We collected all the questions you've been asking across YouTube and TikTok and answered them in one go. Here's everything – with real numbers.
How Much Does It Cost to Relocate? (Visas & Setup)
Employment Visa Route (Adam's Path)
If you're getting a visa through a company that has a Dubai entity:
| Item | Cost (AED) | Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| All-in employment visa | ~7,500 | ~£1,600 |
This covers: visa allocation, employment visa, medical, biometrics – everything to get your Emirates ID.
Business Setup Route (Sara's Path)
If you're setting up your own company and need a partner/investor visa:
| Item | Cost (AED) | Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Visa allocation | 1,850 | ~£390 |
| Partner visa + medical + biometrics | ~8,000 | ~£1,700 |
Business License Costs
These vary massively depending on:
- Type of business
- How many visas you need
- Which free zone you set up in
Ballpark: 3,000–8,000 AED
Important: Visas expire (2, 3, or 5-year options). Company registration needs renewing. Factor in ongoing costs, not just year one.
Attestation Costs (For Children's Visas)
To sponsor children, you need birth certificates and marriage certificate attested.
| Document | Cost (AED) | Cost (GBP) | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate (each child) | ~370 | ~£78 | 15-22 working days |
| Marriage certificate | ~2,257 | ~£478 | 15-22 working days |
Note: Our marriage certificate may have cost more because we got married in Cyprus.
"If we'd known about attestation in the UK, we could have got it done faster and cheaper. Definitely sort this before you leave."
Why Did You Choose Sobha Hartland Over Marina?
We love Dubai Marina – it's where we always stayed on visits. Great restaurants, close to JBR and Blue Waters, walking distance to the beach.
But we chose based on schools first.
Our priority was walking distance to school. We looked at three schools, chose Hartland International, then found accommodation nearby.
"Don't think about the location first. Think: what lifestyle and vibe do I want? We wanted to walk the kids to school every day and be part of a community. That drove our decision."
If you want to be close to great restaurants, bars, and the beach – Marina is perfect. If you want community and school proximity – look at areas near your chosen school.
Every area has its own vibe. Work out what you want before you start looking.
How Easy Is It to Open a Bank Account?
As a Non-Resident
Apparently you can, but there are limitations. You need to prove why you need a local account. Key issue: you probably won't get a chequebook – and you need cheques to rent an apartment.
As a Resident
You need:
- Residency visa
- Emirates ID
- Phone contract
Then you can open an account.
Digital Banks (WIO)
- Setup: Same day
- Type: Like Revolut/Monzo – no physical branches
- Backed by: Alpha Dhabi, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), and others
- Good for: Quick setup, good app interface
Traditional Banks (NBD)
- Setup: They come to you – no need to visit a branch
- Good for: Chequebook, in-person service
Interest Rates
Savings accounts here offer 4.35–4.5% interest. Put your lumpy payments (quarterly rent, school fees) into a flexible savings account and earn decent returns.
"Seeing that notification come through every month saying you've got £100 interest – that's free cash. I enjoy it."
How Long to Get Your Emirates ID?
If You Pay for Premium Service
From landing to Emirates ID: 5 working days
- Medical and biometrics done within 3 days
- Digital ID issued 2 days later
- Can leave the country and have physical card shipped
Standard Timeline
If you take a cheaper option, the window you need to be in-country is longer. We paid a few hundred extra for the faster service – worth it.
Sara's Timeline (With Company Setup)
- Medical + biometrics: 26 days after landing (waiting for company setup)
- Emirates ID: 2 days later
- Phone contract: Same day
- Bank account: Same day
72 hours from biometrics to phone contract and bank account.
What Are the School Fees?
We chose Hartland International School – British curriculum. It's at the higher end of the price range.
| Year | Annual Fee (AED) | Annual Fee (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 6 | 59,180 | ~£12,578 |
| Year 4 | 57,066 | ~£12,129 |
Total for two kids: ~£25,000/year (plus uniforms and extras)
There's a wide range of schools and fees. This is one of the more expensive options – cheaper exists.
Why Didn't You Ship Furniture from the UK?
Our Situation
We kept our UK home (Adam's mum moved in). Didn't want to rug her of all the furniture. Plus, four-bed house furniture wasn't going to fit in an apartment anyway.
Shipping Realities
| Method | Timeline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sea freight (full container) | ~16 weeks | Ships immediately when full |
| Sea freight (partial container) | 16+ weeks | Waits until container is full |
| Air freight | Faster | Much more expensive |
The problem: If Riley's gaming PC takes 16 weeks, what's he playing on? If the Xbox ships but the TV ships separately... you see the issue.
What We Did Instead
Packed 7 large suitcases. Bought everything else new.
Where to Buy Furniture in Dubai
| Store | Notes |
|---|---|
| Home Center | Our main choice – reasonably priced, fast delivery, assembly included |
| IKEA | Express delivery with assembly |
| OC Home | Good options |
Key questions we asked: How fast can you deliver? Do you do assembly?
Ordered Thursday → Some arrived Friday → Rest arrived Saturday. Assembly done in hours.
How Does the Cheque System Work?
Yes, in 2024, you write physical cheques to pay rent. It feels bizarre next to the Museum of the Future, but here we are.
How It Works
- Rent is paid in cheques (typically 1, 2, 4, or 12 per year)
- You write all cheques upfront
- Hand them to the landlord/agent
- They get cashed on the due dates
Example
100,000 AED annual rent, 4 cheques = 4 × 25,000 AED cheques
Negotiation Tip
"Everything is a negotiation. If the listing says '1-12 cheques' and the landlord seems flexible, use fewer cheques as a negotiation point for lower rent."
Upfront Costs
- Broker fees: Paid upfront
- Security deposit: Paid upfront
- Cannot be spread across cheques
How Has Work Changed?
Neither of us took Dubai jobs – we work remotely with UK clients.
The Time Zone Advantage
Dubai is 3-4 hours ahead of the UK. This creates "golden hours" in the morning.
"I get a lot of work done in the morning before any distractions of people Slacking and emailing me. That's when I do deep work."
Adam's Challenge
Working with UK and US clients:
- 3-4 hours before UK wakes up
- Full UK shift overlap
- US clients = calls at 10-10:30pm
Solution: Set clear boundaries on when you work. Still figuring this out.
The Dream Schedule
- Morning: Golden hours (deep work)
- Mid-morning: UK overlap calls
- Midday (3pm UK): Break – family time, school pickup
- Afternoon: Back end of UK shift if needed
Quick Cost Summary
| Item | Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|
| Employment visa (all-in) | ~£1,600 |
| Partner visa (business setup) | ~£1,700 |
| Birth certificate attestation (each) | ~£78 |
| Marriage certificate attestation | ~£478 |
| Business license | £600-£1,700 (varies hugely) |
| School fees (Year 4-6, British curriculum) | ~£12,000-£12,500/year each |
Top Tips
- Sort attestation in the UK – faster and probably cheaper
- Pay for premium visa service – 5 days vs weeks of waiting
- Get a traditional bank account – you need a chequebook
- Choose school first, then area – don't do it backwards
- Buy furniture here – shipping takes too long
- Negotiate rent – fewer cheques can mean lower price
- Set work boundaries – or the time zones will consume you
More Questions?
Drop them in the comments – we'll answer them in the next Q&A.
- Take the neighbourhood quiz – Find your ideal area
- Browse school guides – Compare options and fees
- Work with Sara – Get personalised support
We're considering a Dubai Diary meetup for anyone in the area – stay tuned!