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Guidance

Living in the United Arab Emirates

Information about moving to, living or retiring in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 鈥� including visas, working, healthcare and driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
22 March 2013
Last updated
11 December 2025 — See all updates

Getting help with living in the UAE听听

Help from the UAE 驳辞惫别谤苍尘别苍迟听

For any questions about moving to or living in the UAE, you may be able to get help from the:听

  • 听

  • 听听

The UK government and the British Embassies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in the UAE.听

Professional help in the UAE听听

You can also get help from English-speaking professionals in the UAE, including:听听

  • lawyers听

  • translators听

  • notaries听听

  • funeral directors听听

Help from the UK government听听

Read the travel advice for the UAE to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit the UAE. This includes the latest information on:听听

  • visas and entry requirements听听

  • laws and cultural differences听

  • safety and security听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.听听

, including in an emergency.听听

Visas, residency and citizenship听

Make sure you meet the entry requirements for the UAE before you travel.听听

Visas and residence permits听听

Check which you need to live in the UAE.听听

You can get a visa to:听听

  • work听听

  • study听

  • retire听

  • invest or do business听听

  • live with family听听

  • search for a job听

  • get medical treatment听

If you want to extend your visa, read guidance on .听听听

For more information:听听

  • read the UAE 驳辞惫别谤苍尘别苍迟鈥檚 听听

  • use the 听

Registering as a resident听

All residents in the UAE must have an . You should receive this along with your residence visa. 听

If you have any problems or questions about getting your Emirates ID, contact the:听听

  • 听

  • relevant 听

Permanent residency听听

You can apply for long-term residency in the UAE if you meet the eligibility criteria. For more information, read guidance on . 听听

To find out if you鈥檙e eligible and how to apply, contact the:听听

  • 听

  • 听

Citizenship听听

The UAE recognises dual citizenship in certain cases. This means that you may not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become an Emirati (UAE) citizen.听听

To find out if you鈥檙e eligible for Emirati citizenship:听听

  • read guidance on 听听

  • contact the 听

  • contact the 听

Help with visa, residency and citizenship applications听

The British Embassies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi cannot help with UAE visa and residency applications.听听

For any questions or issues, contact:听听

  • the 听

  • the 听

  • an 听

Passports听听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:听听

  • apply for a British passport from abroad听

  • travel urgently without your British passport听

Dual citizens travelling to the UK听

When travelling to the UK, British citizens must carry听a valid听British passport听or听certificate of entitlement. Read guidance on听dual citizenship.

Healthcare in the UAE听听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:听听

  • plan your healthcare听

  • take medicine abroad听

The UAE does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the UK.听听

Make sure you have appropriate health insurance to cover any healthcare costs. You can get insurance through your employer, or from UAE or international providers.听听

Employers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are legally required to provide health insurance to their employees. 听

To find out how to get medical treatment:听听

Working in the UAE听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.听

To work in the UAE, you need a visa or residence permit. The UAE government explains the different available to you. 听

The retirement age for expatriates working in the鈥�UAE鈥痯rivate sector is 60. However, you can apply for 2-year extensions to work up to the age of 65 through the鈥�.听

Recognition of qualifications听

If you want to work in the UAE, you may need to . You can check with the 鈥�� if your鈥疷K鈥痲ualifications are recognised.听

Driving in the UAE听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:听听

  • drive abroad legally听

  • take your UK vehicle abroad听听

  • get driving licence letters听

Read about road travel in the UAE, in safety and security in the travel advice for the UAE. This covers driving in the UAE, including driving licence rules.听

The UAE government provides information on , including:听听

  • 听听

  • 听听

  • 听听

  • 听

Disabled drivers听

You may be able to . For more information, read guidance on .听

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in the UAE, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.听听

Tax听听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.听听听听

The UK has a double taxation agreement with the UAE so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.听

The UAE does not have income tax on salaries or wages. Depending on the Emirate, there may be:听听

  • taxes on some services and goods听

  • municipal taxes听

  • customs duties听

Contact the鈥� for any questions about corporation tax.听听

Consider getting professional advice on . To do this, .听听

Pensions听

Claiming your UK pension听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:听听

  • how to claim your UK State Pension听

  • where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension听

Claiming a UAE pension听

Only UAE citizens can claim a UAE pension. You may be eligible for if you have worked in the UAE.听听

Benefits听听

Claiming UK benefits听听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit.听听听

Claiming UAE benefits听听

Only UAE citizens are eligible to claim social welfare benefits.听听

Buying and renting property in the UAE听听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad.听听听听

You can also read guidance on:听听

  • 听

  • 听听

Contact an if you鈥檙e considering buying property or land.听

Voting in the UAE听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:听听

  • vote in UK elections from abroad听

  • register as an overseas voter听

Studying in the UAE听

If you plan to study in the UAE, you must meet all before you travel.听听

For more information:听听

Children听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:听听

  • getting permission to take your child abroad听听

  • claiming UK Child Benefit abroad听

  • child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad听

Schools and education听

The UAE government provides information about the .听听听

All children aged 6 to 18 must attend school or home school in the UAE.听听

For more information, read the UAE 驳辞惫别谤苍尘别苍迟鈥檚 guidance on:听听

  • 听

  • 听听

  • 听

  • 听

Childcare听听

Read the UAE 驳辞惫别谤苍尘别苍迟鈥檚 guidance on for information on childcare services.听听

Births, deaths, and marriages听听

Births听听

If your child is born in the UAE, .听听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:听听

  • register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate听听

  • apply for your child鈥檚 first British passport听

Deaths听听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:听听

  • what to do after someone dies abroad听

  • how to register the death with the UK authorities听听

If someone dies in the UAE, read guidance on:听

Marriages听听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married abroad.听听听

You can also read our guidance on affidavit or affirmation of marital status forms for the UAE.听听

Divorce听听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce.听

The UAE government offers guidance on .听听

Consider taking legal advice from an .听听

Documents for British people in the UAE听听

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers:听听听

  • legalising and certifying UK documents听听

  • marriage and civil partnership documents听

  • affirmations and affidavits听听

  • witnessing signatures听

Lawyers, translators and notaries听听

To find an English-speaking lawyer, translator or notary in the UAE, read guidance on professional services if you鈥檙e abroad.听

Pets听

If you want to bring your pet with you to the UAE, read guidance on taking your pet dog, cat or ferret to a non-EU country.听

Returning to the UK听听

Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.听

Disclaimer听听

We provide this information as a guide only.听 For definitive information, contact the UAE authorities.听听

Read our consular information disclaimer.

Updates to this page

Published 22 March 2013
Last updated 11 December 2025 Show all updates

  1. Added new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK ('Passports' section).

  2. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.

  3. Coronavirus section added with a link to guidance on vaccines.

  4. Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.

  5. Changes is obtaining a work permit in the UAE for a new arrival.

  6. Update charities

  7. Update local websites

  8. Important changes based on rules of the UAE for foreign nationals in child custody and divorce cases.

  9. More information added to Living in the UAE - Drug section

  10. Small changes to 'In Summary' as per Consular.

  11. Spacing

  12. Update Dos and Dont's

  13. Adjustment to the page: Sponsorship of families removed and will be added to a new document

  14. amendments to text in sponsoring of family members, as per UAE consular team added Do's and Don'ts document

  15. First published.

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