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Moving to Dubai from Russia: source-backed 90-day plan
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Moving to Dubai from Russia: source-backed 90-day plan
Moves from Russia to Dubai usually follow one of three routes: an employment visa, a company or investor setup, or a property-linked residence. The paperwork order matters more than the speed — attesting documents before you fly is far easier than couriering them back and forth afterwards.
Two things make this route specific. First, document legalisation takes several weeks in Russia, so it should start before anything else. Second, opening a personal bank account can involve additional compliance checks for Russian passport holders, so plan for the account to take longer than the Emirates ID itself.
Documents to prepare before you fly
Russia issues apostilles, but the UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so documents intended for use in the UAE normally need consular legalisation rather than an apostille alone. The usual route is: notarisation in Russia, then legalisation at the UAE Embassy in Moscow, then attestation at MOFA after you arrive in the UAE.
Prepare originals of every document a visa application, school or bank might ask for. Typical examples:
- —Passports valid for at least six months beyond your planned entry
- —Marriage and birth certificates, legalised for the UAE
- —Degree and professional certificates, legalised, if your visa or employer requires them
- —School records and recent report cards for children
- —Vaccination records for children and, if relevant, for pets
Driving licence
The RTA publishes a list of countries whose licences can be exchanged directly for a UAE licence. Check the current list for Russia before you rely on it — if your licence is not eligible for exchange, the alternative is enrolling in a Dubai driving school and passing the theory and road tests, which takes weeks rather than days.
Banking
A personal account normally requires an Emirates ID, a passport with a residence visa, and proof of address (an Ejari-registered tenancy) or a salary certificate from your employer. For Russian passport holders, many banks apply enhanced due-diligence checks, which is a standard compliance practice rather than a refusal — it simply means the account can take longer to open and the bank may ask for additional documents about the source of funds. Start the application as soon as your Emirates ID is issued and keep certified bank statements from Russia handy.
Schools and community
Dubai has no Russian-curriculum schools, so most Russian-speaking families choose British, IB or American curricula and keep the language up through Russian-language supplementary schools, weekend clubs and tutors. Demand for places is high, so contact schools as early as possible and confirm availability directly rather than relying on websites.
Common mistakes
- —Arriving with an apostille only, then discovering the UAE requires consular legalisation and MOFA attestation
- —Starting the bank account only after signing a tenancy, instead of preparing documents in parallel
- —Assuming a Russian driving licence can be exchanged without checking the current RTA list
- —Leaving school applications until after arrival, when preferred schools already have waiting lists
- —Paying a full year of rent before the residence visa and Emirates ID are confirmed
Frequently asked questions
Is an apostille enough for my Russian documents in the UAE?
Usually not. The UAE is not part of the Apostille Convention, so documents generally need legalisation at the UAE Embassy in Moscow and then MOFA attestation in the UAE. Confirm the exact route for each document before you fly.
How long does it take to open a bank account?
Once you have an Emirates ID, straightforward cases can take days, but applications that go through enhanced compliance checks can take several weeks. Apply early and respond to document requests quickly.
Can my children continue education in Russian?
There is no Russian-curriculum school in Dubai. Families typically choose a British, IB or American school and add Russian-language supplementary classes or tutoring alongside.
Do I need to attest my degree for an employment visa?
It depends on the role and the employer's requirements. Many skilled positions ask for an attested degree, so legalising it before departure is usually time well spent.
Rules change often — confirm current requirements with ICP, RTA, MOHRE or MOCCAE before you act.