Free relocation guides, accurate cost calculators, and verified service partners for professionals and families moving to the UAE in 2025. Information independently curated by expat relocation experts based in the United Arab Emirates.
Step-by-step guides covering Dubai housing costs 2025, UAE employment visa process, British & American schools in Dubai, Abu Dhabi real estate market, DIFC & Dubai Mainland business setup, Golden Visa eligibility, Emirates ID application, DEWA utilities, healthcare insurance options (Essential Benefits Plan vs Enhanced), RTA driving license conversion, Dubai Metro zones, cost of living by area (Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai, Arabian Ranches, Jumeirah Beach Residence), family sponsorship requirements, and complete first 30 days arrival checklist.
Explore GuidesCalculate your exact monthly budget for living in Dubai or Abu Dhabi including villa/apartment rental prices by area, international school fees (British curriculum GEMS, Nord Anglia vs American curriculum DESS, ASD), car lease or purchase costs, DEWA electricity bills, Etisalat/du internet packages, grocery expenses at Carrefour/Spinneys, dining out budgets, healthcare insurance premiums, fuel costs, salik toll charges, and lifestyle spending for expat families, singles, or couples relocating to the United Arab Emirates.
Calculate NowPre-screened specialists for UAE business formation (DIFC, DMCC, Dubai Mainland, Abu Dhabi Global Market ADGM, RAK freezone), PRO services for visa processing, real estate agents licensed by RERA, school admission consultants, corporate bank account setup (Emirates NBD, ADCB, Mashreq, HSBC UAE), health insurance brokers (MetLife, AXA Gulf, Cigna, Neuron), relocation companies for shipping & moving, tax residency certificate assistance, and Golden Visa application support. All partners are fully vetted by our Abu Dhabi-based team.
View Partners50+ detailed guides for expats moving to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the United Arab Emirates - covering cost of living, visa requirements, international schools, housing, healthcare, business setup, banking, and daily life. All free, updated for 2025, based on real expat experience and independently verified by our team in Abu Dhabi.
Complete pre-arrival preparation guide with timeline: document attestation (marriage/birth certificates by UAE embassy 2-6 weeks), financial planning (AED 30-50K initial funds for deposits), school applications 3-6 months advance, virtual housing viewings, visa document prep, International Driving Permit, temporary accommodation booking, pet import permits, and detailed checklist organized by category from 6 months before to departure day.
Read Essential GuideComprehensive pricing data: villa & apartment rental costs by area (Dubai Marina AED 120-200K, Arabian Ranches AED 150-280K, Downtown Dubai AED 100-180K), international school fees (GEMS British AED 35-75K, American School Dubai AED 75-95K), groceries (monthly family of 4: AED 3,000-5,000), utilities (DEWA average AED 800-1,500), car costs, dining, entertainment, and complete monthly budget breakdowns for families, couples, and singles relocating to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Read GuideComplete visa guide: UAE employment visa process & requirements, Golden Visa eligibility (10-year for investors AED 2M+, entrepreneurs, specialized talents), family sponsorship rules (minimum salary AED 4,000-10,000 depending on emirate), residence visa costs, medical fitness test requirements, Emirates ID application, visa renewal procedures, freelance visa options, remote work visa (AED 300K+ income), investor visa, and retirement visa (55+ age, AED 1M+ savings). Essential reading before relocating to the UAE.
Read GuideSchool selection guide for expat families: British curriculum schools (GEMS Wellington AED 68-92K, Dubai College AED 75-88K, Jumeirah College, JESS), American curriculum (American School Dubai AED 75-95K, Dubai American Academy, DESSC), IB schools (GEMS World Academy, Dubai International Academy), French, German & other curricula, KHDA ratings, admission procedures, waiting lists, school bus costs (AED 6-10K), term dates, school zones by Dubai area (Springs, Meadows, Emirates Hills, Arabian Ranches, JBR), and fee comparison charts. Also see our school admission support services.
Read GuideComplete housing guide for Dubai and Abu Dhabi: rental market (1-bed apartment AED 50-100K, 2-bed AED 80-150K, 3-bed villa AED 120-250K by area), buying property (freehold areas, mortgage rates 3-5%, RERA off-plan regulations), real estate agents (RERA licensed), rental contract EJARI registration, agency fees (5% of annual rent), DEWA connection, chiller fees, maintenance costs, popular expat areas (Dubai Marina, JBR, Downtown, Business Bay, Arabian Ranches, Springs/Meadows, Jumeirah, Mirdif), Abu Dhabi areas (Reem Island, Yas Island, Al Raha Beach), and area comparison by schools, beaches & lifestyle.
Read GuideInteractive neighborhood guide for expats: detailed area profiles for Dubai Marina (beach lifestyle, restaurants, metro access), JBR (beachfront living, The Walk, premium rents), Downtown Dubai (Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, urban living), Business Bay (canal views, business district), Arabian Ranches (family villas, golf, community), Springs & Meadows (villa communities, pools, parks), Jumeirah (villa areas, beaches, schools), Mirdif (family-friendly, malls), Palm Jumeirah (luxury, beachfront). Also see our Abu Dhabi Area Guide and Northern Emirates Guide, with school locations, metro stations, rental prices, and lifestyle comparisons.
Read GuideBanking essentials for expats in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: opening personal bank accounts (Emirates NBD, ADCB, Mashreq Neo, ENBD Liv, FAB, HSBC UAE - requirements: Emirates ID, salary certificate, NOC), minimum balance requirements (AED 3,000-25,000), credit cards, mortgage options (80% LTV for expats, 3-5% interest rates, minimum salary AED 15,000), business account setup, international transfers (Exchange houses vs banks), IBAN format, salary transfer procedures, Islamic banking options, savings accounts, and avoiding bank fees. See our detailed banking guide for more.
Read GuidePlus 40+ more detailed guides covering every aspect of UAE life - all completely free
View All Guides & ResourcesOur most helpful resources to get you started - from planning to arrival
Complete pre-arrival checklist: document attestation, financial planning (AED 30-50K), school applications timeline, housing search strategy, and everything to organize 6 months before your move.
Day-by-day action plan after arrival: Emirates ID application, bank account opening (Emirates NBD, ADCB, HSBC), DEWA connection, SIM card setup, driver's license conversion, and essential registrations.
Get instant answers to your most common questions: visa requirements, cost of living, school applications, housing deposits, document attestation, and everything about UAE relocation.
Whether you're moving with family, for work, or starting a business - we make it simple
Access 50+ detailed guides covering: Dubai & Abu Dhabi cost of living with 2025 pricing (villa/apartment rentals by area: Dubai Marina AED 120-200K, Arabian Ranches AED 150-280K, JBR AED 130-250K), UAE visa requirements & Golden Visa eligibility (investors AED 2M+, specialized talents), international schools fees & ratings (British: GEMS Wellington AED 68-92K, Dubai College AED 75-88K; American: ASD AED 75-95K; IB schools), housing & real estate (buying vs renting, RERA regulations, mortgage options 3-5% rates), healthcare insurance options (Essential Benefits Plan vs Enhanced coverage), banking setup (Emirates NBD, ADCB, HSBC UAE account requirements), DEWA utilities costs, RTA driving license conversion, first 30 days checklist, and interactive area maps with school locations.
Browse GuidesPre-vetted specialists for: UAE business formation & company setup (DIFC, DMCC, Dubai Mainland, Abu Dhabi Global Market, RAK freezone), PRO services for visa processing & Emirates ID, RERA-licensed real estate agents for rentals & sales, international school admission consultants (British, American, IB curriculum placement), corporate bank account opening (Emirates NBD, ADCB, Mashreq, HSBC, FAB), health insurance brokers (MetLife, AXA Gulf, Cigna, Neuron, Daman, Nextcare), international relocation & shipping companies, tax residency certificate assistance, Golden Visa application support (investor, entrepreneur, specialized talent categories), and PRO services for visa stamping.
View PartnersPersonalized relocation support: comprehensive first 30 days arrival checklist (DEWA connection, Etisalat/du setup, bank account opening with Emirates ID, RTA registration, driver's license conversion), detailed area guides for choosing your Dubai neighborhood (Dubai Marina beach lifestyle, Arabian Ranches family villas with golf, Springs/Meadows villa communities with pools, JBR beachfront premium, Downtown urban living, Business Bay canal views, Mirdif family-friendly) or Abu Dhabi areas (Reem Island, Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Al Raha Beach), school selection assistance, direct access to vetted specialists when needed, and ongoing support throughout your UAE relocation journey.
Book ConsultationGet personalized guidance for your UAE relocation journey
Book Free ConsultationEvery partner is personally vetted by us. We only recommend specialists we trust and would use ourselves.
Company formation, licensing, PRO services
Property developers, agents, mortgage brokers
Wealth management, banking, investment
International schools, education services
Sports clubs, entertainment, social venues
Partnership opportunity available
We connect relocating professionals with trusted service providers — completely free for users
Discover Free Resources
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Browse Verified Partners
Find pre-vetted providers for housing, schools, banking, etc.
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Get partner-only deals and priority service
✓ 100% Free • No Hidden Fees
Quality Control
Every partner personally vetted and verified
Lead Qualification
Users are pre-educated and ready to engage
Performance Tracking
Monthly reports on leads, views, and conversions
✓ Quality Over Quantity
Qualified Leads
Users who understand UAE process and are ready to buy
Brand Visibility
Featured placement across high-intent content
Exclusive Positioning
Category exclusivity for Gold partners
✓ ROI-Focused Partnership
How a hotel partnership works in practice:
User Journey
Family moving to Dubai for new job. Reads our "First 30 Days Guide" → learns they need temporary accommodation for 4-6 weeks while house hunting.
We Connect
User clicks "Extended Stay Hotels" → sees your hotel with exclusive Relocate2UAE rate (15% off) + free airport transfer. Books directly.
Partner Revenue
You get qualified 4-6 week booking from pre-vetted professional. We track via unique code. You pay agreed referral fee or monthly partnership.
Want to be the hotel partner in this example?
View Partnership DetailsWe're not career relocation consultants. We're a family who relocated from Ireland to Abu Dhabi in 2025 with three boys and documented everything we learned.
Paul Phillips (Chartered Accountant, 15+ years global finance experience) and his wife (teacher) previously lived in Vancouver before having children. Moving to the UAE in 2025, we struggled to find honest, comprehensive guidance - so we built this platform.
We're an independent platform focused on giving you clarity first. When you need specialist support, we introduce you to trusted partners - but only when you're ready, not before.
Every guide is based on what we actually learned navigating visas, schools, housing, banking, and daily life in 2025. Fresh, relevant, and honest.
The UAE offers incredible opportunities, but it's not perfect. We share both advantages and challenges - cost of living, school fees, visa requirements - so you can decide with your eyes open.
Our partners compensate us for qualified referrals, which allows us to provide free guides and resources to you. You never pay us anything - partner fees are the same whether you find them directly or through us.
Since launching in 2025, we've held 20+ partnership discussions with leading UAE service providers. Here's what they're saying about the platform.
"As a telecommunications provider serving relocating families, we see firsthand the confusion newcomers face. Relocate2UAE creates a trusted ecosystem that benefits both relocators and service providers like us."
"Our educational travel services complement the broader relocation journey perfectly. This platform connects families with trusted partners across every aspect of their UAE move - it's exactly what the market needs."
"Relocating families with equestrian interests often struggle to find quality riding facilities. Being part of this vetted network helps us reach the right audience while giving newcomers confidence in our services."
We're building the trusted marketplace for UAE relocation services. Partners see the opportunity to be part of something transformative from day one.
Rigorous partner screening ensures only trusted providers join
Pre-qualified relocators actively seeking services
UAE relocation market growing 15%+ annually
Founding partners get best positioning & rates
Transparent. Trusted. Growing.
Building partnerships with UAE's leading brands across real estate, education, finance, and lifestyle — launching Q1 2025
Aldar Properties
Real Estate & Development
In DiscussionSPF Private Clients
Mortgage Brokers
In DiscussionBIS Abu Dhabi
International School
In DiscussionGlobal Learners
Educational Travel
Active PartnerThe Wealth Lounge
Wealth Management
In DiscussionMcGettigan's
Lifestyle & Entertainment
In DiscussionRosemont Partners
Business Setup & PRO Services
In DiscussionWe're evaluating a limited number of strategic partnerships across key service categories. Founding partners receive exclusive positioning and preferential terms.
Learn About PartnershipWhether you need immediate specialist support or just want to explore our free resources first - we're here to help
Browse 50+ detailed guides covering visas, housing, schools, cost of living, and more
Browse GuidesGet personalized support from vetted specialists in business setup, housing, schools, and more
View PartnersNot sure which path is right for you?
Get a personalized budget estimate for your move to the UAE. Calculate setup costs, monthly expenses, and compare living costs across different emirates.
Fill in your details and click "Calculate My Budget" to see your personalized cost estimate
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Book Free ConsultationThese are estimated costs based on average market rates. Actual costs may vary based on personal preferences, timing, and specific circumstances. For more detailed guidance, explore our comprehensive cost of living guides.