Moving to Dubai - #1 Research and Planning a Move to Dubai

I mentioned in the previous articles that moving to Dubai requires some research and with that comes planning. If your lucky enough to have a company organizing the entire relocation process then this series is probably redundant for you because they will provide you with experts to take all the stress off of your hands.

If you are moving to Dubai and going it alone, then keep reading,

I say planning is key because everything takes time and to think you can just book your flights and move to Dubai would be foolish. Everyone's situation is different and you need to assess what you specifically need to do to move you and your family and pets, to Dubai.

Let's start with the documents you might need during your move to Dubai. Firstly make a colour photocopy of any important document such as passport, birthday certificate, marriage certificate etc. you never know when you might need it and I found being prepared eliminated a lot of stress.

Secondly, find out if you will need to get any documents attested for your move to Dubai. This means having documents such as a marriage certificate, a birth certificate and degree certificates, authorized by a certain organization, to confirm that they are genuine and legal. I will go into this further at a later stage, but in short, documents, depending on the type, will need to be authorized by a Notary Public, by the Foreign Commonwealth Office in the UK and then by the United Arab Emirates Embassy, in order for them to be legally viable in the United Arab Emirates.

Thinking about how you are going to enter the UAE is important. Will you enter on a tourist visa or do you need to organize in advance your entry residence visa? If you have secured employment your company will be your sponsor and as such should make the necessary arrangements for your entry into Dubai. If you’re entering Dubai on a spousal visa, your spouse can complete the paperwork and visit the immigration department to obtain your entry residence permit, which will be valid for one month. You will need a copy of this but your spouse can leave the original at the Visa Collection Point in Dubai International Airport, for you to collect upon your arrival into Dubai.

Upon entry into the UAE, you will have one month to complete your visa process, which will include attending a typing center, completing a medical examination, attending an Emirates ID Authority office and visiting an immigration center. Make sure you have your marriage certificate, passport with at least 6 months validity and passport pictures ready.

It is also a good idea to think about who is traveling; wives, husbands, babies, kids, teenagers and pets all require some special attention and it is good to considered in advance, medical and schooling requirements. For pets check what animals can be imported into Dubai. I have relocated a dog into the country and while it is complicated, it's possible. However beware, there are many regulations governing the importation of dogs into the country and some breeds, classed as dangerous by the United Arab Emirates Government, will not be admitted.

When deciding where to live, you should consider your requirements and research the different areas of Dubai, their proximity to the city and the amenities they offer and the type of property, such as flats, townhouses etc. that are available. This research pre-move, is especially if you’re moving with kids or pets because hotel living will become tiresome quickly. Plus the quicker you find an area of Dubai you like and a property to suit your needs, the quicker you will be able to settle into your new life. Some of the most expat friendly areas I found during planning our move to Dubai were Dubai Marina, The Greens and the Views, Arabian Ranches and the Green Community.

Finally think about the logistical aspect of the move; how will you and your family get to Dubai, will you ship your possessions or put them into storage, if are pets coming along consider their requirements too. Enlisting the help of a relocation company may be worthwhile as they not only have expert knowledge but take away much of the stress of an international move. Move one (http://www.moveoneinc.com/) are company that have everything covered when it comes to moving to Dubai. They can relocate you and your pets with ease and having used them to relocate our dog from Cyprus to Dubai, I can recommend them personally.

These are some of the most important things to think about when planning to move to Dubai, but everyone’s situation will be different and you should carefully assess your requirements pre-move. Moving is stressful wherever you're going, so lessen the load with some research and forward planning. You will thank your self later.

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