For Newcomers

Moving to Dubai or about to take possession of a new home? Here's the short version of what we wish we'd known.

Getting set up

• Emirates ID first — it gates almost everything else (tenancy, utilities, banking).
• DEWA for water and electricity. Most new builds activate within 1–2 working days online.
• Etisalat or du for internet — fibre is widely available; book installation a week ahead of move-in.
• Ejari registration for your tenancy contract is mandatory.

Getting around

• A car is effectively required outside the central metro corridor; ride-hailing is everywhere otherwise.
• Get a Nol card for Metro, tram, bus, and water bus — one card across all RTA transport.
• Salik tags are auto-billed on toll gates. Top up via the Salik app.

Schools, healthcare, banking

• School inspections are public on the KHDA website — check ratings before enrolling.
• Health insurance is mandatory; most employers provide it. Compare network coverage carefully.
• Banking is straightforward once you have an Emirates ID and a salary letter.

This page is a starting point. Every neighbourhood has its own quirks — we'll publish detailed guides for individual areas in the news section.