Souk Weekly · Guide
Landing in the UAE.
The whole arrival checklist in one place — visa, ID, bank, home, wheels and the small bureaucratic rituals nobody warns you about. Start anywhere.
- 01End-of-Service Gratuity: The Payout You Earn by StayingEnd-of-service gratuity is a statutory payment owed when your UAE employment ends. Knowing roughly how it is calculated, and what can reduce it, helps you plan your exit.
- 02Finding a School for Your Kids in the UAESchooling is often the deciding factor in an expat family's move. The UAE offers a dizzying range of curricula and price points, so knowing how to shortlist saves stress.
- 03From Foreign Licence to UAE Licence, the Short VersionThe UAE driving licence is either a quick exchange or a full course, depending entirely on the country that issued your current one. Knowing which path you are on saves weeks.
- 04Going Freelance in the UAE Without Falling Foul of the RulesWorking for yourself in the UAE means a freelance permit from a free zone, often paired with your own visa. Here is how the pieces fit and what they unlock.
- 05Health Insurance in the UAE, and Why You Already Need ItHealth insurance is a legal requirement tied to your residence, usually arranged by an employer. The real question is not whether you have it but what your plan covers.
- 06Opening a UAE Bank Account Without a Three-Hour QueueSalary account or savings, resident or not yet, the UAE bank account dance has a rhythm. Bring the right documents, ask the right questions, and the IBAN appears almost magically.
- 07Picking a Mobile and Home Internet Plan in the UAEGetting connected in the UAE means choosing between operators and deciding postpaid or prepaid. Bundle your home internet and TV thoughtfully and the monthly bill stays sane.
- 08Renting in Dubai and the Quiet Power of EjariFound the apartment, agreed the rent, signed the contract. Now meet Ejari, the registration that turns a piece of paper into a legally recognised Dubai tenancy.
- 09Salik, Nol and the Invisible Toll of Getting AroundSalik for the toll gates, Nol for the metro and bus. Set both up early, top them up sensibly, and the city's transport network stops surprising you with awkward moments.
- 10Sending Money Home From the UAE Without Losing It to FeesRemitting from the UAE is easy; doing it cheaply takes savvy. The fee on screen is only half the story, because the exchange-rate margin is where most of your money quietly leaks.
- 11Switching On the Lights: A Guide to DEWA and Your UtilitiesDEWA in Dubai handles your electricity and water, and connecting it is one of the first things a new tenant must do. It is quick if you bring the right tenancy paperwork.
- 12The Emirates ID: The Little Card That Runs Your Life HereThe Emirates ID is the single most important card you will carry in the UAE. Understand what it does, how to get it, and what to do the day it expires or goes missing.
- 13The UAE Residence Visa, Demystified for the Bewildered NewcomerFrom entry permit to medical to Emirates ID, the UAE residence visa is a relay race of stamps. Here is the order the batons get passed, and where most newcomers fumble them.