Your move, step by step
- Before you fly. Give notice on your Abu Dhabi lease as your contract requires (often 2–3 months), close your ADDC/TAQA account and transfer your children's school records before term starts.
- Arriving. Your UAE residence visa and Emirates ID stay valid when you move emirates. You only change your tenancy (Tawtheeq in Abu Dhabi to Ejari in Dubai), utilities and possibly schools.
- First 2–6 weeks: a furnished base. Until your Emirates ID, bank account and cheque book are ready, most families stay in a furnished monthly flat or one of us goes ahead in a monthly studio.
- Residence visa and Emirates ID. Medical test and biometrics, then your Emirates ID. After that: bank account, mobile line, DEWA.
- Choose an area by commute and school. Map your office and your children's school first, then shortlist areas. See family apartments near the metro.
- Sign the yearly lease. Ejari registration, post-dated cheques, deposit and DEWA connection. We explain each one below.
- Sponsor your family. With your Ejari, salary certificate and attested certificates you can apply for your spouse's and children's residence visas.
Where Abu Dhabi families live
If you'll still work in Abu Dhabi, live on Dubai's south-west side (Al Furjan, Discovery Gardens, JVC, Dubai South) to cut the commute. If you're moving for a Dubai job, choose by your new office's metro line.
- Al Furjan: Metro on the doorstep, Newer buildings.
- Discovery Gardens: Metro on the Expo 2020 branch, Garden courtyards, quiet.
- Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC): New buildings with pools and gyms, Many parks and nurseries.
- Dubai Sports City: Good value 1–3BHK, Sports academies for kids.
- Dubai Marina: Beach and promenade, Metro and tram.
- Al Barsha: Red Line metro, Al Barsha Pond Park.
Driving
Your UAE driving licence works in Dubai; just register Salik for the Dubai toll gates.
How renting works in Dubai
- Contract: Dubai family flats are normally let on a 12-month contract registered with Ejari. Monthly or 3-month furnished stays exist but cost more per month.
- Payment: rent is paid by post-dated cheques. Fewer cheques (1–2) gets a lower rent; 4, 6 or 12 cheques are negotiable, and some owners accept monthly bank transfer.
- Security deposit: commonly about 5% of the yearly rent for unfurnished and about 10% for furnished, refundable at the end.
- Agency fee: agents usually charge around 5% of the yearly rent. Stayshay charges families nothing.
- DEWA (water and electricity): a refundable connection deposit is paid when you activate the account (larger for villas than apartments), plus monthly bills. Ask whether chiller/AC is included, it changes the bill a lot.
- Family visa link: your Ejari is one of the documents used for sponsoring your spouse and children, so make sure the contract is in the sponsor's name.
Checks before you pay anything
- Visit at the time you'd commute, and check the walk to the metro or bus stop with children.
- Check the chiller/AC arrangement (DEWA-included, Empower or a separate chiller bill).
- Ask for the title deed or the owner's ID and make sure the person you pay is the owner or a RERA-registered broker.
- Never pay a deposit before viewing. Pay by cheque or bank transfer to the owner's or agency's account, and get a receipt.
- Agree in writing who pays maintenance and what happens if you need to leave early (often 1–2 months' rent penalty).
