Dubai is a lively city known for its huge buildings and great lifestyle. It’s a favorite for people from all over, especially Indians.
With many Indians living in Dubai, it feels just like home. This guide covers everything from paperwork to finding a place to live. Get ready for your new life in Dubai!
Visa requirements
Discover the range of visa options available for Indian expatriates looking to work, live, or invest in the UAE. Each visa category is tailored to different needs and durations of stay, ensuring that you can find a perfect match for your circumstances.
- Employment Visa: If you have secured a job in the UAE, the employer will sponsor this visa. It includes health insurance and is valid as long as you remain with the employer.
- Investor Visa: Aimed at business owners and investors who plan to make significant contributions to the UAE economy. This visa can last for 3, 5, or even 10 years and requires proof of investment.
- Student Visa: This visa is for Indian students who are admitted to UAE universities. It requires proof of admission and is usually valid for the duration of the educational program, with options to renew.
- Residence Visa: if you obtained employment, property, or educational visas, you can apply for this longer-term residence option. As it offers stability and the chance to sponsor family members.
- Visit Visa: it’s perfect for those looking to explore or visit family in the UAE temporarily. However, these visas are generally short-term, ranging from 30 to 90 days, but can be extended.
- Retirement Visa: it’s dedicated to retirees over 55 who meet certain financial criteria. This visa provides a peaceful retirement option in the UAE, is renewable, and allows property ownership
Find the perfect visa for your needs! Discover all the requirements and options available—click here to learn more.
Paperwork
Moving to Dubai from India on a permanent basis is an easy process often facilitated by the employer. However, it’s crucial to prepare and organize your documents beforehand
Here’s how you can handle the attestation:
- University Verification: Start by visiting your university to get your degree and related documents like mark sheets and high school certificates stamped. It’s a good idea to call ahead to know exactly which documents are required.
And depending on your profession, you might also need an attestation from your field’s regulatory board. - HRD Attestation: Next, you need to get these documents attested by the Human Resource Development (HRD) department. You can do this at an HRD office or a recognized center in your state.
Note that: direct visits to HRD offices usually don’t involve a fee, but make sure to bring necessary items like mark sheets and a passport photo, which can vary by state.
- MEA Attestation: Take your documents to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Delhi, or use a registered agent, to get them officially stamped.
- UAE Embassy Approval: The final step in the attestation process involves getting an approval stamp from the UAE Embassy.
Additionally, if you’re moving as a married couple, ensure your marriage certificate is attested.
Besides, before applying for a work visa, you’ll also need a good conduct certificate from India. And don’t forget to bring plenty of passport-sized photographs with a white background, they’re needed for everything from your visa application to various licenses.
Life in Dubai
Since a majority of people living in Dubai are expats from different backgrounds, you will not feel like a stranger there. Settling in Dubai won’t be difficult for an Indian expat. Yet, there are some things you need to learn before you go so you can start enjoying your life as soon as possible.
Dubai lifestyle
Living in Dubai is a lot of fun, and it is definitely worth the move. The Dubai lifestyle won’t be that difficult to get used to for Indians. You will need to adjust to some minor details to be able to fit in. These include:
Weekends and language
Dubai is all about making expats feel welcome. In the last few years, Dubai changed its official weekends to Saturday and Sunday, just like most of the world. This makes things easier for everyone. So, relax and enjoy your time here.
The official language in Dubai is Arabic, however, almost everyone speaks English.
Food
There is a variety of cuisines available, including Indian cuisine. You will find the food you love and are familiar with, and if you need a change, the option is available as well.
Here are some of the best Indian restaurants in Dubai:
- Gazebo
- Ananta
- Mumtaz Mahal Indian Speciality Restaurant
- Zafran Indian Bistro
- Sind Punjab Restaurant
Choose your best dining option from this list of best Indian restaurant in Dubai— Click here to know more
Dress options
You can wear modern clothes or your own traditional Indian attire if you wish. People in Dubai are used to different cultures, and you won’t be stared at. Just wear whatever makes you feel comfortable, as long as you do not wear anything too revealing or tight.
Weather
The weather is warm, but you can expect rain during the winter, and it gets pretty hot during summer. Indian weather is a bit similar to that of the UAE. Perhaps the difference in weather is that the UAE has a tropical desert climate, while India has a tropical monsoon climate. It is common for the UAE to have dust storms, while in India, wind and rain is much more common.
Another difference is winter; in some areas in India, especially in the north, winter is a bit harsh, while winter in the UAE is more lenient. You may have to get used to the higher levels of humidity, but other than that, they’re quite similar.
Marriage
There are some requirements needed to get married in Dubai if you are a foreigner, depending on whether your bride or groom is Indian or not. In case both bride and groom are Indians:
- The bride and groom should submit a “Notice of Intended Marriage”
- The bride and groom each need to have 4 passport size photos
- A copy of the passport and the residence visa
- Three witnesses who have passports and residence visas
In case either is not an Indian:
- The non-Indian party should submit a form from their consulate, that should be approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE that proves that his/her country has no law against this marriage.
- If either the bride or groom is from the UAE, the marriage is done through the UAE government.
Birth
In case of birth in Dubai, there are some procedures that need to be followed. For birth, the parents should get a birth certificate and a passport from the Indian Embassy.
Getting around
It’s relatively easy to get around Dubai. You can use a car, and if so, some traffic is to be expected, but nothing more than what you’re probably used to. As for public transportation, there are different modes available in Dubai, such as Metro, Tram, buses and taxis.
Cost of living
When thinking of relocating to Dubai for the purpose of starting a business or enrolling in a new school or university, one of the main issues is the cost of living. If you’re moving for a new job, you want to be sure that your salary will cover your expenses, and perhaps help you save a bit.
For students, you want to keep expenses as low as possible. While Dubai is generally known as an expensive city, there are ways to get around all the hot price tags. You can read on for a breakdown of expenses to get an idea on the cost of living in Dubai vs India.
Discover how the cost of living in Dubai compares to India with our detailed expense breakdown. Click here
Transportation
Bus
There are numerous buses in Dubai that reach all the major attractions. The bus ticket prices start from AED 2.
There is also a water bus that travels back and forth between Bur Dubai and Deira. Its fare ranges between AED 1 and AED 4.
Dubai Metro
There are two operational Metro lines in Dubai: the Red line and the Green line, and these lines cover many areas in Dubai.
Taxis
Taxis are available and easy to find. The taxi fare starts from AED 8 and increases every 1.6 km.
Car Rentals
You can also rent a car, but you need to have a credit card for that. It is not the most recommended means of transportation though.
Buying and renting homes
We’ve compiled a list of the best places to live in Dubai for Indian families.
- Bur Dubai: A historic district in Dubai that is on the western part of the Dubai Creek. It has the Indian High School and a Hindu temple. Rents start from AED 40,000 a year.
- Dubai Investment Park: It’s is a residential, commercial and industrial neighbourhood. It has the International School of Choueifat, Ramla Mall and other accommodations that make life more enjoyable. The rents start from AED 30,000 yearly, and the buying prices start from AED 333,000.
- Dubai Marina: One of the most popular districts in Dubai, it offers sea views. It houses a variety of restaurants and the Dubai Marina Mall. The rentals start from AED 73,000 yearly, and the buying prices start from AED 954,000.
Here are the properties to rent in Dubai on Property Finder; have a look at them.
Driving in Dubai
Driving in Dubai is fun, but it can be a bit challenging. However, the government has implemented new rules to ensure road safety. Here are some guidelines and tips about driving in Dubai:
- Seat belts need to be on, this is a general and international rule.
- Always keep a safe distance between your car and the one in front of you. This is challenging because not many drivers abide by this rule, so don’t follow their footsteps.
- Always check all your mirrors, as sometimes drivers believe if they can see at night, they do not need headlights. Use your car mirrors to check if there are any cars close by.
- Stay within the speed limit. Many people in Dubai own race cars, so they can almost fly. The speed limit rule is implemented to ensure safety on the roads.
Other than that, the rules are very general like do not jump the red light, do not drink and drive, etc.
Taxes
Rest assured that there is no income tax in Dubai, which means what you earn is what you get. However, there are taxes that can be added for services, for example, if you stay in a hotel or eat at the hotel restaurant, you will have a 10% tax added to your bill.
Pensions
Pensions are decided by the Indian government according to the pension rules of India.
Healthcare
Dubai has many public hospitals available for free or a very small fee for Emiratis, yet expats may use them if they apply for a healthcare card from the Department of Health and Medical Services.
On the other hand, there is a whole city in Dubai called Dubai Healthcare City that is available for both Emiratis and expats alike. The city has numerous hospitals and pharmacies that are open 24/7. As for health insurance, expats are eligible to receive private health insurance provided by the companies they work for.
Now that you have your guide in hand, you’re all set for the next steps of your journey to Dubai. Stay informed and prepared with everything you need to know about life in the UAE by keeping up with Property Finder’s Blog. Whether it’s finding the perfect home or exploring your new city, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Welcome to your exciting new chapter in Dubai!
