Everything a European moving to Dubai has to decide, in the order the decisions actually arrive. No sponsored fluff, no fine print.
Phase 0 — Deciding whether to go
- What life in Dubai actually costs: building a real budget before you accept the offer
- UAE residence visas explained: the five routes Europeans actually use
- Document attestation: the step that decides when your family can join you
- International schools: fees, admissions timeline and the documents that delay everything
Phase 1 — Before you fly
The decisions you make in Europe are the expensive ones. Insurance, shipping and the first transfer of money are all cheaper to get right than to fix.
- Health insurance in Dubai: what is mandatory and what your employer will not cover
- Ship it or buy it new: a decision framework for your household
- Sending money between Europe and the UAE without losing half a deposit
Phase 2 — Your first 30 days
Almost everything is gated behind two documents. This is the order they come in.
- The first 30 days checklist: Emirates ID, visa, connectivity, utilities
- Opening a bank account: documents, timelines and the gap before your first salary
- Where to live: choosing a neighbourhood before you know the city
- The real upfront cost of renting your first apartment
- Driving in Dubai: exchanging your European licence and what a car costs
- Getting connected: eSIMs, postpaid lines and the home internet trap
Phase 3 — Setting up the apartment
Once the paperwork is done, you have an empty flat and a summer that starts in April. This is where we started, and it is still the most detailed part of the site: honest comparisons of what to buy for a Dubai apartment.
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