What people wish they’d known
People who have made the move say the paperwork was the easy part. These are the things that surprised them.
In 30 seconds
- Your first 3–4 weeks revolve around getting your Emirates ID (the UAE residence card)
- Work is often faster-paced, with longer days, than in the UK
- You start your social life and work network from scratch, and the partner at home often finds that hardest
1. Your Emirates ID comes first
The Emirates ID is the residence card every resident must have. Until it arrives, usually 3–4 weeks after you land, you can’t sign a lease, get a phone contract or open most bank accounts. Plan your cash and a temporary place to stay around it. What the Emirates ID unlocks.
2. Work is intense
Long days, a fast pace and high expectations are common, especially in senior, sales and client-facing roles. Many people are expected to answer work messages in the evening. Work culture and pace.
3. You start your network from zero
No friends nearby, no contacts and nobody who knows your track record. Most people say it takes 6 to 12 months to feel settled. Making friends and building a network.
4. The partner at home often finds it hardest
The partner with the job gets an office, colleagues and a routine on day one. The other partner may lose their job, routine and friends on the same day. The partner at home.
5. People move on
Many residents stay a few years, so friendship groups keep changing. Keep making new friends, even once you feel settled.
6. Pay rises aren’t automatic
People from the UK often expect a yearly pay rise. In the UAE the law doesn’t require one, so ask how pay is reviewed before you sign. Reading a UAE job offer.
What to do next
- Talk these through as a household before you decide
- Plan for 3–4 weeks before your Emirates ID arrives
- Read about the partner at home, even if it isn’t you