Moving to The UAE

Your guide to living in the UAE. Learn more about the UAE’s rich culture, excellent living and travel destinations.

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Known as one of the most liberal states in the Gulf, the UAE is quickly becoming a top destination for those looking to escape the monotony of everyday life. According to Visit Britain, 365,176 British citizens visited the UAE in 2016, a 5.18% increase over the previous year. If you are looking for a better quality of life, and a brand new adventure, then the UAE is the place for you!

Employment and Wealth

The UAE has been experiencing dynamic economic growth in recent years. This is thanks to increasing investment, efforts to boost the business climate, and the emergence of a stronger private sector. The UAE has a GDP of $647.8 billion, with 3.9% growth from last year. Unemployment is also low at 3.7%, making the UAE an ideal place to move to for work. Workers in the UAE benefit from 0 income tax, giving a significant financial incentive to move to the UAE.

The UAE has a very diverse economy, with the strongest employment sectors being:

  • Information Technology
  • Telecommunications
  • Production
  • Manufacturing
  • Consumer Goods
  • Customer Service
  • To find out more, check out our guide to employment in the UAE.

Travel Prospects

Although the UAE features incredible destinations such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, its location is ideal for international travel.
Undoubtedly the closest travel destination from the UAE is the incredible country of India. Flights to cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi are very affordable, making India a promising destination for people of all backgrounds. India offers an incredible mix of culture, good food and stunning locations. At just over 3 hours, flying to India is one of the top travel prospects from the UAE.
For somewhere completely different, why not go to the Russian capital of Moscow. It’s beautiful architecture, and modern city life will undoubtedly impress even the most seasoned of travellers! At around 5 hours from Dubai to Moscow, this is a great destination for those that would like to swap the desert heat for a winter wonderland.

But how easy is it to move here?

British citizens can get a tourist Visa to visit the UAE for up to 30 days. You can also receive a probationary work permit after these 30 days, to work for up to 3 months.
To become a resident in the UAE, you will have to apply for a residence visa. This also entails taking a blood test. If you are tested positive for HIV or hepatitis, you will be deported without any right to appeal. Residency visas are valid for up to three years but can renew. The application fees and medical checks will cost around £1000.
Your passport must be valid for at least three months in order to move to the UAE.

What are my moving options to the UAE?

Putting the preparation aside, here are the international shipping options available from the UK to UAE.

  • Exclusive Use / Full Container Load (FCL) Service
  • Shared Container / Groupage Service
  • Car Shipping
  • Currency Exchange

We have plenty of guides to international removals, including removals to the UAE, so read these for more information.

If you have any questions or would like to arrange a free international shipping quote, contact us and we can talk you through the first stages of your move to the UAE.

Our Accreditations

As one of the leading providers of overseas removals services on a national and international scale, we pride ourselves on providing a professional and friendly service from our highly trained and competent team. We have been recognised as one of the leading international moving companies by the networks below and we are, therefore, proud of our credentials and the quality standard they represent. In 2023 we became the most trusted moving company in the UK.
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Some of our Customer Reviews

The packers were careful, quick and courteous. I highly recommend this company and would definitely use them again! Efficient, polite, punctual: could not ask for more.

Hertfordshire, UK to Virginia, USA - March 2023

From start with Michelle to finish with Gill the level of service was excellent. John Mason and its international partners handled my move from Devon to Australia seemingly effortlessly. I couldn't ask for better.

Devon, UK to Perth, Australia –April 2023

Absolutely one of the best movers I have worked with. Pleasant helpful admin staff and the delivery drivers were absolute angels sorting and moving the boxes where I asked them to. Arrived exactly when they said it would.

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