| Driving licence | Not attested, but bring the physical card | Section 12 |
| School reports and transfer letter | School admissions | Last two years of reports. Not attested |
| Immunisation history | School admissions | Download the Australian Immunisation Register statement through myGov before you go |
Start the chain 8 weeks before your planned move. Unattested certificates are the most common reason spouse visas stall, and restarting the process from Dubai adds weeks and courier costs REPORTED.
This is the section that saves or costs the most money, and the one where general guidance is most likely to miss something about your situation.
Before you rely on this section
Australian tax residency, capital gains tax, superannuation and property decisions depend on detailed facts and some are hard to reverse. This section explains the framework only. It is not tax advice and must not be used on its own to decide your departure date, sell or keep property, change your super or stop lodging. Take advice from a registered tax agent (check the Tax Practitioners Board register) and, for super and investments, a licensed financial adviser (check the ASIC Financial Advisers Register). Figures are for the 2026/27 income year (1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027) unless stated.
Australian residents are taxed on worldwide income. Foreign residents are taxed only on Australian-sourced income OFFICIAL. You stop paying Australian tax on your UAE salary when you stop being an Australian resident for tax purposes. That is decided by the ATO's residency tests, not by your visa, your passport or the forms you lodge OFFICIAL. The ATO also says plainly that it does not use the same rules as the Department of Home Affairs OFFICIAL.
You are an Australian resident if you pass any one of these LAW OFFICIAL.
1. The resides test
The primary test. It asks whether you reside in Australia in the ordinary sense. The ATO weighs physical presence, intention and purpose, family, business or employment ties, where your assets are, and your social and living arrangements. OFFICIAL
2. The domicile test — catches most Australians
If your domicile (your permanent legal home) is Australia, you are resident unless the ATO is satisfied your permanent place of abode is outside Australia. Someone born and raised in Australia usually keeps an Australian domicile while abroad unless they choose to migrate permanently, so the real question becomes whether you have genuinely set up a permanent home overseas. OFFICIAL
3. The 183-day test
If you are in Australia for more than half the income year, continuously or with breaks, you are resident unless your usual place of abode is outside Australia and you do not intend to live here. This test can make you resident. It cannot make you non-resident. OFFICIAL
4. The Commonwealth superannuation test
Applies to Australian Government employees at overseas posts who belong to the CSS or PSS schemes. It keeps them resident wherever they live. OFFICIAL
Two ATO examples worth knowing
The ATO describes a single teacher who takes a one-year contract abroad, rents out her Australian home and plans to travel and then come back. She stays resident under the domicile test because her permanent place of abode is still Australia.
It also describes a mother who takes a three-year contract abroad with an option to extend, moves her husband and three children with her, rents a home overseas and lets out the family home. She is a foreign resident, even though she kept the house. OFFICIAL The difference is not the house. It is the length and nature of the move and the life set up overseas.
Factors that usually point to non-residence
Factors that can keep you resident
The ATO has an online "work out your residency status" tool. It is useful for a first view but does not replace advice OFFICIAL. Many advisers also recommend a written file: your UAE tenancy, employment contract, Emirates ID, school enrolments, and a day count for every income year REPORTED.
Australia has income tax treaties with more than 40 countries. The UAE is not one of them OFFICIAL. That has two practical effects.
Because the UAE does not tax personal income, the lack of a treaty rarely produces actual double taxation. The risk is different: Australia taxing your UAE salary in full because you never clearly stopped being resident REPORTED.
A UAE Tax Residency Certificate from the Federal Tax Authority can help evidence your life in the UAE, but it does not decide your Australian residency OFFICIAL LAW.
The Australian income year runs 1 July to 30 June OFFICIAL. If you stop being resident part way through, you answer "yes" to being an Australian resident on that year's return, are taxed at resident rates, and get a pro-rata tax-free threshold OFFICIAL. The ATO formula is A$13,464 plus A$4,736 divided by 12 and multiplied by the number of months you were resident, counting the month you left OFFICIAL. Foreign-sourced income after the date you stop being resident does not go in the return, and you can claim the non-resident days as Medicare levy exempt days OFFICIAL.
| Income or asset | Position once you are a foreign resident | Tag |
|---|---|---|
| UAE salary | Outside Australian tax once you are non-resident | LAW |
| UAE salary if you stay resident | Taxable in Australia in full. There is no UAE tax to offset | LAW |
| Australian rental income | Taxable at foreign resident rates: 30% from the first dollar to A$135,000, 37% to A$190,000 and 45% above, with no tax-free threshold and no Medicare levy. Lodge an Australian return each year | OFFICIAL |
| Australian bank interest | 10% withholding tax as a final tax. Tell your bank you are non-resident | LAW OFFICIAL |
| Australian dividends | Franked amounts carry no withholding. Unfranked amounts are withheld at 30% because there is no treaty rate | LAW |
| Australian property gains | Always taxable. The 50% CGT discount is apportioned for periods of foreign residence after 8 May 2012 | OFFICIAL |
| Selling your former home | No main residence exemption at all unless the life events test applies (Section 6.7) | OFFICIAL |
| HELP debt | Compulsory repayments continue, based on worldwide income (Section 6.9) | OFFICIAL |
| Returning later | You are treated as reacquiring most non-property assets at market value on the day you become resident again | OFFICIAL |
Letting your home? Tell your lender. Many owner-occupier loans need consent or a change of product when the property is let, and some lenders restrict lending to non-residents REPORTED. Tell your insurer too. Landlord cover is different from home and contents cover MARKET.
Australian company owners. An Australian-incorporated company stays an Australian tax resident wherever you live LAW. Running it from Dubai does not change that, but it can raise questions about where the company is managed and where you work. This needs specialist advice.
When you stop being an Australian resident you are treated as having sold your CGT assets at market value on that day, except for taxable Australian property such as Australian real estate. This is CGT event I1, often called deemed disposal OFFICIAL.
Choosing to defer avoids a tax bill with no cash sale behind it, but it keeps the assets in Australian tax and future growth may get a reduced discount while you are non-resident. Paying now can make sense for large gains taken at a time of low income. This is a judgement call to make with a tax agent before you lodge your final resident return OFFICIAL REPORTED.
This is where timing matters most.
Sold while you are still resident: the usual main residence exemption can apply, including the rule that lets a former home be treated as your main residence for up to 6 years while it is let LAW REPORTED.
Sold after you become a foreign resident: no main residence exemption at all for property sold after 30 June 2020, not even a partial or apportioned one, and no "home first used to produce income" rule OFFICIAL. The whole gain over your ownership is taxed, at foreign resident rates.
Life events test: the exemption can still apply if you were a foreign resident for a continuous period of 6 years or less and, during that time, you, your spouse or your child under 18 had a terminal medical condition, your spouse or child under 18 died, or the sale followed a formal agreement after a relationship breakdown OFFICIAL.
The contract date counts, not settlement. The disposal time is when you sign the contract, so a contract signed before you become non-resident is judged on your resident status OFFICIAL.
Withholding at settlement: for contracts from 1 January 2025 the buyer must withhold 15% of the price on every sale and pay it to the ATO, unless the seller gives a clearance certificate. Australian residents apply for one free through the ATO and it lasts 12 months. Foreign residents cannot get one, but can apply for a variation, for example where the tax due will be less than 15% LAW OFFICIAL.
Decide before you go
If you might sell your former home within the next few years, compare the tax on selling before departure with the tax on selling as a foreign resident. For a long-held family home the difference can run to six figures ESTIMATE. If you plan to sell soon after leaving, apply for the clearance certificate while you are still resident, and sign the contract before your residency changes.
SMSFs need special care
To keep its tax concessions an SMSF must remain an "Australian superannuation fund". Its central management and control must ordinarily be in Australia, which is treated as met if it is temporarily outside Australia for up to 2 years. If it is permanently outside Australia for any period, the test fails LAW OFFICIAL. Where members who are non-resident contribute, an active member test can also fail OFFICIAL. A non-complying fund can be taxed at the top marginal rate on its assets and income LAW. Common responses include appointing an Australian-resident enduring attorney as trustee, not contributing while abroad, or rolling to a public-offer fund. Decide before you leave, with an SMSF specialist.
| Date | Change | Tag |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2025 | Foreign resident capital gains withholding rises to 15% and applies to all property sales, with no value threshold | LAW |
| 1 July 2025 | Super guarantee reaches 12% | LAW |
| 1 October 2025 | Australia/UAE CEPA and investment agreement enter into force | OFFICIAL |
| 1 July 2026 | Resident tax rate on A$18,201 to A$45,000 falls from 16% to 15% | LAW |
| 20 September 2026 | Age Pension supplement portability extended from 6 to 12 weeks, as announced in the May 2026 Budget | REPORTED VERIFY |
| 1 July 2027 | Resident rate on A$18,201 to A$45,000 due to fall to 14% | REPORTED VERIFY |
| Not yet legislated | 2021 Budget proposal to replace the residency tests with a 183-day bright-line test and factor tests. No legislation as at 27 September 2026 | REPORTED VERIFY |
You normally need a residence visa and Emirates ID to open a UAE personal current account, plus a salary certificate or other proof of income REPORTED. Many banks set a minimum monthly salary for standard accounts, commonly between AED 5,000 and AED 10,000 MARKET. Banks with an international network can make early transfers simpler. HSBC UAE (a Relocate2UAE partner) is one example. Compare fees, minimum balances and eligibility across several banks before choosing.
Your Australian credit history does not transfer. The Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB) builds a new UAE credit record from your first account OFFICIAL.
The dirham is pegged to the US dollar, and the Australian dollar floats against it OFFICIAL. If you still have Australian costs, such as a mortgage, your income and outgoings are in currencies that can drift apart by several percent in a month. For transfers, compare the total cost including the exchange rate margin, not just the fee MARKET.
Customs rule: cash or equivalent over AED 60,000 must be declared on arrival in the UAE OFFICIAL. Australia also requires you to declare A$10,000 or more in cash when you leave or arrive OFFICIAL.
| Cost | Compared with Australia | Tag |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | Similar to inner Sydney for central areas, higher than most Australian cities. Paid a year ahead | MARKET |
| School fees | The biggest new cost for families moving from Australian public schools | MARKET |
| Groceries | Similar overall. Australian brands and meat are widely available, often at a premium | MARKET |
| Eating out | Wide range, from cheap local restaurants to very expensive hotel dining | MARKET |
| Petrol | Cheaper than Australia. Prices are set monthly | OFFICIAL |
| Utilities | Not usually included in rent. Summer air conditioning bills can be high | MARKET |
| Alcohol | Generally more expensive than Australia | MARKET |
| Domestic help | Widely available and far cheaper than Australian childcare, with visa and contract obligations for the employer | MARKET |
For current figures see our UAE Cost of Living Guide 2026.
Illustration for a Dubai apartment at AED 120,000 a year, unfurnished ESTIMATE. Figures are indicative only, are not quotes, and will vary by landlord, agent and property.
| Item | Typical amount | Tag |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (first cheque, if paid in 4 cheques) | AED 30,000 | MARKET |
| Security deposit (5% unfurnished, often 10% furnished) | AED 6,000 | MARKET |
| Agency fee (commonly 5% of annual rent plus VAT) | AED 6,300 | MARKET |
| Ejari registration | About AED 220 | REPORTED |
| DEWA connection and refundable deposit (apartment) | About AED 2,000 plus connection fees | OFFICIAL VERIFY |
| Housing fee (5% of annual rent, billed monthly through DEWA) | AED 500 a month | OFFICIAL |
| Temporary accommodation for the first 2 to 4 weeks | Varies widely | MARKET |
| Furniture, white goods, car deposit | Varies widely | MARKET |
Some landlords give a discount for fewer cheques. Since 2022 most bounced-cheque cases are no longer criminal, but a bounced rent cheque still has serious civil and credit consequences LAW.
Many newcomers rent for their first year, so they can learn commutes, schools and communities before committing to a purchase MARKET. Serviced or furnished short-term rentals, such as those offered by Maison Privée (a Relocate2UAE partner), bridge the gap while you wait for your Emirates ID and view properties in person.
Dubai: tenancies are registered on Ejari. Rent increases at renewal are capped by reference to the RERA rental index, and landlords must give 90 days' notice of changes OFFICIAL.
Abu Dhabi: tenancies are registered on Tawtheeq OFFICIAL.
Cooling: ask whether chiller (district cooling) charges are included. They can add thousands of dirhams a year MARKET.
Maintenance: check who pays for what before signing, particularly for villas.
| Profile | Dubai | Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| Families wanting villas and gardens | Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills Estate, The Springs and Meadows, Jumeirah Park, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Mudon | Khalifa City, Al Raha Gardens, Yas Island, Saadiyat Island |
| Couples and singles near the beach | Dubai Marina, JBR, JLT, Downtown, Business Bay | Al Reem Island, Al Raha Beach, Corniche area |
| Value with a longer commute | JVC, Al Furjan, Motor City, Town Square, Mirdif | Al Reef, Mohammed Bin Zayed City |
Indicative Dubai rents, September 2026, based on published listings and market reports. These are not valuations or offers MARKET.
| Home | Typical annual rent |
|---|---|
| 1-bed apartment, JVC | AED 50,000 to 65,000 |
| 1-bed apartment, Dubai Marina or JBR | AED 90,000 to 120,000 |
| 2-bed apartment, citywide average | Around AED 95,000 |
| 3-bed villa, Arabian Ranches | AED 160,000 to 220,000 and above |
| 3-bed villa, Dubai Hills Estate | Around AED 200,000 and above |
Many families choose the school first and the neighbourhood second. For buying, including mortgages and Golden Visa property rules, see our UAE Housing Guide. Altura Property (a Relocate2UAE partner) is one adviser covering Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Always check that any agent is licensed by the relevant land department (RERA in Dubai, ADREC in Abu Dhabi) OFFICIAL VERIFY.
Australian International School Sharjah teaches a Queensland-based curriculum and states that it offers a pathway to the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and an ATAR. The school describes itself as the only full Australian Curriculum school in the UAE REPORTED.
Australian International School Dubai opened as a Queensland-curriculum school in Dubai and was welcomed by KHDA at its launch. Check its current year levels and senior pathway directly REPORTED VERIFY.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs refers to Australian schools in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. We could not confirm an Australian curriculum school currently operating in Abu Dhabi OFFICIAL VERIFY.
Most Australian families therefore choose British (GCSE and A Level) or International Baccalaureate schools. IB and A Level results can be used for entry to Australian universities through the state admissions centres, which convert them to an ATAR-equivalent or selection rank REPORTED VERIFY.
Dubai: private schools are inspected and rated by KHDA, which publishes ratings and approved fees OFFICIAL.
Abu Dhabi: private schools are regulated and inspected by ADEK OFFICIAL.
Northern Emirates: regulated by the Ministry of Education or local authorities OFFICIAL.
Compulsory education: children aged 6 to 18 must attend school or registered home schooling OFFICIAL.
The school year runs from late August or early September to early July, the opposite rhythm to Australia's calendar year. Plan which year level your child joins, and whether they repeat or skip half a year OFFICIAL REPORTED.
International school fees in Dubai range from around AED 30,000 a year at the value end to more than AED 100,000 at premium senior schools MARKET. Registration fees, deposits, uniforms, buses and trips come on top. Apply 6 to 12 months ahead for popular schools and bring the last two years of reports, a transfer letter, attested full birth certificate, immunisation history and passport copies MARKET.
Australian campuses in the UAE: the University of Wollongong in Dubai (the first, established 1993), Murdoch University Dubai and Curtin University Dubai OFFICIAL.
Studying in Australia later: Australian citizens are generally domestic students wherever they finished school, which is a major advantage over, for example, UK fee-status rules. Check HELP eligibility and any residency conditions with the university before enrolling REPORTED VERIFY.
See our Dubai International Schools Guide and UAE School Holiday Calendar 2026-27.
No reciprocal agreement. Medicare does not cover you in the UAE. You need health insurance OFFICIAL.
Employer cover. Employers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are legally required to provide health insurance for employees OFFICIAL. Mandatory employer cover was extended to the other emirates from January 2025 REPORTED.
Dependants. In Dubai the visa sponsor must insure dependants, and a dependant's visa cannot complete without cover. Abu Dhabi places more of the family's cover on the employer OFFICIAL VERIFY.
Check the policy, not just the logo. Network, co-payments, outpatient limits, maternity waiting periods, dental and pre-existing conditions all vary. Cover for treatment in Australia on visits home is an optional extra on many international plans MARKET. Pacific Prime (a Relocate2UAE partner) is one broker that compares international and local plans.
Before you go: get copies of GP and specialist records, your immunisation history from myGov, and prescriptions to last the first weeks.
Some medicines that are routine in Australia are controlled in the UAE. Examples reported for Australian travellers include codeine combinations such as Panadeine Forte, pseudoephedrine cold and flu tablets, ADHD stimulants such as dexamfetamine and methylphenidate, and some sleeping and anxiety tablets REPORTED. Controlled medicines need approval from the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention before you travel, and carrying them without it can lead to detention or prosecution, even in transit OFFICIAL. Check Smartraveller and the Ministry's list before you pack, and speak to your GP or pharmacist. This is not medical advice and the list changes.
Large private groups such as NMC Healthcare (a Relocate2UAE partner) operate across several emirates, which helps if you move between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Check any provider is in your insurer's network. For the full picture see our UAE Healthcare Guide.
Visitors can usually drive a hire car on a valid Australian licence in English REPORTED.
Residents must hold a UAE licence. Australia is among the countries whose licences Dubai's RTA exchanges without lessons or a road test OFFICIAL VERIFY ON THE CURRENT RTA LIST.
What you need in Dubai: Emirates ID, your original valid Australian licence (a full licence, not learner or provisional), and an eye test at an RTA-approved optician OFFICIAL VERIFY.
Digital licences: several states now issue digital licences. Bring the physical card, as the exchange requires the original REPORTED.
Cost in Dubai: file opening, licence issue, eye test and small fees typically total around AED 1,000 REPORTED VERIFY.
Keep your Australian licence alive. Renewal rules for residents overseas differ by state and territory. Check before it expires, as re-qualifying later can be harder REPORTED VERIFY.
Rules: drive on the right, zero tolerance on alcohol, heavy fines for phone use and speeding, and automatic tolls through Salik (Dubai) and Darb (Abu Dhabi) OFFICIAL.
Full details, costs and a licence exchange checker are in our UAE Driving and Vehicle Guide.
Bring: bedding, children's familiar things, good-quality furniture you love, documents and photographs. Most Australian electricals run on UAE voltage with a plug adapter REPORTED.
Think twice: very large furniture, outdoor furniture and anything cheaper to replace than to ship MARKET.
Hand luggage only: passports, original certificates, medicines with prescriptions and approvals, jewellery and valuables.
Choose a removalist with FIDI-FAIM or equivalent accreditation and get a written, survey-based quote MARKET. Sea freight from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Fremantle to Jebel Ali typically takes several weeks port to port and around 6 to 10 weeks door to door. Air freight is much faster and much more expensive MARKET. When goods come back to Australia, biosecurity officers inspect them. Soil on outdoor gear, bikes and garden tools, and untreated timber or cane items, can mean cleaning, treatment or seizure at your cost OFFICIAL VERIFY.
Duty: used personal effects and household goods are exempt from the 5% customs duty after inspection. New items or commercial quantities can be charged OFFICIAL.
Paperwork: Dubai Customs needs a passport copy, residence visa copy and an itemised list of goods OFFICIAL.
Timing: you generally need your residence visa before the shipment is cleared, so most people fly first and time the container to arrive afterwards OFFICIAL MARKET.
Restricted items: keep alcohol, controlled medicines and anything that could be seen as offensive material out of your shipment OFFICIAL.
The UAE charges 5% duty on a car's assessed value, and right-hand-drive vehicles face practical and registration hurdles in a right-hand-traffic country OFFICIAL REPORTED. Bringing a car back into Australia later needs import approval under the road vehicle standards rules and is heavily restricted OFFICIAL VERIFY. Most movers sell in Australia and buy locally.
UAE side: apply online to MOCCAE for an import permit before travel OFFICIAL. Generally up to two pets per person per year, and some dog breeds are banned or restricted OFFICIAL.
Australian side: your pet needs an Australian government export health certificate endorsed through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, based on the UAE's import conditions OFFICIAL VERIFY.
Cargo only: pets enter the UAE as manifest cargo, not in the cabin or as checked baggage OFFICIAL.
Rabies: Australia is rabies-free, which usually simplifies the UAE entry requirements. Confirm the vaccination and any testing rules on your MOCCAE permit OFFICIAL VERIFY.
Summer: many airlines restrict pet cargo in the hottest months. Plan the flight around the weather REPORTED.
This is the part most families only discover when they are ready to leave the UAE.
The UAE is reported as a Group 3 country for Australian pet imports, meaning rabies is present but well controlled. Check the current list on the DAFF website REPORTED VERIFY.
From a Group 3 country your pet needs rabies vaccination, a rabies neutralising antibody titre test (RNATT), and a wait of at least 180 days after the lab receives the sample before it can travel OFFICIAL.
On arrival, pets go to the Mickleham post entry quarantine facility in Melbourne, the only one in Australia, for at least 10 days and commonly 30 OFFICIAL.
If vaccination lapses, even by a day, the process can restart OFFICIAL.
DAFF allows pets that complete their rabies preparation in Australia before departure, and keep their protection current while overseas, to use that testing for their return. If there is any chance you will come home within a few years, ask your vet about starting the rabies steps before you leave Australia OFFICIAL VERIFY.
The UAE is welcoming and cosmopolitan, but some rules differ sharply from Australia. Smartraveller's advice for the UAE is the best single Australian government summary and is updated regularly OFFICIAL. The points below are a non-exhaustive summary, not legal advice. If you are unsure whether something is permitted, ask a UAE-licensed lawyer.
Alcohol: non-Muslims aged 21 and over can drink in licensed venues and at home. Drinking or being drunk in public are offences. Sharjah does not permit alcohol OFFICIAL REPORTED.
Drink-driving: zero tolerance LAW.
Drugs: zero tolerance, including traces found in blood or urine that may have come from use abroad. Products legal in parts of Australia, such as medicinal cannabis and CBD, are illegal in the UAE OFFICIAL REPORTED.
Cohabitation: unmarried couples living together was decriminalised in 2020 LAW.
Social media and filming: posting insulting or defamatory content, or photographing or filming people without consent, can be criminal offences LAW.
Swearing and rude gestures: including online and in traffic, can lead to fines or worse. Relaxed Australian banter does not always translate LAW.
Ramadan: be discreet about eating and drinking in public during daylight hours and expect shorter working hours REPORTED.
Dress: beachwear is fine on the beach and at the pool, not in malls or public areas REPORTED.
VPNs: using a VPN is not illegal in itself, but using one to commit an offence or access blocked services can be LAW VERIFY.
For more see our UAE Culture and Customs Guide.
Consular help: the Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi covers the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the Consulate-General in Dubai covers Dubai and the Northern Emirates. For emergencies out of hours, call the DFAT 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 OFFICIAL.
Business networks: the Australian Business Council Dubai runs professional events REPORTED.
Community and sport: groups such as Aussies Abroad in Abu Dhabi, AFL clubs in both cities, and school and neighbourhood networks are where most newcomers find their people REPORTED.
If you are a founder, consultant or freelancer, compare three routes: a Green Visa with a MOHRE freelance permit, a free zone company with an investor visa, or a mainland company OFFICIAL.
UAE corporate tax is 9% on taxable profits above AED 375,000, with 0% below LAW. Qualifying free zone companies can pay 0% on qualifying income if they meet substance and other conditions LAW.
Small Business Relief has been extended to December 2029 with conditions (Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026) LAW. See our UAE Business Setup Guide.
Trading with Australia: the Australia/UAE CEPA, in force since 1 October 2025, is set to remove tariffs on over 99% of Australian exports to the UAE by value when fully implemented OFFICIAL.
Keeping Australian clients is possible, but your personal residency, where the work is done and how any Australian entity is run all affect the tax result LAW.
Business setup specialists such as Creative Zone (a Relocate2UAE partner) can compare free zone and mainland options for your activity.
A practical sequence for the six months before you fly.
Confirm your visa route and, if employed, negotiate the full package, including a replacement for super (Section 4.3).
Book a registered tax agent for your departure plan: residency, CGT event I1, your home, rental income, super and HELP (Section 6).
If you have an SMSF, decide its future now (Section 6.8).
Shortlist schools and register interest (Section 10).
If you have pets, start export planning and ask your vet about rabies preparation for a future return (Section 14).
Start document attestation: degree, marriage and full birth certificates (Section 5).
Get removalist surveys and quotes (Section 13).
Decide what happens to your home: sell before you leave, let it (tell your lender and insurer), or keep it available (a residency risk).
If selling, apply for a clearance certificate while still resident (Section 6.7).
Review wills, binding nominations and enduring powers of attorney (Section 6.13).
Register as an overseas elector if you intend to return within 6 years (Section 6.12).
Tell your bank you are becoming a foreign resident, and set up a UAE-friendly transfer method (Section 7).
Book temporary accommodation in the UAE for 2 to 4 weeks.
Check every medicine against UAE rules and apply for approvals (Section 11).
Collect GP records, immunisation history and school reports.
Decide on private health insurance: cancel, suspend or keep (Section 6.11).
Tell Services Australia if you receive any payments (Section 6.10).
Keep your Australian mobile number on a low-cost plan.
Start a day-count log and keep boarding passes.
If you have a HELP debt, submit the Overseas travel notification within 7 days of leaving (Section 6.9).
Medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics.
Get a local SIM (e& or du).
Open a UAE bank account.
Sign your tenancy, register Ejari or Tawtheeq, and connect utilities.
Sponsor your family's visas.
Exchange your Australian driving licence.
Register UAE wills.
Confirm school places and transport.
Find a GP and dentist within your insurance network.
Build your residency evidence file: tenancy, contract, Emirates ID, school enrolment, day counts.
Diarise your final resident tax return, due after 30 June, and your first worldwide income report if you have a HELP debt.
Tax residency resumes when you satisfy a residency test again. Most assets that are not taxable Australian property are treated as acquired at market value on the day you become resident, which resets their cost base OFFICIAL.
Private health insurance: you usually have 12 months from your return to take out hospital cover without Lifetime Health Cover loading, if you were overseas on your base day OFFICIAL.
Medicare: re-enrol or reactivate through Services Australia when you are living in Australia again OFFICIAL VERIFY.
Pets: start the Group 3 process at least 7 months before you plan to fly (Section 14.2) OFFICIAL.
Household goods: expect biosecurity inspection. Clean outdoor items thoroughly before packing OFFICIAL VERIFY.
Your UAE visa: make sure your employer cancels your visa properly and settle any fines, loans and credit cards before you leave OFFICIAL REPORTED.
End-of-service gratuity: check the calculation against your basic salary and years of service LAW.
Driving: check your state or territory's rules for converting a UAE licence or reinstating an Australian one VERIFY.
ATO: Your tax residency; Residency tests (resides, domicile, 183-day, superannuation); Taxation Ruling TR 2023/1
ATO: Living overseas and becoming a foreign tax resident (part-year tax-free threshold)
ATO: Tax rates for Australian residents and foreign residents
ATO: Foreign residents and capital gains tax; How changing residency affects CGT; Main residence exemption for foreign residents; Foreign resident capital gains withholding
ATO: Overseas obligations when repaying study and training loans
ATO: Check your SMSF is an Australian super fund
Treasury: Income tax treaties (list updated 24 March 2026)
DFAT: Australia/UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement; legalisations and authentications
Smartraveller: travel advice for the United Arab Emirates
Australian Embassy Abu Dhabi and Consulate-General Dubai: consular services
Services Australia: Age Pension outside Australia; Reciprocal Health Care Agreements
privatehealth.gov.au: Lifetime Health Cover
Australian Electoral Commission: Registering as an overseas elector
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: cats and dogs from Group 3 countries; cats and dogs returning to Australia; rabies vaccination and testing
u.ae: residence visas, family residence visas, Green Visa, Golden Visa, retirement visa, job seeker visa
ICP and GDRFA Dubai: visa and Emirates ID services
UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UAE Embassy Canberra: attestation of Australian documents; education cooperation
Federal Tax Authority: Tax Residency Certificate
Ministry of Health and Prevention: controlled medicines approval
Dubai Customs: clearance of personal effects
MOCCAE: import permit for pets
RTA: exchange of foreign driving licences
KHDA and ADEK: school inspection ratings and fees
DLD and RERA: Ejari and the rental index; DEWA: housing fee and connections
We also reviewed publicly available guides published by expat tax advisers, wealth managers, removalists, pet transport firms, attestation agents and business setup companies. We treated them as leads, not sources, and checked their claims against the primary sources above. Several made claims we found to be wrong, including a supposed 2024 Australia/UAE tax treaty and a statement that Australia is not a Hague Apostille Convention member. Where published sources disagree, we say so in the text.
Written and verified by the Relocate2UAE editorial team. Last verified 27 September 2026. Next review 15 January 2027, after the Australian Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook. If you spot something out of date, tell us at info@relocate2uae.com and we will check it.
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