Free guide
Your first 30 days
Land, get your Emirates ID, open a bank account and find a home. The order matters. Pick who’s arriving.
Who’s arriving?
4 situationsYour first month, step by step
Typical timings; your sponsor sets the deadlines- Day 1Buy a visitor SIM with your passport; get a nol card for the Metro
- Days 2–7Medical fitness test and Emirates ID fingerprints, arranged by your employer
- Week 1Book a serviced flat or short let for a month while you house-hunt
- Week 2Residence issued. Open a bank account: allow up to 4 working days
- Week 2–3Sign a tenancy, register it on Ejari, then connect DEWA
- Week 3Join a club or sport league: it’s the fastest way to meet people
- Week 3–4Swap your UK licence at the RTA; register a car and get a Salik tag
The order matters
- No Emirates ID, no bank account or phone contract
- No bank account, no salary and no rent cheques
- No tenancy, no Ejari; no Ejari, no DEWA or family visas
- No residence, no UAE driving licence
For you
- A short let first means you can test the commute before signing for a year
- Keep cash for the rent cheques: a year’s rent is usually paid up front in 1–4 cheques
- Book a doctor under your new insurance before you need one
What it costs
| Step | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ejari registration | AED 177.75 in the app, AED 220 at a centre | DLD |
| DEWA deposit | AED 2,000 flat, AED 4,000 villa | DEWA |
| DEWA activation | AED 125 small meter, AED 300 large, plus AED 30 fees | DEWA |
| Licence exchange | AED 1,050, including eye test | RTA |
| Salik tag | AED 100, including AED 50 of tolls | Bayut |
| nol Silver card | AED 25, including AED 19 credit | RTA |
Before you commit: the regional situation. Conflict involving Iran has disrupted flights across the Gulf in 2026. The FCDO does not advise against travel to the UAE but asks people to be ready for disruption. Read the FCDO travel advice (last updated 24 July 2026).
Questions people ask
Sources: u.ae: preparing to work; DLD: Ejari; DEWA: move-in; RTA: licence exchange; RTA: nol cards; Bayut: Salik tags.
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