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Everything you need to know to begin your Dubai relocation journey. From visas and paperwork to first steps on the ground.
The complete guide to moving to Dubai. From visas and housing to schools and cost of living, we cover everything based on our 3+ years of expat life in the UAE.
The complete guide to moving to Dubai. From visas and housing to schools and cost of living, we cover everything based on our 3+ years of expat life in the UAE.
Connor and Jessica moved to Dubai with two young kids. Three months later, they're back to share the real costs, the surprises, and what nobody tells you about family life here – from shipping containers to hiring help at home.
Two mums share their unfiltered experience of relocating to Dubai – the paperwork nightmares, finding schools, making friends as an adult, and why it takes about a year to truly feel settled.
After exactly one year living in Dubai as a family of four, here are the honest lessons we learned – from why you definitely need a car to why community matters more than you think.
Mya left the UK at 22, spent 14 years in Singapore building a furniture empire with her husband, then took a leap to Dubai with no plan. Here's her honest story about love, business, working with your spouse, and what it really takes to start over.
Mel moved from Bedfordshire to Dubai as a single mum of two with no safety net. Here's her honest story – from the NOOCC paperwork to spreadsheets, solo parenting, and finding her people in a new country.
Kam Hutchinson has spent nearly 10 years in Dubai real estate. In this deep-dive conversation, he unpacks what it really takes to build a career here – the winner's mindset, the rejection, the service culture, and why 40% of real estate agents don't make it.
Connor and Jessica are moving their family and business from the UK to Dubai in July 2025. We sat down to discuss shipping costs, business setup, community choices, school options, driving fears, and everything families need to know before making the move.
Life insurance, wills, pensions – the stuff nobody wants to think about but everyone needs to sort. We sat down with financial adviser Ulas to unpack exactly what expat families need in place when living in Dubai.
After 6 months in Dubai and hundreds of questions from our community, I'm finally answering the burning questions about relocating – from UK property decisions to phone numbers, business setup, schools, and everything in between.
After 6 months living in Dubai with our family, we're sharing everything – the weather, schools, driving, apps, costs, and whether the reality matched our expectations. No sugar-coating.
Planning your first trip to Dubai? Adam took his brother and nephew around the city for 6 days. Here are the 11 spots you absolutely have to visit – with real prices, honest reviews, and insider tips.
Three of my best mates came to Dubai for work. Before they flew home, I got them on mic to hear their raw, unfiltered first impressions – the good, the bad, and whether Dubai has a soul.
Three months into our Dubai relocation and we're finally settling into a routine. The weather's changing, neighbours are bringing cake, and we're learning the hard way about AppleCare. Here's what life actually looks like now.
Adam flew back to the UK for work. Sara was alone in Dubai with two kids, no friends or family nearby. Here's what that week taught us about how settled we really are – and the emotions nobody warns you about.
We dropped our boys at Hartland School for the first time and something shifted. This was no longer a holiday – it was home. Here's our honest, emotional journey through that day.
Step-by-step guide to transferring your UK driving licence to a Dubai licence. Total cost: 1,055 AED. Total time: 30 minutes. Plus the dress code tip that could save you embarrassment.
We answered the most common questions about relocating to Dubai: visa costs, bank accounts, school fees, the cheque system, shipping furniture, and working remotely. All the real numbers.
Week 4 was admin-heavy: driving licence converted, Emirates ID sorted, and a painful £714 lesson about document attestation we should have done in the UK. Here's what we learned.
Our first week after relocating from the UK to Dubai. Getting recognized at the airport, discovering the heat is no joke (46°C!), finding Yorkshire Tea, and the moment it finally felt real.
We just relocated from the UK to Dubai with our kids. The tearful goodbyes, the boys discovering their own rooms, and the honest conversation about whether we're doing the right thing.
Day 3: We checked out of the hotel and moved into our unfurnished apartment. Home Center delivery arrived, furniture got assembled, and we learned about Dubai's windy balconies the hard way.
We landed yesterday morning and we've been at it for 36 hours. Here's how far we've got with the apartment setup – IKEA runs, Home Center trips, and discovering the blinds will cost more than expected.
We secured our Dubai apartment from the UK in 4 days – found it, negotiated, signed contracts. Here's exactly how we did it, including the broker that tried to squeeze us and the one that got it done.
We landed at 2:30am, got 4 hours sleep, and now we're seeing our apartment for the first time. We've got 72 hours to furnish it completely. Here's Day 1.
You need an Emirates ID before you can rent, get a phone contract, or open a bank account in Dubai. Here's exactly how I got mine – medical test, biometrics, and the passport control panic moment.
Start with visa requirements (employment, golden visa, or freelance), then research neighbourhoods based on your lifestyle and budget. Our complete relocation guide covers everything step-by-step.
You'll need a valid passport (6+ months validity), visa (usually employer-sponsored), Emirates ID, attested educational certificates, and marriage/birth certificates if bringing family.
The visa process typically takes 2-4 weeks. Allow 1-2 months total for finding accommodation, setting up utilities, and completing paperwork like Emirates ID and driving licence conversion.
I'd love to help you navigate your Dubai relocation with confidence and clarity.