UAE residence 2026: all the ways to get a residence visa

A UAE residence visa gives access to an Emirates ID, a bank account, health insurance and legal residence without the limits of visa-free stays. This article covers all the routes to residence, from an employment visa through an employer to a 5- or 10-year Golden Visa, with real prices, timelines and pitfalls from the experience of the Russian-speaking community.

The article will be useful both to those already in the UAE on a visa-free stay who plan to legalise their status, and to those only considering a move who want to understand the routes in advance. All prices are in dirhams (AED), according to Russian-speaking chats from January to July 2026. Where figures need checking against official sources, we say so. If you need a residence visa through your own company, start with the Business in the UAE section.

How the UAE visa system works: a visa is not a residence permit

The first thing to understand: the UAE has no "residence permit" in the sense familiar from Europe. There is no "residence permit, then permanent residence, then citizenship" path, as in Serbia or Portugal. Getting UAE citizenship is practically impossible; this is not an exaggeration but the reality confirmed by the community's experience.

What people call "UAE residence" is in fact a residence visa. It is always tied to a sponsor: an employer, your own free zone company, a property investment or a family member. The sponsor is responsible for your visa, and this is a fundamental difference from European schemes, where the residence permit is issued to the applicant themselves.

What a UAE residence visa gives you:

• Emirates ID: the resident's identity card, the key document for everything: bank, renting, school, hospital, mobile phone
• The right to live legally in the country for the term of the visa (usually 2–3 years; the Golden Visa 5 or 10 years)
• The right to work within the scope of the visa sponsor
• The ability to open a bank account: without an Emirates ID, most banks will refuse. More on banks in our guide to money and banks in the UAE
• Basic health insurance from the employer or free zone
• The right to sponsor a visa for your family: spouse, children

What a residence visa does NOT give you:

• A path to citizenship (even the Golden Visa does not lead to a UAE passport)
• Protection from cancellation if you lose your sponsor (except the Golden Visa)
• The right to work for another employer without changing sponsor
• Indefinite residence: it has to be renewed every 2–3 years

The UAE visa system really is more complex than in many other countries, as the 63 mentions of the topic in Russian-speaking community chats confirm. But it is logical: for most migrants the route is through an employer or their own free zone company.

"Nah, nobody cares what your visa says... everyone understands. At my previous job the finance directors were registered as some kind of machine operators"

— UAE resident, experience from 2026

An important note: the UAE visa system is administered at the level of the individual emirates. The rules in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah may differ in detail. For example, free zones in Ras Al Khaimah (RAKEZ) are cheaper than in Dubai (IFZA), and the conditions for opening a bank account in Sharjah may differ from Dubai's. This article focuses on the general principles and the most popular routes.

Another fundamental difference from Europe: the UAE has no personal income tax. This is one of the main reasons entrepreneurs and IT professionals choose the UAE despite the high cost of living. Corporate tax applies to financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023: 0% on taxable profit up to AED 375,000 and 9% on the amount above it. For most small free zone companies it is not relevant.

Visa-free entry: 90 days in 180 for Russian citizens

Russian citizens can stay in the UAE without a visa for 90 days within a 180-day period. That is enough for scouting, job hunting and preparing for residence. The stamp is given on entry; no advance paperwork is needed. Visa-free and visa-on-arrival terms differ by nationality, so check yours before travelling.

For citizens of Kazakhstan, the visa-free period is shorter: 30 days, extendable by 10 days.

An important nuance confirmed by residents' experience: a return ticket is no longer required to enter the UAE. Border officers do not ask for proof of onward travel.

"A return ticket isn't necessary any more. We had an apartment for accommodation, but they don't care about that here anyway"

— UAE resident, 2026

When the 90 days are up, you must either get a residence visa or leave the country. The most common option is a visa run to Oman (more in a separate section below). You can also extend your stay by getting a tourist visa.

Tourist visa costs:

Prices according to Russian-speaking expat chats, January–July 2026.

A tourist visa does not give the right to work and does not let you open a bank account. For legal employment, opening a business and a full life in the UAE, you need a residence visa.

A practical point: the visa-free period is handy for "scouting" before the move. In 90 days you can look at residential areas, gauge the cost of living (according to the chats, the minimum budget for one person is about AED 11,000 a month, for a family AED 17,000–28,000 a month), talk to the community, find a job or choose a free zone. A detailed breakdown of the cost of living and budgets is in our guide to moving to the UAE.

Employment Visa: residence through an employer

The employment visa is the most common route to residence for those coming to work as employees. The employer sponsors the visa and takes on the main costs and paperwork.

What the process looks like:

1. Signing the employment contract: before arrival or on the spot
2. The employer arranges an entry permit if you are not yet in the country
3. You arrive and take the medical examination (Medical Fitness Test)
4. You submit documents for the residence visa through an Amer centre
5. You receive your Emirates ID, the resident's plastic card
6. The employer arranges a labour card through MOHRE (the Ministry of Human Resources)

According to real cases, with a good employer with well-oiled processes, the whole journey from entry permit to Emirates ID can take 2–4 weeks. But it can take longer: much depends on the specific employer and its HR department.

From real experience: UAE banks quite often make mistakes when processing documents. One resident watched five employees with identical sets of documents being processed one after another by the same manager, and the bank employee made critical errors for each of them, in different places. The lesson: double-check every document yourself, even if "everything looks fine".

An entry permit has a limited validity (in residents' experience, usually about 60 days). If you cannot fly in on time (as happened to several residents because of flight cancellations in March 2026), you need to coordinate an extension with the employer. Some employers are willing to reissue the entry permit, but that means extra time and costs.

"In May I opened a salary card with ENBD. It all took half an hour. And my Emirates ID wasn't ready yet; a copy of the application for it was enough"

— Elena, employment visa, Dubai, 2026

This is a telling example: with the right employer, the process is fast. Elena came "just to ask", and they processed everything on the spot.

Government fees: mainland vs free zone

The cost of an employment visa depends on where the employer is registered: in the ordinary jurisdiction (mainland) or in a free economic zone (free zone):

Prices according to Russian-speaking chats, January–July 2026. Check current government fees on gov.ae.

In residents' experience, in most cases the employer pays for the employee's visa; this is standard practice in the UAE. If you are asked to pay for the visa yourself when being hired, that is a serious warning sign. A real job in the UAE is one you pay nothing for.

A separate warning concerns intermediaries inflating government fees:

"Lots of 'helpers' and runners charge 2x, 3x on top of the government fee. Especially our hapless 'specialists' from the CIS. Don't trust anyone. Double-check everything yourself"

— from chat discussions, 2026

You can always check current government fees yourself on the official gov.ae portal. It is a simple step that can save thousands of dirhams.

Sponsor ties and the grace period

The main downside of an employment visa is the tie to the sponsoring employer. Your visa belongs not to you but to the employer. If you quit or are dismissed, the visa is cancelled. This raises understandable concerns: the "tie to a sponsor" topic is mentioned 25 times in the chats, and the "risk of deportation and visa cancellation" 143 times.

But the law in the UAE has become much softer in recent years:

• Grace period after the visa is cancelled (according to Gulf News, usually 30–60 days, up to 180 for some categories; the exact term is shown in the visa status on ICP): you have time to find a new sponsor or leave in an orderly way
• You can transfer the visa to a new employer without leaving the country (in most cases)
• Cancelling the visa through MOHRE is possible without contacting whoever arranged it, in residents' experience within a few days on request. This matters for those who have lost contact with their employer
• Closing/cancelling a visa costs up to AED 500 and, according to reviews, is "closed same day on request"

There are few real cases of deportation for minor violations. In the community's assessment, the law has become softer, and the verdict on this concern is "exaggerated". But the theoretical risk with serious violations (illegal work, a long overstay, criminal offences) does exist.

For those who value independence and do not want to depend on an employer, a free zone (below) or a Golden Visa is the better option.

About the job title on the visa: it has no practical significance. HR managers register employees as "office manager", "sales manager", "electrician", regardless of the real position. In residents' experience, a formal diploma is not required for most jobs.

"Friends of mine are registered without diplomas: Office manager, Sales manager, Electrician"

— UAE resident, 2026

Adjust your salary expectations in advance. According to the chats, the real picture for Russian speakers is: about 60% earn up to USD 2,700 a month (about AED 10,000), about 30% up to USD 5,500 a month (AED 20,000), and only 10% earn more. Average salaries by sector: beauty, AED 6,000–10,000 a month; sales and administration, AED 7,000–12,000 a month; 3D design, AED 10,000 a month; project management, AED 10,000–15,000 a month (according to Russian-speaking chats, January–July 2026). More on work and salaries in our article Free zones, freelancing and work in the UAE.

Free zone visa: open a company and get residence

A free zone (free economic zone) is the route for entrepreneurs, freelancers and remote workers who want residence without being tied to an employer. You register a company in a free zone and become your own sponsor: your visa is tied to your own company.

The UAE has several dozen free zones. Among the most popular with Russian speakers: SHAMS (Sharjah), IFZA (Dubai), Meydan (Dubai), RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah). Each has its own conditions, costs and set of permitted activities. A detailed comparison of free zones is in our article Free zones, freelancing and work in the UAE.

The fundamental difference between a free zone and the mainland: a free zone company can operate only within its zone or outside the UAE. It cannot work directly with clients on the Dubai mainland without additional licences. For many remote workers and IT professionals this is not a problem, since their clients are outside the UAE.

Costs by free zone (SHAMS, IFZA, Meydan, RAKEZ)

The overall cost range for a licence plus visa through a free zone is AED 1,000–10,000. The spread is explained by differences between free zones, the type of licence (professional, commercial, e-commerce) and the contents of the package.

Prices according to Russian-speaking chats, January–July 2026. This is the range from 50 mentions in the chats. Check current packages on the official websites of the specific free zones.

Minimum freelance licence (without a visa): from AED 550. But a licence without a visa does not give the right to live in the country, only to carry on business legally.

An honest assessment from the community's experience (the topic is mentioned 17 times): for a small freelancer earning less than AED 5,000 a month, free zone costs (licence AED 5,000–10,000 a year + visa + insurance) may not pay off. Before opening a company, do the maths: the total annual cost of maintaining the licence, visa and insurance can reach AED 15,000–25,000.

What a typical free zone package includes

A standard package includes:

• Trade licence: gives the right to specific activities
• Residence visa (usually for 2–3 years, renewable)
• Emirates ID: the resident's key document for all transactions in the UAE
• Basic health insurance: from the free zone, with minimal cover

The basic insurance from a free zone covers critically little. In residents' words: "Whoever arranges the health insurance: from the company it will be the basic minimum, with which you can't even get a blood test".

Good health insurance costs extra:

Prices according to Russian-speaking expat chats, January–July 2026.

Choosing insurance is a separate topic. Some clinics do tests on the basic free zone insurance, but serious treatment requires an extended policy. You can compare insurance using the policybazaar.ae aggregator.

The main advantage of a free zone visa is independence: you are your own sponsor and do not depend on an employer. But the 180-day rule applies: you cannot be away from the UAE for more than six months without losing the visa.

Mainland vs free zone: the difference for business. A mainland company may work with any clients in the UAE and abroad, and since 2021 it can be 100% foreign-owned for many activities (check the list with the emirate's economic department). A free zone company is wholly foreign-owned but limited in working with mainland clients. For IT professionals and remote workers whose clients are abroad, a free zone is the best option. Those planning to work with the local market (a restaurant, a beauty salon, trade) need the mainland.

Freelance Permit: the status of the DDA/Gofreelance freeze

The Freelance Permit is a lightweight version of a free zone for individual professionals. Until recently, the most popular and affordable route was the Gofreelance platform of the Dubai Design Agency (DDA) via Tecom FreeZone. It let you get a licence and visa through a simplified procedure for relatively little money.

The current situation (according to chat participants): since October 2025, the issuance of freelance visas through DDA/Gofreelance has been frozen. The licence can be renewed, but not the visa attached to it. Meanwhile GDRFAD (the General Directorate of Residency) officially states that it "knows nothing about it". Chat participants received confirmation of the freeze through official emails from AXS and directly from the free zone. The situation is uncertain, and at the time of publication no clarification had been issued.

Check the current status before applying. The situation may change.

What freelancers can do:

• Register a company in another free zone (SHAMS, IFZA, RAKEZ): a full licence + visa. More expensive, but it works
• A minimum freelance licence without a visa: from AED 550, but without the right to live in the country and without an Emirates ID
• An employment visa through an employer: if you have a job offer or are ready to find one
• Waiting for DDA to unfreeze: a risky strategy, especially if your visa expires in the coming months

For those who already have a DDA Freelance Permit and plan to renew: do not wait until the last moment. Have a backup plan: moving to another free zone can take several weeks.

Worth noting: even before the freeze, the DDA Freelance Permit had its limitations. In residents' experience, mobile internet in the UAE is unreliable for some services, VPNs are unstable, and YouTube and MS Teams work intermittently. For freelancers who depend on video calls and online services, this is a significant factor to consider when choosing a mobile plan and home internet (from USD 150 a month).

Golden Visa: a long-term visa through property and investment

The Golden Visa is a long-term residence visa for 5 or 10 years (u.ae: "valid for 5 or 10 years"). This is fundamentally different from standard 2–3-year residence visas and offers a number of unique advantages.

Key advantages of the Golden Visa:

• Not tied to a sponsor: you do not depend on an employer or free zone. The visa is yours
• The 180-day rule does not apply: according to u.ae, you can stay outside the UAE longer than the usual six months without losing the visa. For remote workers living between two cities, this is a key advantage
• A term of 5 or 10 years, renewable
• The right to sponsor your family: spouse and children

The main route to a Golden Visa is buying property worth AED 2,000,000 or more (the threshold stated on u.ae). The visa term on this basis is 5 years on u.ae, and 10 years for Dubai according to GDRFA/DLD. Mortgage conditions depend on the emirate: for example, in Abu Dhabi (ADRO) a mortgaged property qualifies if the owner's equity in it is at least AED 2,000,000. For a more affordable option, there is a separate 2-year property visa (Investor Residence / Taskeen): it is not a Golden Visa, but it gives residence. According to the DLD (as reported by Gulf News, April 2026), no minimum property value is set for a sole owner, and for a co-owner the share must be at least AED 400,000.

Other routes to a Golden Visa:

• Investment in the UAE economy (a set amount in funds or a business)
• Outstanding achievements in science, culture or sport
• Highly skilled professionals in certain categories
• Entrepreneurs with successful start-ups approved by incubators

The Golden Visa is the premium option, and it is priced accordingly. But for those planning to live in the UAE long term, who travel often and want maximum stability, it is the only route that removes the main risks: the tie to a sponsor and the 180-day rule.

When considering a Golden Visa through property, bear in mind that the cost of living in the UAE is high. According to the chats, the minimum budget for one person is about AED 11,000 a month, for a family AED 17,000–28,000 a month. Most of that goes on rent: a studio in budget areas (JVC, Sports City) from AED 5,000 a month, in the Marina or Business Bay from AED 7,000 a month. More on prices and areas in our article Renting and buying a home in the UAE.

Family visa: sponsoring a spouse and children

A UAE resident can sponsor a visa for family members: a spouse, sons up to 25 (according to Khaleej Times on the 2022 reform), and unmarried daughters and children with disabilities without an age limit.

The cost of a family sponsorship visa: AED 3,000–5,000 per family member (according to Russian-speaking chats, January–July 2026). This sum includes the government fee, the medical and the Emirates ID.

Documents for a child's visa. A child's residence visa requires a legalised birth certificate. However, in residents' experience, full legalisation of all documents is not needed for school enrolment: a Google translation is enough.

"Just ask the school word for word: 'Do I understand correctly that full legalisation isn't needed and a Google translation is enough?' Legalisation of the birth certificate alone is needed for the visa itself"

— UAE resident, family with children, 2026

A family visa is tied to the sponsor's visa: if the main visa is cancelled (for example, on dismissal), the family visas also lapse. The same grace period applies for resolving the situation.

For families with children, the choice of area is determined by the school, not the other way round. Schools in the UAE are expensive: from USD 5,000 a year for basic ones up to USD 25,000 a year for top international schools. English is essential: the level must allow not just good marks at a school back home but detailed answers and essay writing. This is especially relevant for middle-school pupils.

"I feel sorry for the child, honestly. Grade 6"

— the start of middle school; the level of English must allow not just good marks at school back home but detailed answers and essays, a Dubai resident on schooling, 2026

Dubai is a city designed for cars. Without a car, life with children is much harder: taking children to school, to activities, to the clinic. Car hire costs from AED 75 a day through aggregators, but make sure your licence is valid for driving in the UAE (driving without a valid licence is fined). When choosing an area, consider the distance to school, the metro and shops. More on areas and prices in the article Renting in the UAE.

Route comparison table

Prices according to Russian-speaking chats, January–July 2026. Employment visa costs are government fees, usually paid by the employer. Current government fees are on gov.ae.

How to choose a route:

• You have a job offer: an employment visa. The simplest and fastest route. The employer bears the costs
• You work remotely or run your own business: a free zone. Independence, but higher costs
• You are ready to invest in property: a Golden Visa. Maximum freedom and stability
• You are moving with your family: first get your own visa (by any route), then sponsor your family
• A freelancer on a modest income: take the DDA freeze into account. The alternative: a free zone with a budget package (from AED 1,000)

Emirates ID and Amer centres: first steps after getting the visa

The Emirates ID is a plastic card with a photo and biometric data. In the UAE this document matters more than your passport. Without it you cannot:

• Open a bank account, although some banks (for example, ENBD) accept a copy of the Emirates ID application before the card is ready. More in our guide to money in the UAE
• Rent a home under an official contract registered with Ejari. More in the article Renting in the UAE
• Enrol a child in school: enrolment also requires a legalised birth certificate
• Get a permanent SIM card: without an Emirates ID only tourist options are available
• Use government online services through UAE Pass
• Use SmartGate, the fast passport control system at UAE airports

Amer centres (Tasheel) are government-affiliated service centres. Through an Amer centre you submit documents for visas and the Emirates ID, take medicals and get an immigration card. It is important to understand that Amer is not a visa agent and does not advise on which visa to choose. It processes documents at your request.

"And I came 'just to ask' whether they would open an account for me and which documents I was missing, and they processed everything on the spot"

— Elena, on opening an ENBD account with a copy of her Emirates ID application, 2026

Checklist after getting your visa and Emirates ID:

1. Open a bank account: for receiving a salary or running a business. The main banks for Russian speakers: ENBD, ADCB, Mashreq
2. Upgrade your health insurance if the basic cover from the free zone or employer is not enough
3. Rent a home: sign an official contract and register it with Ejari
4. Get a local SIM card: a permanent one, not a tourist one
5. Set up UAE Pass for access to government services online

The 180-day rule: how not to lose your visa

One of the most important rules for UAE residents: if you are away from the country for more than 180 consecutive days, your residence visa may be cancelled. This applies to all types of residence visa, both employment and free zone.

The "risk of deportation and visa cancellation" topic is one of the most discussed: 143 mentions in Russian-speaking community chats. For remote workers living between two cities, this is the main practical risk.

What to do if you plan a long absence:

• Apply for a re-entry permit in advance: this extends the permitted absence beyond 180 days
• Return to the UAE for at least one day before the 180 days are up: this resets the counter. Even a one-day visit counts
• If you have already exceeded it: apply for a re-entry permit after the fact, giving your reasons and paying the fine

The exception: the Golden Visa. The 180-day rule does not apply to Golden Visa holders: according to u.ae, they can stay outside the UAE longer than the usual six months. This is one of the key practical advantages of this type of visa and the main reason many are prepared to pay considerably more for it.

Closing the visa when you leave. If you decide to leave the UAE for good, the visa must be closed. The cost is up to AED 500, and according to reviews it is "closed same day on request". If you have no contact with the people who arranged the visa or company, you can go to MOHRE directly: cancellation within 5 days.

For those who travel on business a lot or live "between two cities": either a Golden Visa or disciplined visits every 5 months. More on the logistics of life in the UAE in our guide to moving.

Visa run to Oman: renewing your status (~AED 200 by bus)

A change visa (visa run) means leaving the UAE and re-entering to renew your visa status. The most popular route is to Oman: 285 mentions in the chats, consistently one of the top questions.

A visa run is needed in two main situations:

1. Renewing the visa-free period: for those on a 90-day visa-free stay who want to "reset" the counter
2. Change visa: changing the type of visa (for example, from tourist to residence, or when changing sponsor)

If you are already a resident and do not break the 180-day rule, a visa run to renew your status is usually unnecessary.

Three ways to do a visa run to Oman:

Prices according to Russian-speaking expat chats, January–July 2026.

The bus from Deira is the cheapest and most tried-and-tested option. The process is well established: you board the bus, travel to the border, pass passport control on leaving the UAE and entering Oman, turn round and come back. An agent processes the new visa status while you are in Oman. The whole visa run takes a few hours, from morning to lunchtime.

If you go by car with a driver (AED 400–600 per person), the route is the same but more comfortable. For a group of 3–4 people, the cost per person is comparable to the bus. A flight to Muscat (~AED 1,000 for two) is an option for those who want to combine the visa run with a mini-break. Oman is a beautiful country with mountains, deserts and coastline.

Check Oman's entry conditions for your nationality on the official Royal Oman Police website before you travel.

A tip from the community's experience: plan the visa run in advance, especially in peak seasons. There can be queues at the border, and on holidays (Ramadan, Eid) the process may take longer. Take copies of all documents (passport, current visa, Emirates ID if you have one) and cash in dirhams.

Fines for overstay and illegal work

The UAE system of fines is transparent and consistently applied. It is important to know about fines before you run into a problem.

Overstay

With a long overstay, the amounts add up quickly. 30 days of overstay is 30 × 50 = AED 1,500 (a rate of AED 50 a day, according to ICP as reported by Gulf News). There may be additional sanctions too: an entry ban and difficulty getting a new visa.

Illegal work

Both sides face penalties: the worker and the employer. In residents' experience, this creates a vicious circle: bad-faith employers know that the worker will be afraid to complain because they themselves will be fined.

"They know that if there's a complaint about illegal work, the worker also faces a 10,000 dirham fine, so they don't hesitate to cheat"

— from chat discussions, 2026

The only protection is legal registration from day one. If someone hires you without a visa, it is a breach of the law for both sides, and the worker bears more of the risk.

Other fines worth knowing about

You can pay fines through the TAMM (Abu Dhabi) or Dubai Police (Dubai) apps. Fines for parking, speeding and other traffic violations arrive automatically via cameras: there are many of them, and they work reliably. When you hire a car, the deposit is returned a month after you return the car: that time is needed to cover fines, which arrive with a delay of up to 2–3 weeks.

What to know before applying for a visa

Government fees: check on gov.ae

One of the most common traps for new arrivals is government fees inflated by intermediaries. According to the chats, intermediaries from CIS countries routinely charge 2–3 times the official amount. You can always check current government fees yourself on gov.ae, the official UAE government portal. It is free and takes a few minutes.

Fraud is a systemic problem

In Russian-speaking community chats, fraud is the clear leader among topics: 1,712 mentions. Scammers are active in visa processing, currency exchange, renting and employment. The main rule, repeated 597 times: "Anything with prepayment is a scam".

When choosing an intermediary for a visa or licence, we recommend:

• Checking reviews in several independent sources
• Insisting on a contract with transparent stages and costs
• Not paying in full upfront: staged payment as the work is done
• Checking government fees against gov.ae

Where DIY applications tend to go wrong

Getting a residence visa on your own is possible, but several points need particular attention:

• Choosing a free zone: the difference in cost and conditions between SHAMS and IFZA can be thousands of dirhams, and the packages are opaque. A mistake at this stage costs money and time
• Health insurance: the basic cover from a free zone covers critically little. Without good insurance, a doctor's visit costs AED 200–500 per appointment
• Bank paperwork: UAE banks make random data-entry errors; double-check every document yourself
• The 180-day rule: breaking it leads to visa cancellation without warning
• Closing the visa when leaving a sponsor: if you do not close the visa on time, an overstay fine starts to accrue: AED 50 for each day
• Employment fraud: fake offers with prepayment for "processing" are a common scheme. The typical scenario: they promise a job, ask for AED 1,000–1,500 for a "visa" and disappear after the transfer. The rule: you pay nothing for a real job

One specific case from the chats: a man from Kazakhstan received a fake job offer, paid AED 1,500 for "processing", bought a ticket and flew in. On arrival it turned out everyone had vanished. Chat members helped with housing and food, but the money could not be recovered.

"Remember we wrote here earlier that a guy named Arystanbek was stuck at the port. He was lured with a job offer, they took about AED 1,500, asked him to buy his own ticket and fly to Dubai, and then, classic, they vanished"

— from chat discussions, 2026

Useful resources and trusted services

Official portals that help you understand the visa system and avoid overpaying:

To check your visa status, use the ICA website (icp.gov.ae). It is free and takes a couple of minutes. It is especially useful if you are not sure whether your previous visa has been closed.

To pay fines: the TAMM (Abu Dhabi) and Dubai Police (Dubai) apps. Check and pay fines regularly: they can block a visa renewal.

To find housing: Dubizzle, PropertyFinder, Bayut are the main platforms. More on areas and prices in our article Renting in the UAE.

About the climate, honestly. Heat is the clear leader of discussions: 983 mentions in the chats. May–September brings 40–50 degrees and 80–95% humidity in the coastal emirates. The air conditioning runs 24/7, and utilities (DEWA) cost AED 600–1,000 a month. Many residents leave for the summer. This is no reason to abandon the move, but it matters when planning your budget and lifestyle. More in the guide to moving.

About language. Basic English is enough for everyday life. Arabic is not needed: most services, shops and government offices work in English. The Russian-speaking community in the UAE is large: Russian-speaking services, doctors and lawyers are available, though they cost more. The language barrier is mentioned 289 times in the chats, but in the community's verdict it is a "partly valid" concern that basic English solves.

About Ramadan. Every year the UAE observes the month of Ramadan (the dates move). During this period you may not eat, drink or smoke in public in the daytime. Restaurants are open, but behind screens. This is not critical for most people, but it is worth knowing in advance and planning your first trip with this period in mind.

If you are planning a move to the UAE and want to work out which route suits you, book a consultation. We will help you choose the best route for your situation.