A clear route through a move to Dubai, in the order you will need it: costs, areas and housing, schools and nurseries, and settling in. Dubai-specific guides sit alongside the UAE-wide guides that still apply to you here.
Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates and the region's main hub for finance, trade, logistics and tourism, with an expatriate population of roughly 85%. There is no personal income tax, English is the working language, and the job market is the broadest in the Gulf. It suits professionals who want career breadth and a fast pace, and families who want a wide choice of international schools and modern housing. The city spreads along a coastline and inland around the Creek, so where you live changes your commute, your school run and your rent more than almost anything else. This hub takes you through that decision in order, from the paperwork you can start before you fly to the practicalities of your first 90 days after arrival.
Get the sequence right before you commit. Start with the city decisions, then the paperwork.
Package, schools, housing, visas and costs for families.
Read guideWork visas, Golden Visa and family sponsorship.
Read guideThe pre-arrival checklist to complete from home.
See the checklistDubai against Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the rest, side by side.
Compare emiratesEtiquette, dress codes and Ramadan, explained simply.
Read guideDubai prices vary enormously by area. Use the Dubai-specific figures first, then the UAE-wide guide for the rest of your budget.
Dubai-specific housing, schools, transport and lifestyle pricing.
See Dubai costsRegulator-verified monthly budgets across the emirates.
Calculate costsMemberships and apps that genuinely cut your bills.
Find savingsWhere to live in Dubai, how tenancy works, and the UAE-wide property series if you are weighing up buying.
Neighborhoods, communities and best areas for expats.
Explore the mapEjari, cheques, deposits and your rights.
Read guideShort-term rentals and the landing strategy.
Read guideIn order, from renting your first apartment to owning property in the UAE.
Dubai schools are regulated by KHDA. Start with the curriculum and the commute, not the brochure.
British, American and IB curricula, fees and KHDA ratings.
Compare schoolsTerm dates, breaks and public holidays.
View calendarSharjah, RAK, Ajman, UAQ and Fujairah options and commute.
Read guideThe practical first weeks: healthcare, government services, driving, and getting your bearings.
Insurance requirements, hospitals and medical costs.
Read guideEmirates ID and official procedures, step by step.
Read guideLicence conversion, buying or leasing a car.
Read guideImport rules and pet-friendly housing.
Read guideClubs, fitness and activities for the family.
Read guideWhat's on across the emirates to New Year's Eve.
View calendarCompare both cities, or browse the complete guide library.
The questions expats ask us most often before they commit to Dubai. Deeper detail lives in the guides above.
Still have a question about your specific move?
Ask us on WhatsApp