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Moving to Dubai from Turkey: source-backed 90-day plan
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Moving to Dubai from Turkey: source-backed 90-day plan
The move from Türkiye to Dubai is one of the shortest on this site — a flight of around four hours and a large, established Turkish community on arrival. The practical work is still the same: legalise documents before departure, sequence the visa, Emirates ID and bank account correctly, and sort schooling early if children are coming.
Turkish citizens typically arrive through an employment visa, a company setup or family sponsorship. Because travel between the two countries is easy, many families split the move: one person comes first to complete residency and housing, the rest follow once the Ejari and school places are confirmed.
Documents to prepare before you fly
Türkiye issues apostilles, but the UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so documents for use in the UAE normally need consular legalisation: certification in Türkiye, then legalisation at the UAE Embassy in Ankara or the Consulate in Istanbul, then MOFA attestation after arrival.
Documents worth preparing before departure:
- —Passports valid for at least six months beyond your planned entry
- —Marriage and birth certificates with sworn translations, legalised for the UAE
- —Degree certificates, legalised, if your visa or employer requires them
- —School records and transcripts 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 whether Türkiye is on the current list before you rely on it; if it is not, the route is a Dubai driving school plus theory and road tests. An international driving permit is useful for the first days but is not a substitute for a UAE licence once you are a resident.
Banking
Opening a personal account requires an Emirates ID, a passport with a residence visa, and proof of address (an Ejari-registered tenancy) or a salary certificate. Turkish applicants generally find the process straightforward; the most common delay is simply waiting for the Emirates ID to be issued, so treat that as the first milestone after the visa.
Schools and community
There is no Turkish-curriculum school in Dubai, so Turkish families usually choose British, IB or American curricula. The Turkish community in Dubai is large and active, with community groups, restaurants and cultural events that make the first months easier — but school places still need to be secured early, directly with each school.
Common mistakes
- —Bringing apostilled documents only, then learning the UAE requires consular legalisation and MOFA attestation
- —Assuming the whole family must move at once — a staged move is often cheaper and calmer
- —Signing a one-year tenancy before the residence visa is confirmed
- —Waiting for the Emirates ID before starting the bank account paperwork that can be prepared earlier
- —Choosing a school by website alone instead of confirming current availability with the admissions office
Frequently asked questions
Is an apostille enough for Turkish 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 Ankara or the Consulate in Istanbul, followed by MOFA attestation in the UAE.
Can I exchange my Turkish driving licence in Dubai?
Check the RTA's current list of countries eligible for direct exchange. If Türkiye is not listed for your licence type, you will need to complete driving school and the tests in Dubai.
Are there Turkish schools in Dubai?
There is no Turkish-curriculum school. Families typically enrol children in British, IB or American schools and keep Turkish up at home and through community activities.
Should the family move together or in stages?
Many families move in stages: one person completes the visa, Emirates ID, tenancy and school places first, and the rest of the family follows. It reduces the cost of temporary accommodation and the pressure of doing everything in one trip.
Rules change often — confirm current requirements with ICP, RTA, MOHRE or MOCCAE before you act.