Your first six weeks in Dubai, in order
Emirates ID, bank account, licence, DEWA, school places - what to do first and what it costs.
The order matters more than the paperwork. Visa before Emirates ID, Emirates ID before most bank accounts, tenancy contract before DEWA, Ejari before almost anything official. Do it out of order and you spend a week driving between counters. This is the sequence that works, with the actual fees.
- The order that avoids repeat trips to the counter
- What each step costs, including the ones nobody mentions
- Which banks open accounts for new residents fastest
- Driving licence: which countries swap without a test
What people are asking right now
Ranges from the market, not live listings. We move them when the market moves.
| Item | Frequency | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates ID | one-off | AED 370 | issued with the visa |
| Medical fitness test | one-off | AED 320 - 750 | required for residency |
| Driving licence transfer | one-off | AED 1,000 - 2,000 | if your country qualifies |
| DEWA deposit, apartment | one-off | AED 2,000 | refundable |
| Ejari registration | per contract | AED 220 | landlord side, confirm it |
| School fee, mid-tier | per year | AED 35,000 - 70,000 | per child |
| Mobile plan | per month | AED 100 - 250 | du or Etisalat |
Latest from the desk
Newest first. Each one links to the full write-up.
Visa
Golden Visa property threshold stays at AED 2,000,000
Off-plan counts when the developer is registered with the Dubai Land Department. Unchanged as of August 2026.
AED 2,000,000Read the full piece WORTH A LOOK
Visa
Free zone licences start around AED 9,000 a year
SHAMS in Sharjah is the floor; inside Dubai, Meydan and IFZA begin near AED 12,500. As of August 2026.
from AED 9,000Read the full piece WORTH A LOOK
Visa
Essential health plan runs AED 700 to 1,200 a year
The legal minimum for residency. Narrow network, low annual cap, maternity in name only.
AED 700 - 1,200Read the full piece
Fair questions
How long does the whole thing take?
Two to six weeks from visa stamping, if nothing bounces. The bank account is usually the slowest step.
Can I open a bank account before the Emirates ID?
Some banks allow it against the visa stamp, most do not. Plan for the ID first.
Do I have to redo my driving test?
Not if your licence is from a country on the swap list, which covers most of Europe, the GCC and several others. Otherwise it is a full course.
The good ones, as they appear.
Free, no sign-up, leave whenever.
@dxbradar