Moving to Dubai is less paperwork than moving to most EU countries and more paperwork than the Instagram reels suggest. The good news: the steps are standardised, mostly digital and fast. The bad news: they only work in a fixed order, and almost everything hangs on your Emirates ID.
This guide covers the practical first 90 days: permits, flat, bank, insurance, schools and the tax residency certificate. It’s general information as of September 2026, not advice. For the tax side of the UAE (corporate tax, free zones, Small Business Relief), see our Dubai country guide.
Which permit fits you#
As a German or other EU citizen you can fly in without applying for anything in advance and sort out residence on the ground. What you need is a reason to stay.
| Route | Who it’s for | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Investor / partner visa | Founders with their own free zone or mainland company | A UAE trade licence with you as shareholder; usually two years, renewable, family can be sponsored |
| Golden Visa | Investors, entrepreneurs, specialised talent | e.g. qualifying property or an approved investment (AED 2 million for public investments); 5 or 10 years depending on category |
| Remote work visa | Employees and owners of companies outside the UAE | Income of at least USD 3,500 a month, health insurance, medical test; one year, renewable |
| Employment visa | Employees of a UAE company | Job offer; your employer applies and pays |
Most of our readers take the first route: set up a company, and the company sponsors you. The remote work visa is the cleanest option if you keep a foreign employer and don’t want a UAE business; we compare it with other countries in our digital nomad visas guide. Company options and costs are in company formation.
Your first 90 days#
From flight to tax residency certificate
Before you go: pick the route and set up the company
If you go the investor route, form the company first. A free zone licence usually takes about a week and mostly happens online; the licence is what lets the company apply for your entry permit. Meanwhile, plan your German exit properly – see leaving Germany.
Before you go: documents and insurance
Get certificates apostilled or legalised (marriage and birth certificates if your family comes along, degrees if a visa category asks for them). Arrange health cover that works in the UAE for the weeks before your local policy starts.
Week 1: entry permit and medical test
You enter as a visitor or on the entry permit your company or employer applied for; inside the UAE the status is changed to residence. Everyone 18 and over has a medical fitness test at an approved centre (blood test and chest X-ray). Results usually come within a few days.
Week 1: Emirates ID and SIM card
Your Emirates ID application goes with the visa application; you give fingerprints and a photo at an ICP service centre. Get a prepaid SIM from du or e& on your passport right away and switch to a resident plan once you have the ID.
Month 1: residence visa and health insurance
Once the medical and security checks clear, the residence visa is issued electronically and linked to your Emirates ID. In Dubai the sponsor must make sure you have valid health insurance – for investors that’s you. Buy a policy that meets at least the DHA’s Essential Benefits Plan.
Month 1: flat, Ejari and DEWA
Sign a one-year lease and register it in Ejari, the Dubai Land Department’s tenancy system (via the Dubai REST app, about AED 178 as of 2026). The Ejari registration also triggers your DEWA electricity and water account; you pay a refundable security deposit and the supply is switched on.
Month 1: bank account
With Emirates ID, visa, tenancy contract and proof of income, open a personal account. Expect in-person or video onboarding, questions about your source of funds and a wait of days to a few weeks. The company account is a separate, longer process.
Month 1: driving licence
German licence holders can exchange their valid licence at an RTA-approved centre without a driving test: Emirates ID, original licence and an eye test. The total is around AED 1,050 as of 2026. Until then, check whether you may drive on your German licence as a resident.
Month 3: schools
Private schools are licensed and inspected by the KHDA, which rates them on a scale from outstanding to very weak and regulates fee increases. Fees are high and good schools have waiting lists, so apply as early as you can – ideally before you move.
Month 3: tax residency certificate
After 90 days with a residence visa and a home or business in the UAE (or 183 days without), you can apply for a tax residency certificate on EmaraTax. It covers a 12-month period you choose. As of 2026 the fees are AED 50 to submit plus AED 500 for the electronic certificate, and processing takes about 10 business days.
Finding a flat#
Rents in Dubai are quoted per year, and the price depends enormously on the area and the building. Our rough estimate for annual rents of a one-bedroom apartment as of September 2026:
| Area | 1-bedroom, per year | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) | AED 65,000–90,000 | Newer, quieter, car needed |
| Al Barsha | AED 70,000–100,000 | Central, practical, near Mall of the Emirates |
| Business Bay | AED 95,000–135,000 | Towers next to Downtown |
| Dubai Marina | AED 100,000–150,000 | Waterfront, metro and tram, busy |
| Downtown Dubai | AED 120,000–180,000 | Burj Khalifa views, premium prices |
These are estimates, not official figures. For a specific building, check the Dubai Land Department’s rental index calculator: it’s also the reference for how much a landlord may raise the rent on renewal.
How renting works in practice:
- Cheques. Rent is usually paid upfront with 1 to 4 post-dated cheques; fewer cheques often buy a lower price. Some landlords now accept bank transfers or card payments, but cheques are still the norm – you’ll need a UAE chequebook.
- Deposit and fees. Expect a security deposit of around 5% of the annual rent for unfurnished flats (more for furnished) and an agency fee of around 5% plus VAT. Both are market practice, not fixed by law, so ask before you view.
- Ejari. Register every lease. Without Ejari you won’t get DEWA connected, and you’ll need it for family visas and the tax residency certificate.
- Scams. Only deal with RERA-registered agents, check that the landlord owns the property (title deed or the Dubai REST app), and never pay a “holding deposit” for a flat you haven’t seen.
Many people start with two or three months in a serviced apartment while the visa comes through, then sign a long lease once they know which commute they can live with.
What it costs per month#
Estimate as of September 2026, based on our own calculation from typical market prices (not an official source). Rent is converted to a monthly figure; €1 ≈ AED 4.3.
| Item | Single | Couple |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed JVC to Marina / 2-bed for couples) | AED 5,500–11,000 | AED 7,500–14,000 |
| Utilities (DEWA incl. cooling) | AED 400–900 | AED 600–1,200 |
| Mobile and home internet | AED 450–700 | AED 550–900 |
| Groceries | AED 1,200–2,000 | AED 2,000–3,200 |
| Health insurance (private, self-paid) | AED 300–800 | AED 600–1,600 |
| Transport (metro and taxis, or a leased car) | AED 400–1,500 | AED 800–2,500 |
| Eating out and other | AED 1,500–3,000 | AED 2,500–4,500 |
| Total | AED 9,750–19,900 (≈ €2,300–4,600) | AED 14,550–27,900 (≈ €3,400–6,500) |
Not included: school fees, company costs (licence, visa, accounting – see the Dubai country guide) and the one-off move-in costs of deposit, agency fee and furniture.
Valid for at least six months, ideally much longer. Bring passport photos with a white background too.
Marriage certificate and children’s birth certificates if you want to sponsor your family, apostilled or legalised and later attested in the UAE.
Only needed for some visa categories (Golden Visa talent routes, certain employment visas), but annoying to get from abroad.
Remote work visa: salary certificate or proof of company income plus recent bank statements. Banks will ask for the same.
Trade licence, memorandum of association and share certificate if you move on the investor visa.
Travel or international cover for the first weeks, and your local policy once you have it.
Not required for every visa, but some employers, schools and categories ask for one. An apostilled German Führungszeugnis is easy to get before you leave.
Your valid German (or other EU) licence for the exchange at RTA.
Traps we see all the time
Residence visa is not tax residency.
The visa lets you live there; the tax residency certificate needs 90 days (with visa and home or business) or 183 days in 12 months, counted by physical presence.
The German flat that never ends.
Germany and the UAE have had no double tax treaty since 2022, so there is no tie-breaker. Keep a German home and you stay fully German tax-resident.
Six months abroad kills the visa.
Standard residence visas lapse after more than six months outside the UAE in a row. The Golden Visa doesn’t have this rule.
Bank onboarding takes longer than planned.
KYC checks can hold up your account for weeks. Bring a working card from home and enough cash buffer for the deposit and first cheques.
Rent cheques are serious business.
A bounced cheque can lead to enforcement against you, frozen accounts or a travel ban. Keep enough money in the account on every cheque date.
Gaps in health cover.
Visas don’t get issued or renewed without valid insurance, and treatment without it is expensive. Don’t let a policy lapse between old and new visa or employer.
Days and taxes#
The UAE’s 90-day rule is generous, but your old country applies its own rules first. If you leave Germany, the tests are home and habitual abode, not days: see tax residency explained and leaving Germany. Log your days from the start, for example with our day tracker.
Everyday rules are different, too. Alcohol is legal for non-Muslim adults in licensed venues and shops, but public drunkenness and any alcohol at the wheel are serious offences. Dress codes, public behaviour and social media posts are regulated more strictly than in Europe – worth a quick read before you arrive.
This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Not sure Dubai is the right base? Compare it with other countries in the Jurisdiction Finder or book a strategy session and we’ll map your move with you.
FAQ#
Do I need a visa to fly to Dubai before I move?
No. As a German or other EU citizen you can enter as a visitor and switch to residence inside the country, once your company or employer has applied for the entry permit.
How long does the residence visa take?
Plan for two to four weeks from entry permit to issued visa, with you in the UAE for the medical test and biometrics. Company formation comes on top if you go the investor route.
Is health insurance really mandatory?
Yes. Dubai Health Insurance Law No. 11 of 2013 makes cover mandatory for residents, and the sponsor is responsible for dependants. The minimum is the DHA’s Essential Benefits Plan; most expats buy more.
When should I apply for the tax residency certificate?
Once you meet the test for a 12-month period: 90 days with a residence visa and a home or business in the UAE, otherwise 183 days. You apply on EmaraTax and receive the certificate electronically.
Can I keep my flat in Germany?
Legally yes, tax-wise it usually means you stay German-resident. Without a treaty there’s no tie-breaker to rescue you. See leaving Germany.
Can I exchange my German driving licence?
Yes. Germany is on the RTA’s list of countries whose licences can be exchanged without a driving test. You need your Emirates ID, the valid original licence and an eye test.
Sources#
- UAE Government portal – General provisions for the residence visa (medical test, Emirates ID, six-month rule)
- UAE Government portal – Do you need an entry permit or a visa?
- UAE Government portal – Golden Visa
- UAE Government portal – Virtual work visa
- GDRFA Dubai – Entry visa for investors and partners
- Federal Tax Authority – Tax residency certificate
- UAE Ministry of Finance – Cabinet Decision No. 85 of 2022 on tax residency
- Dubai Land Department – Register or renew a tenancy contract (Ejari)
- Dubai Land Department – Rental index
- Dubai Health Authority – Health insurance FAQ
- RTA Dubai – Exchange of a foreign driving licence
- UAE Government portal – Getting a driving licence
- KHDA – Private schools in Dubai
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – UAE, individual residence
