We help to move thousands of customers to the United Arab Emirates every year and it is one of our most popular destinations. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have become known as two of the world's most expat friendly cities and with good standards of living, appealing salaries and a highly regarded job opportunities, we are not surprised.
If you are planning to move to the UAE, then there are many things you need to be aware of and plan for beforehand. To ensure your move is as stress free as possible, be sure to read our guide:
Make sure you do your research
It is essential that you know about where you are moving to before you leave. The UAE has a different culture and follows different rules to what most expats are used to, so it is important to make sure that the way of life here will suit your lifestyle, especially if you are moving there as a family. The worst thing you can do is to make the move and then come to the realisation that it's not the place for you, as moving all your goods back home again could make the situation rather costly.
Find a place to live
Once you are sure the UAE is the place for you, you need to work out where you are going to live. The UAE has everything from high rise apartment blocks in downtown Dubai, to residential neighbourhoods in the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, so no matter what your preference is you needs can be catered for.
The high-rise city apartment blocks are often popular with young people who are moving to further their career and meet new people. They enjoy being in the center of the hustle and bustle, surrounded by things to do and plenty of places to socialise after work. For families, the quality of schooling is very appealing but city life may not be your first choice when deciding how you are going to raise your children. The United Arab Emirates is home to many communities, located just on the outskirts of the cities which are in close proximity to recreational activities for the children. As well as this, the UAE has a growing expat retiree population, following their introduction of a new fiver-year visa for over 55 year old's. There are some great places for retired expats to live here that are close to places to meet up with friends, to enjoy their hobbies and with easy access to healthcare facilities.
Start looking for a job
Some expats move to the United Arab Emirates to pursue a career opportunity that has arisen, but others may need to have a search before they make the move. Your new job may influence a number of factors such as where in the country you choose to live, your budget, and even the visa that you choose to apply for. The UAE is flexible in that you don't have to have a job in order to move to the country, however if you are planning to work there, then we recommend saving yourself some stress and getting organised before you move.
Start looking into schooling options
If you are moving to the UAE with a family, then getting the children settled into their new surroundings can be a challenging task so to take some stress away from the situation we recommend you start looking at schooling options as soon as you start thinking about moving. The UAE has a very high standard of education and many expats opt for the international school option as it gives children a little bit of familiarity when moving to a new place.
Apply for your visa
Entry requirements for the United Arab Emirates vary depending on individual circumstances and therefore you need to ensure you leave yourself plenty of time to get this sorted. Make sure you have applied for the visa that suits your situation best and have all your immigration documents in order before you leave. The last thing you want is for there to be any issues when you arrive in the United Arab Emirates.
Contact a removal company
The next thing you need to do is work out how you are going to get your goods to their destination. Moving your belongings to the UAE can be challenging, so we recommend contacting an international removal company to help you out. As well as getting your goods from A to B, a removal company can offer their advice and support along the way, including offering storage solutions and unpacking services. Getting a removal company involved will help to ease a lot of the stress that comes with international moving.
It is recommended that you get in touch with your chosen removal company as soon as possible, to avoid any surprises close to your moving date. Removal companies get very book up during the summer, which especially important to consider if you are thinking of moving between June and September.
You need to choose a reputable removal company to ensure your goods get to their destination safe and sound. At Pickfords, we have been moving customers to the United Arab Emirates for years and it is one of our most popular destinations with customers. We offer international door-to-door removals services, so take a look here for more information and see how we can help with your upcoming move.
Consider taking your car
If you are thinking of driving in the UAE, then you need to work out whether it would be more practical to send your car overseas or to purchase a new one at your destination. If you have decided to take your car with you, you will need to get to grips with the United Arab Emirates motoring laws and restrictions, as they will not be the same as the UK.
You also need to make sure you have all the correct documentation to import your car into the country and that your vehicle complies with UAE customs regulations. Take a look at the UAE Fidi Guide for all the correct information.
Your chosen removal company can help to get your car to it's destination. At Pickfords, we offer customers moving to the UAE a car shipping service where we can ship your vehicle subject to local customs restrictions. Our team of experienced Move Managers are also very knowledgeable on UAE customs regulations, so if you have any questions then don't hesitate to contact them.
Consider taking your pet
The United Arab Emirates allows you to import your domestic animals into the country, however it is essential that you know what the requirements are. If you are moving your pet, then plan ahead of time to ensure that all the necessary vaccinations have been carried out and that you have the right documentation to be allowed through customs.
Your chosen removal company may offer a pet shipping service too, so it is worth enquiring about this to avoid any additional stress. At Pickfords, we offer customers moving to the UAE a pet shipping service to ensure all the family can be reunited at destination. Get in contact with our team today to find out how we can get your pets to the UAE.
If you are thinking of moving to the UAE, then get in contact with us to see how we can assist with your upcoming move.