- Some companies can use GDFRA-D online services to help them get visas, so check with them first before going through the process on your own.
- When you apply for your visa, you should sign up for your NIC.
- There are lots of ways to get around, and the Nol card works for all public transportation.
Before the global economic crisis, many large companies thought about moving to Dubai or opening a field office there as a way to make more money. Even though the economy is bad, Dubai still has a lot to offer. Many foreign companies and international financial institutions still choose to move there.
Dry Heat and Deserts
Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are two emirates that are close by. Like them, Dubai has a hot climate with little rain throughout the year but a lot of humidity along the coast. During the summer, it can get as hot as 45°C. But moving to Dubai doesn’t mean you have to leave your new home in the summer when it’s hot and humid. There is air conditioning in hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and public transportation.
Foreigners who move to Dubai may feel overwhelmed by the desert, which makes up most of the city’s landscape. Dubai does not have any natural oases or bodies of water like its southern neighbour Abu Dhabi. But the city is split into a western part and an eastern part by a natural creek (Deira). Even though the creek has been dredged, it is still pretty big. The fastest way to get from Deira to Dubai City is by boat.
Visit or Visa?
If you are a citizen of one of the 46 countries that can get a visit visa when you arrive in Dubai, you won’t have any trouble getting into the emirate on a visit visa. People from other countries need to find a UAE citizen or resident who will sponsor them. It’s the same for people who move to Dubai for work. Employment visas are always something that your employer should help you get.
All questions about visas for expats should be sent to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai (GDRFA-D). It has many locations all over the city. Most of them are open from 7:30 to 20:00, but some don’t open until 8:00 and some close at 14:30. After moving to Dubai, people with questions or problems can call the Amer Service, which is a GDRFA-D customer service line.
Employment Visa
The online services of GDRFA-D help local companies whose foreign employees move to Dubai. Companies don’t have to go to the GDRFA-D in person to get entry permits because they can print them on their own. Remember that rules about visas can change. So, the best thing to do before you move is to contact the UAE consulate or embassy closest to you to find out what the rules are now.
Once the work visa is taken care of, you will need to apply for more papers. When moving to Dubai, expats are required to get a health card and a residence permit. Within 60 days of your arrival, your employer must also apply for your e-card and e-contract.
Customs and Registration in Dubai
National Identity Card
In 2006, the National Identity Card (NIC) was put into place. With its advanced ID features, it should soon replace labour cards, passports, and other forms of ID for Emiratis and expats in Dubai. When the card was first made, only Emiratis and people from the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) who lived in the UAE could sign up. Immigrant workers and people living abroad can now also sign up.
Since September 2010, children over 15 years old are also required to sign up for a National Identity Card. The Emirates ID Card is now linked directly to an application for a residence visa. This makes the whole process much easier for expats. You have to do the following things to get a National Identity Card:
Go to one of the many approved typing centres and fill out the e-form there. After that, you’ll have to pay the registration and service fees.
Then, you’ll get a text message telling you when and where to get your photo and fingerprints taken.
Go to the EIDA service your text message told you to go to, and don’t forget to bring your passport.
Have your picture, your fingerprints, and your biometric information taken.
Your National Identity Card will be sent to you in the mail.
Entering through Dubai’s Airport
People who move to Dubai will also be able to take advantage of it being a travel hub for the Middle East. Dubai is a popular place for expats and tourists alike. It has two international ports, two international airports, and its own airline. Every year, more than 60 million people go through Dubai International Airport. Here, more than 130 airlines fly to more than 200 different places.
If you want to make your arrival easier, you can use the Marhaba service to get through the airport’s passport checks faster. For a small fee, an airport worker will meet you when you get there and help you with the controls, take you to the place where you can get your bags, and help you with ground control.
Customs Regulations
Expats and visitors to Dubai need to be aware of current customs regulations before they enter the country.
Certain items, such as all kinds of narcotic drugs, are prohibited. The same applies to certain kinds of medication. If you regularly need to take a certain type of prescription medicine, make sure to bring a prescription or a medical certificate from a UAE-licensed practitioner. You should not import more than a personal supply to see you through for a period of three months.
Other prohibited items might include:
poppy seeds, qat leaf, betel leaf or nuts, niswar (a kind of chewing tobacco) and gutkha (an Indian preparation of chewing tobacco and betel nuts)
pornographic material
non-Islamic religious pamphlets
fireworks
ivory and rhinoceros horn
endangered animal species
weapons and ammunition
chemical and organic fertilizers
gambling tools
any objects that do not adhere to the religious and moral values of the UAE
Transportation in Dubai
The Modern Metro
Since 2009, the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai has been in charge of the red and green metro lines. These two lines go in different directions and stop at different places, giving people an option besides driving. The metro is a comfortable and modern way to get around. It has separate cabins for women and children, as well as a silver class and a gold class.
People pay their fares by buying a ticket, which is called a “Nol card.” There are four types of Nol cards: red for visitors and tourists, blue for regular users, silver for occasional travellers, and gold for people who want to ride in the Metro Gold Class cabins. RTA Wojhati is a tool you can use to plan your trip (journey planner). It helps you plan your route, taking into account both the Dubai metro and other public transportation options.
On the Road
Besides cars, taxis are the most common way to get around in Dubai. You can get a taxi anywhere in Dubai, or you can book one ahead of time. There is a service for booking and making reservations online. Women who don’t feel safe or comfortable with male drivers can book “pink taxis” with female drivers.
Buses can be used instead of taxis. Different residential, industrial, and business districts in Dubai are linked by bus services. People can also take night buses and buses that go between emirates. Dubai just recently built bus stops with air conditioning to make it more comfortable for people to wait for the bus.
Like with the metro, you buy a Nol card before getting on a bus to pay for your fare. You can get them at RTA outlets, Dubai Metro stations, and a few bus stations. Dubai has 5 zones, and prices vary depending on where you want to go.
Taking the Water Route
Abras are traditional wooden boats with motors that can be used to get around on the water or to cross a creek. For 100 AED per hour, you can hire them to cruise along the creek. Most people, though, use water buses, which are run by the RTA marine agency. Commuters can choose from five different routes that cost between 2 and 5 AED per person. The Nol card can also be used to pay.
In July 2010, Dubai also started a water taxi service. Water taxis can carry up to 11 people and have ramps, LCD screens, air-conditioned cabins, and other nice features. They can leave the creek and go through the Gulf of Mexico, unlike water buses and abras.
Water taxis take people from places like Deira Old Souk or Jebel Ali Golf resort to other places. They run from 10:00 to 22:00. Passengers must call RTA or their hotel’s service staff in advance to book rides on the water taxi. When the passenger makes the reservation, they agree on the price.
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