Your verified 90-day Dubai move plan

Your residence route depends on your circumstances: employment, company or investment, qualifying long-term residence, or family sponsorship. Confirm eligibility, documents and the current process with ICP or GDRFA Dubai before committing to a move. There is no single timeline for every application; document preparation, approvals, medical screening and Emirates ID can affect the sequence. SETTRA can coordinate practical relocation tasks but does not determine visa eligibility or guarantee approval dates.

Build two budgets: arrival costs and ongoing living costs. Include rent and its payment schedule, refundable deposits, any agency fee, Ejari, utilities, moving and furnishing, insurance, transport and school costs. Keep rent separate from home-setup estimates, and distinguish refundable deposits from money you will not recover. The Move Planner provides indicative estimates, not a complete quote; confirm current charges with the relevant authority or provider before paying.

Start with your daily journeys rather than a neighbourhood’s reputation. Compare the commute to work and school, apartment versus villa living, transport access, cooling arrangements and the full rental cost. Dubai Marina and Downtown may suit a different routine from Dubai Hills Estate or Emirates Hills. Visit shortlisted homes, test the journey at your usual travel time and check the building’s rules before signing. Use a licensed property broker for regulated property advice and transactions.

Shortlist schools by curriculum, year group, location and your child’s needs. Use KHDA’s school directory and fee information, then confirm places and admission requirements directly with each school. Compare the total annual cost, not tuition alone: transport, uniforms, books, meals and activities may be additional. Request the school’s current fee fact sheet and prepare the records it asks for before making housing commitments around an assumed place.

Prepare the documents required for your residence route and confirm whether attestation is needed. Arrange health insurance and check the policy’s cover and provider network. Coordinate residence processing and Emirates ID; banks set their own account-opening requirements, so ask your chosen bank what it needs and do not assume immediate approval. For a rental home, confirm Ejari registration and the DEWA activation process. Keep passport, banking and identity-document details out of the public planner.