The Private Realtor
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Dubai skyline — relocating to the emirate

Relocation Services

Your seamless
move to Dubai.

From visas and Emirates ID to schools, banking and the keys to your new home — one dedicated consultant handles every detail of your relocation, so you arrive to a life already in motion.

1,500+

Families Relocated

30+

Countries Served

14 Days

Average Setup Time

100%

Visa Success Rate

The Promise

Relocating a family to a new country is complex. Our role is to make it feel effortless — handling the visas, the home, the schools and the hundred details in between, so all you have to do is arrive.

One consultant, one point of contact, from your first enquiry to the day you feel truly at home in Dubai.

What We Handle

Every part of the move

Visa & Immigration

Employment, investor, remote-work and Golden Visa applications — including the medical fitness test, biometrics and Emirates ID, managed to the fastest legitimate timeline.

Home Finding

Curated, accompanied viewings matched to your lifestyle, commute and budget — followed by lease negotiation, Ejari registration and a smooth key handover.

School Enrolment

Shortlisting the right British, American or IB school for your children, arranging campus tours, and guiding you through assessments, applications and deposits.

Banking & Finance

Opening a UAE current account, arranging debit and credit facilities, and introductions to relationship managers at leading local and international banks.

Utilities & Setup

DEWA (electricity and water), high-speed internet with du or Etisalat, a Salik toll tag and a local SIM — connected and ready before you arrive.

Healthcare Registration

Guidance on mandatory health insurance for you and your dependents, plus introductions to Dubai's leading hospitals and family clinics.

Cultural Orientation

Neighbourhood tours, lifestyle guidance, driving-licence conversion and warm introductions to community networks so you feel at home from week one.

Ongoing Support

A single relocation consultant who remains your point of contact well beyond move-in — for renewals, upgrades and the hundred small questions that follow.

Visa & Residency

The right route
to residency

Every relocation begins with the correct visa. Whether you are joining an employer, running your own company, buying property or working remotely, we confirm the cleanest route before anything else moves.

Once your entry permit is issued, residency is straightforward: a short medical fitness test, biometrics, and your Emirates ID — the national identity card every resident holds. Most visas are completed within two to four weeks.

For families planning a long-term base, the property-backed Golden Visa is often the most secure option — a decade of self-sponsored residency with no local sponsor required.

Explore the Golden Visa
Employment

Work Residence Visa

Sponsored by your UAE employer and typically valid for two years. Once your entry permit is issued, the status change, medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID usually complete within two to three weeks.

Investor

Partner / Company Visa

For those establishing or holding shares in a UAE company. The visa is tied to your trade licence and lets you self-sponsor and, in turn, sponsor your family.

AED 2M

Golden Visa (Property)

A qualifying property investment of AED 2 million unlocks a 10-year, self-sponsored residency with no local sponsor required — the cleanest long-term route for families.

Remote

Virtual Work Visa

Dubai's one-year remote-work visa lets employees of overseas companies live in the emirate while working for their existing employer, subject to a minimum monthly income and valid contract.

Schools & Education

World-class schools, chosen well

Dubai is home to more than 200 private schools across every major curriculum, regulated and rated by the KHDA. Annual fees for leading schools broadly range from around AED 40,000 to AED 100,000+ per child depending on the school and year group. The academic year runs September to June, and the best schools fill early — so timing is everything.

British (UK) — GCSE / A-Level

Dubai College · GEMS Wellington International · Kings' School Dubai · Repton Dubai · JESS (Jumeirah English Speaking School)

The most common choice for UK and Commonwealth families. Highly rated schools are competitive and often waitlisted, so early application matters.

American — US Diploma / AP

American School of Dubai · Dubai American Academy · Universal American School

Ideal for families moving from or heading to North America, offering the US High School Diploma and Advanced Placement pathways.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Nord Anglia International School Dubai · GEMS World Academy · DESS-linked IB pathways

A globally portable curriculum favoured by internationally mobile families, running from Primary Years through to the IB Diploma.

Settling the Essentials

Banking, utilities & healthcare

Banking & Finance

A UAE current account is usually opened once you hold your Emirates ID and residence visa. Leading banks include Emirates NBD, ADCB, Mashreq, HSBC and Standard Chartered. The dirham (AED) is pegged to the US dollar, giving currency stability for international earners.

  • Passport, residence visa & Emirates ID
  • Salary or reference letter from your employer
  • Tenancy contract or proof of address
  • Debit, credit and multi-currency options

Utilities & Setup

We connect your home before you arrive so nothing waits on move-in day. The essentials of daily life in Dubai are quick to arrange with the right documents in hand.

  • DEWA — electricity & water connection
  • Internet & TV via du or Etisalat (e&)
  • Salik — automated road-toll tag
  • Local mobile SIM & number

Healthcare

Health insurance is mandatory for every Dubai resident, and sponsors must provide cover for their dependents. The city has excellent private healthcare, with internationally accredited hospitals and clinics.

  • Mandatory insurance for you & dependents
  • Mediclinic & Saudi German Hospital
  • American Hospital Dubai
  • King's College Hospital London — Dubai

How It Unfolds

Your relocation timeline

018–6 Weeks Before

Pre-Move Planning

We build your relocation timeline and document checklist, confirm the right visa route, set a housing and schooling budget, and begin shortlisting neighbourhoods and schools remotely.

024–3 Weeks Before

Visa & Entry Permit

Your entry permit is issued and the visa process begins. We schedule the medical fitness test and biometrics for arrival, and start school applications where places are competitive.

032 Weeks Before

Home Search & Lease

Accompanied viewings across your shortlist, followed by lease negotiation, the tenancy contract, Ejari registration and cheque arrangements — so your home is secured before you land.

04Arrival Week

Move-In & Setup

Emirates ID biometrics completed, DEWA and internet activated, a Salik tag and SIM arranged, and your household shipment coordinated for delivery to your new address.

05Weeks 1–4

Life Admin

UAE bank account opened, health insurance in place, children enrolled and settled, and your driving licence converted where eligible.

06Ongoing

Settling In

Neighbourhood orientation, community introductions and a dedicated consultant on hand for everything that follows your first month in Dubai.

Before You Fly

Your pre-move checklist

A little preparation removes almost every obstacle. Gather these before you travel and your first weeks in Dubai will be remarkably smooth — we confirm exactly what applies to your circumstances.

Preparing to relocate to Dubai
01

Passport valid for at least six months, with clear digital scans

02

Attested marriage and birth certificates (for family sponsorship)

03

Attested university degrees, where required for your visa or role

04

Passport-size photographs on a white background

05

Existing school records and transcripts for each child

06

Reference and salary letters for bank account opening

07

International driving permit or home-country licence for conversion

08

Pet vaccination records and microchip details, if relocating pets

09

An inventory of household goods for the shipping and customs process

10

Three to six months of accessible funds for deposits and set-up costs

Common Questions

Relocation, answered

Once your entry permit is issued, an employment or investor visa is typically completed within two to three weeks, including the medical fitness test, biometrics and Emirates ID. The property-based Golden Visa usually takes two to four weeks. We handle every submission and follow-up to keep the process on the fastest legitimate timeline.

Yes. We coordinate with approved pet-relocation specialists who manage the import permit from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the required vaccinations and microchipping, the health certificate and the airport clearance. Dubai has no general quarantine for cats and dogs arriving from approved countries with correct documentation, so early preparation is the key to a smooth arrival.

We partner with reputable international movers who handle door-to-door sea or air freight, customs clearance and delivery to your new home. Personal effects for residents are generally admitted without duty, though items such as alcohol and certain electronics have specific rules. We help you prepare the inventory and time the shipment around your move-in date.

Yes. Dubai's international schools run a September-to-June academic year but accept mid-year admissions subject to availability. Sought-after British, American and IB schools maintain waitlists, so we recommend starting the application and assessment process as early as possible. We shortlist schools with genuine availability for your children's year groups and arrange campus tours.

As a tourist you may drive on an international driving permit, but once you hold a residence visa and Emirates ID you should convert to a UAE licence. Holders of licences from many countries — including the UK, most of Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and the GCC — can convert without a driving test. We guide you through the RTA process and eye test.

Dubai has no personal income tax, which meaningfully changes household economics, but housing, schooling and healthcare are the main considerations. Villa rents in family communities and international school fees are the largest line items, and mandatory health insurance is required for every resident. We help you budget realistically across rent, deposits, schooling, utilities and set-up so there are no surprises.

No. We begin remotely — confirming your visa route, shortlisting homes and schools, and preparing documents — so much of the groundwork is done before you fly. Many clients arrive to a signed lease, active utilities and scheduled appointments already in place.

One Family, One Consultant

Plan your move to Dubai.

Tell us where you are moving from and when. One relocation consultant will build your personalised plan and handle every detail — the first consultation is complimentary.