Your first six weeks in Dubai, in order
Emirates ID, bank account, licence, DEWA and school places. What comes 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 |
Swipe sideways for the rest
Just came in
Fresh finds with the price and the place attached. Tap one to see the full story.
Long reads
Dubai company setup and the 9 percent corporate tax
UAE corporate tax is nine percent, and it applies to the part of the
See the listing
Long reads
Dubai visa and Emirates ID timeline and fees
The honest answer to how long a Dubai residence takes is 2 bis 3 Wochen for
See the listing
Long reads
UAE Golden Visa thresholds in September 2026
Two thresholds carry the ten year Golden Visa. Property: AED 2,000,000 of r
See the listing
Long reads
Rent plus school fees in Dubai: the year total
Rent plus school fees in Dubai: the real year total Two questions decide a move to Dubai with children, and th
See the listing
Long reads
Cheapest and most expensive schools in Dubai
The cheapest and the most expensive schools in Dubai The cheapest school in the Dubai fee list charges AED 3,3
See the listing
Long reads
Dubai school fees by curriculum: IB, US, Indian
Dubai school fees by curriculum: IB, American, Indian, French The curriculum decides more about a Dubai school
See the listing
What people ask about Dubai
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.
Tell us what you need
The more concrete you are, the more useful our answer.
The good ones, as they appear.
Free, no sign-up, leave whenever.
@dxbradar