International Spotlight on Dubai

The fourth location on our international spotlight tour is the luxurious city of Dubai, located in the United Arab Emirates. Our 165 years of moving experience has helped make us experts at international removals, including to and from the city of Dubai. These series of posts aim to give you a little more insight into some of the top destinations around the world. We take great pride in our knowledge of Dubai and are happy to help you plan your move there.

The first thing to consider when planning a move to Dubai is your visa. Visiting and living visas for the UAE differ; there are 46 countries that are eligible to visit the UAE,Visitors from these 46 countries are allowed to stay in the UAE for up to 30 days upon receiving a visitor’s visa on arrival. A visitors visa does not need to be obtained prior to travel and is issued at the airport. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai (GDRFA-D) is responsible for all visa enquiries that concern expatriates. However, most companies and institutions involved with visas have a ‘fixer’. A ‘fixer’ will wade through the red tape put in place by ministerial departments in order to obtain a work and residence visa for foreign workers and their families.

Famed for attractions such as the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world.), the Dubai Mall, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Creek and the Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai has something for everyone. A simply stunning destination with an endless variety of impressive residences it is the perfect place to relocate. Dubai boasts an excellent network of transport options including car hire firms, subject to an international driving licence. The Dubai Metro is another fantastic way to get around and see the sights; the metro spans the length of the city, with stops at most of the major attractions along the way. If you prefer to travel by taxi the Dubai Taxi Corporation is regulated by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and has a fleet of over 4,000 taxis.

Dubai is home to year-round sunshine, beautiful desert, luxury accommodation and shopping options as well as a thriving business community. Summer temperatures in Dubai have been known to reach highs of 45ºC, so of course all public transport, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions are equipped with air conditioning to give visitors a welcome breeze from the humidity in the height of summer. Thanks to its large international appeal, English is widely spoken across Dubai, with all restaurant menus, road signs and other information printed in both English and Arabic. 

Both tolerant and cosmopolitan, all visitors are welcome in Dubai however, Dubai adopts an Islamic way of life and is governed by Islamic laws and therefore tourists should be aware of certain cultural and religious differences that are observed before visiting or moving to Dubai.

The currency used in Dubai is the AED, otherwise known as the Dirham. Notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 Dirhams. The writing on the front of these notes are in Arabic, whilst the back is in English. For the best international exchange rates for the AED, check out the FC Exchange tool on our international removals page here. 

By contacting one of our international relocation specialists, we can help you with your move to Dubai. Whether it’s a business relocation, a new start or retirement, Bishop’s Move can help you every step of the way. If you want to find out more information regarding our international moving services, contact one of our advisors today.