How to move to the UAE in 2022: top tips

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How to move to the UAE in 2022: top tips

An increasing number of people want to relocate to the Arab Emirates these days. If you are one of them, this post is for you. It will help you to plan relocation for permanent residence, get an idea of a life in the UAE for foreigners, and learn about the pros and cons of this country.

How to move to the UAE for permanent residence

There are several ways to move to the Arab Emirates. One of them is finding employment in this country. In this case, you need to have an employment contract from the host company. If you are hunting for a job remotely, ask the employer to email you the contract, translate it into your language, and study it carefully.

If you want your life and work in the UAE to be successful, the employment contract should stipulate your monthly salary. It is also useful if your employer covers the following costs:

Rent of housing in the city/town/locality where the employer is located
Medical insurance policy covering you and your family members
Round trip tickets from/to the Arab Emirates once a year
Company car and petrol cost or commute by public transit
Your children’s schooling

The above items may or may not be included in your employment contract depending on the specifics of your agreement with the employer.

If the employer does not provide you with housing, you should plan to spend at least AED 3,700 (USD 1,000) per month on renting a regular one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and a living room in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

If you decide to move to the UAE without a signed contract, you must have at least AED 18,300 (USD 5,000). This will last you about three months.

Moving to the UAE: pros and cons

There are a number of substantial advantages to living in the Emirates.

The key benefit is the well-developed and stable economy. The exchange rate of the local currency has been at the same level relative to the US dollar since 1997, so prices of groceries, shoes, clothes, petrol, or medical services are not prone to leaps in this country.

A huge advantage for those who would like to set up a company in the UAE or are already running a business is the Emirates’ tax policy. Only oil & gas and banking companies pay a corporate tax in the UAE, while other legal entities and physical persons are exempt from the income tax. The average salary at local companies was AED 18,300 (USD 5,000) in 2021.

Local healthcare is one of the best in the world. You need an insurance policy to have access to it.

The UAE is number two in the rating of safest countries compiled by Global Finance in 2021.

When you ask yourself the question “Is it worth living in the UAE?”, you need to take into account the country’s shortcomings and arguments against moving there too.

Hot weather for more than six months a year can be a drawback for most people, even those used to such climate. The sun is blazing here from April through November. However, this disadvantage can be easily turned into a benefit: in the Emirates, you can sunbathe on the beach and swim in the sea all year round.

Another shortcoming is high prices of consumer goods. For instance, beef costs about AED 70 (USD 19) per kg.

How to relocate to the UAE

How can you relocate to the UAE without any problems? You need a long-term residence visa to do it legally. You can apply for it on the following basis:

Being admitted to a college in the UAE (a student visa)
Getting employed at a local company (a work visa)
Setting up your own company and doing business (a business visa)
property in Dubai
Moving to a close relative – a parent (for sons under 25 years and unmarried daughters) or a spouse (a dependent visa).

A five-year Green Visa is also available for wealthy freelancers and self-employed persons who can confirm an annual income of AED 360,000 (USD 98,000) or more. Elderly people may be eligible for a retirement visa that we will discuss in more details below.

It is better to contact a real estate agency if you would like to buy a land plot, a villa, an apartment, or a commercial property (a restaurant, bar, café, warehouse, office, etc.). Professionals will guide you through numerous listings, explain how to relocate to the UAE for permanent residence, help you to find the right property, draft a purchase and sale agreement, and evaluate the premises – i.e. walk you through all stages of closing the deal.

Living in the UAE for foreigners

Nationals of other countries frequently move to the Emirates, often for the sake of the warm climate.

Expats in the UAE like to blog about living in the new country, share advice on the best ways of moving here, and explain whether relocation is worth it.

You will find a lot of opinions online, most of them positive. Immigrants love the safety and comfort of the UAE, the high standards of living, good salaries, and the ease of doing business. You can purchase a home in the UAE remotely. The demand for this service has grown considerably over the past months. Many nationals of other countries strive to apply for a residence permit and have a “home away from home” where they can go at any moment.

Are the UAE a good place for families?

The Emirates are a family-friendly country with a high safety level and numerous communities designed for peaceful and quiet living with children and pets, such as Emirates Hills, Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills Estate, Jumeirah Lake Towers, and many others. The UAE market of private schools is the largest in the world. As of 2021, there were 725 international schools in this country, teaching over 696,000 children. 333 of these are in Dubai, which is the highest of all other cities. Some of these schools offer education in other languages besides English in case you wish your child to maintain a link with the culture and heritage of your home country.

Living in the UAE for foreign retirees

People over 55 years of age can retire to the UAE. The country has a special program for this purpose. Applicants must meet one of the three conditions: a revenue of AED 20,000 (USD 5,500) or more per month, savings worth AED 1 million (USD 272,500) or more, or owning real estate in Dubai worth AED 2 million (USD 544,500) or more.

In the Emirates, retirees get access to high-quality healthcare and a wide range of amenities, from museums and opera to beach leisure and sports activities to suit their age.

Living in the UAE: an insider’s perspective

Moving to another country is an important step, especially if you choose to relocate to the UAE or any other country independently and own a home there. Our team has been working in the local market for many years, possesses insider knowledge of it, and will help you to purchase an apartment or a villa in the United Arab Emirates like a breeze.

Act today to make your dream of a home in the UAE come true. The team of AX CAPITAL, a leading real estate agency in Dubai, will support your search of properties, negotiate with sellers, and help with the documentation required to close the deal.

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