Moving to Dubai

The tallest building in the world stands strong amidst the sand and scorching sun, and like this building’s home, this Middle-Eastern city of Dubai has surpassed the all economic uncertainties. Dubai is a major global hub for economic activities.

Geography, Demographics, and Economy ?

The city of Dubai is located on the Persian Gulf Coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is bordered to the south by Abu Dhabi, Sharjah in the northeast and Oman in the southeast.

It also lies across the Arabian Desert and has topography marked by sandy desert patterns, with the Western Hajar Mountains bordering it.

Despite being a land of sand, sand and more sand, Dubai also has a scattering of greenery from date palms to acacia and ghaf trees.

Dubai has a hot arid climate. One is assured of sunny weather throughout the year. Summers are hot and dry, but certainly windy.

Dubai's population has been constantly increasing. It now has 2,261,995 inhabitants, made up predominantly of males, many of whom came to work in the country.

Dubai nationals make up only 17% of the millions of residents in the city - the rest are expatriates. The expatriate population is 85% Asian: Indian (51%), Pakistani (15%) and Bangladeshi (10%).

Recently, the city has experienced an influx of more foreign nationals from Western countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Given the interesting mixture of inhabitants in Dubai, the languages used range from Persian to Hindi and Tagalog to Chinese. However, the city's lingua franca is English.

Historically, Dubai's economy was dependent on revenue from oil and gas. However, in recent years, Dubai has only contributed to about 2% of the UAE's total gas revenue.

This is because of Dubai's shifting economy from being oil and trade reliant to service and tourism oriented. The three largest contributors to Dubai's flourishing economy are the property and construction industries which contribute 22.6% of the city's GDP, trade (16%), and financial services (11%).

Getting a Visa

There are different kinds of visas available to enter the UAE, including Dubai. This includes entry visas, tourist visas, and transit visas. However, if you want to stay longer than three months or 90 days in Dubai, then a multiple-entry visa is the best choice.

A multiple-entry visa or residence visa is applicable for those who have employers in Dubai or those interested in establishing a business in the city. These visas are valid from six months to three years.

The basic requirements are colored passport-sized photos, a passport valid for at least six months, a visa application form filled out in duplicate, a letter from your sponsor and a letter from the prospective employer where applicable.

Processing fees are about 1000 DH (UAE Dirham) or US$272.29.

Packing List

In terms of clothing, bear in mind Dubai's year-round hot weather; cottons and linens are advisable. For women, make sure to pack sleeved tops and Capri pants or jeans for casual days. Avoid clothing that reveals too much skin while in Dubai.

Make sure to pack sunscreen and moisturizer as the sun in Dubai can be unforgiving. Also, don't go outdoors without your sunglasses.

Voltage used in the city is 240 volts, so make sure you bring adapters for your gadgets if you want to be able to use them once you touch down in Dubai.

There are a number of shipping/relocation companies that can help you get your bulkier luggage to Dubai. If you're intrigued about the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, or just plain interested in the wealth of opportunities, then Dubai is definitely the expat destination for you.