Recently Moved to Dubai? Here’s What You Need to Know
By Chris
Moving to Dubai is exciting, but the first few weeks can also come with a surprisingly long checklist.
From getting your Emirates ID and setting up UAE Pass to registering your tenancy contract, activating electricity, sorting health insurance and understanding Dubai’s transport system, there are several essentials every new resident should know.
If you have recently made Dubai home, here is a practical starter guide to getting settled in 2026.
## **[Get your Emirates ID sorted first](https://www.whatmatters.ae/post/apply-emirates-id-yourself-uae-step-step-guide)**
Your **Emirates ID** is one of the most important documents you will have in the UAE.
Every UAE citizen and resident is required to have one. It is used across everyday life, including government services, healthcare, banking and identity verification.
Once your residence process is completed, keep both the physical card and digital access to your ID details handy.
You will find yourself using your Emirates ID far more often than you might expect.
Emirates ID information – UAE Government
## **Set up UAE Pass**
One of the first apps worth downloading is **UAE Pass**.
Think of it as your digital identity for the UAE. It allows residents to securely log in to a wide range of government, semi-government and private-sector services and digitally sign documents.
Registration can be completed using your Emirates ID and facial verification.
Once activated, UAE Pass can make everything from government applications to property and transport services much easier.
Learn about UAE Pass
## **Renting a home? Register your Ejari**
If you rent a property in Dubai, make sure your tenancy contract is registered through **Ejari**.
Ejari is Dubai Land Department’s official tenancy registration system and creates an official record of your rental contract.
Registration and renewal can be handled digitally through the Dubai REST app or through approved Real Estate Services Trustee Centres.
Your Ejari is also important for setting up other services. Dubai Land Department confirms that tenants need Ejari for DEWA Move-in.
Register or renew an Ejari contract
## **Activate your DEWA account**
Once your Ejari is issued, setting up electricity and water is straightforward.
For most tenants outside free zones, **Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)** is digitally connected to the Ejari system. After registration, DEWA sends the customer an account number, security-deposit details and payment link.
The current refundable security deposit is **AED 2,000 for an apartment and AED 4,000 for a villa**. DEWA states that electricity and water can be connected within 15 working hours after the required process is completed.
DEWA Move-in service
## **Make sure you have health insurance**
Health insurance is mandatory for Dubai residents.
Employees of Dubai-registered companies, including free-zone companies, must be provided with health-insurance coverage by their employer. Sponsors may need to arrange insurance for dependants where the employer does not provide family coverage.
Before visiting a clinic or hospital, check your insurer’s app to understand your network, co-payments, pharmacy benefits and whether specialist appointments require referrals.
This can save you from unexpected medical bills.
## **Working in Dubai? Don’t forget ILOE**
This one is easy for new employees to overlook.
The **Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE)** insurance scheme is mandatory for employees in the UAE private sector and federal government, apart from specified exempt categories.
The scheme provides eligible employees with temporary financial protection following involuntary job loss. Subscription plans currently start from **AED 5 + VAT per month** for employees with a basic salary of AED 16,000 or below and **AED 10 + VAT** for those earning above that threshold.
If you have just started a new job, do not simply assume HR has completed it for you. Check your status and keep the policy active. This is especially important because ILOE is mandatory for eligible employees, as covered in our previous What Matters guide.
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Official ILOE portal
## **Open a UAE bank account**
Once your residency and Emirates ID are ready, opening a local bank account becomes much easier.
Commonly requested documents include your Emirates ID, passport, UAE residence visa and salary certificate or employment letter. Some banks may also request proof of address.
Many UAE banks now support digital account opening through their mobile apps.
Before choosing a bank, compare minimum-balance requirements, salary-transfer benefits, international transfer fees, ATM availability and credit-card charges rather than choosing purely based on a welcome offer.
## **[Get a nol card for getting around Dubai](https://www.whatmatters.ae/post/dubais-nol-card-is-changing-what-commuters-need-to-know)**
If you plan to use public transport, a **nol card** should be one of your first purchases.
It can be used across Dubai Metro, buses, Dubai Tram and marine transport, and can also be used for RTA paid parking and selected other payments.
Cards are available from Metro ticket offices, vending machines and authorised sales agents, while RTA also provides virtual nol functionality through nol Pay.
For regular commuters, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual travel products may be more economical depending on how often and across how many zones you travel.
RTA nol card guide
## **Planning to drive? Check whether you can exchange your licence**
Not every new resident needs to start driving lessons from zero.
Dubai’s RTA allows residents holding licences from eligible countries to exchange them for a [UAE driving licence](https://www.whatmatters.ae/post/uae-driving-licence-guide-expats-costs-tests-process), subject to nationality, licence and documentation requirements. RTA said licences from **57 countries** were recognised for exchange during 2025.
The standard requirements for eligible applicants include a valid Emirates ID, electronic eye test and original foreign driving licence. Some licences also require a legalised translation.
If your licence is not eligible for direct exchange, you will need to follow the applicable RTA training and testing process.
Check RTA driving licence exchange eligibility
## **[Own a car? Understand Salik](https://www.whatmatters.ae/post/dubainow-app-lets-residents-pay-traffic-parking-and-salik-fines-in-one-place)**
Dubai does not have traditional toll booths.
Instead, **Salik** operates a free-flow electronic toll system. Vehicles pass beneath toll gates without stopping, and the applicable charge is automatically deducted from the vehicle’s prepaid Salik account.
If you buy a vehicle, make sure it has its own activated Salik tag and keep sufficient balance in the account.
There are currently **10 Salik toll gates** across Dubai, including Al Barsha, Al Garhoud Bridge, Business Bay Crossing, Airport Tunnel, Jebel Ali, Al Safa North and South, Al Mamzar North and South, and Al Maktoum Bridge.
Salik official guide
## **Understand Dubai’s parking system**
Paid public parking is common across Dubai, particularly in busy residential and commercial areas.
Do not assume a roadside parking space is free simply because there is no physical barrier.
Check the signs for the parking zone, applicable timings and tariff before leaving your car. Payment options can vary by location and include digital and mobile channels.
Private developments, malls and communities may operate separate parking systems, so always check the signage.
## **Download the apps you’ll actually use**
You do not need dozens of apps on day one, but a few can make settling in much easier.
**UAE Pass** is useful for digital identity and government services.
**DubaiNow** brings multiple Dubai government services together.
**RTA Dubai / nol Pay** can help with transport-related services.
**Dubai REST** is useful for tenancy and property services.
**DEWA** helps manage electricity and water.
Your health insurer’s app is important for finding covered hospitals, clinics and pharmacies.
If you drive, the **Salik** app or online account is useful for managing tolls.
## **Learn your neighbourhood before choosing everything around it**
Dubai can look compact on a map, but commuting times vary dramatically depending on where you live and work.
Before committing to a long-term apartment, consider your nearest Metro station, typical rush-hour journey, supermarket options, schools or nurseries if relevant, parking availability and access to major roads.
A cheaper apartment far from work can sometimes cost more in time, fuel, tolls and transport than expected.
## **Know the emergency numbers**
Save the essential UAE emergency numbers on your phone.
**999 — Police**
**998 — Ambulance**
**997 — Fire / Civil Defence**
For non-emergency situations, use the relevant authority’s customer-service channels rather than an emergency number.
## **Dubai summers require some adjustment**
If you arrive between roughly May and September, Dubai’s heat can take some getting used to.
Plan outdoor activities for cooler parts of the day, stay hydrated and avoid leaving children, pets or temperature-sensitive items inside parked vehicles.
Fortunately, much of everyday Dubai life is designed around the climate. Metro stations, malls, entertainment venues, offices and many pedestrian connections are air-conditioned.
## **A few Dubai habits you’ll learn quickly**
Friday is no longer the UAE’s standard weekend start for most workplaces; the common weekend is Saturday and Sunday, although individual employers and industries can have different schedules.
Food and grocery delivery are widely available, but knowing your building name, tower number and precise entrance makes deliveries much easier.
Keep digital copies of important documents such as your passport, visa, Emirates ID, tenancy contract and insurance policy in secure storage.
And when someone tells you a journey is “only 15 minutes away,” check the traffic before believing them.
## **Your new-to-Dubai checklist**
Before considering yourself officially settled, make sure you have your residence status and Emirates ID sorted, UAE Pass activated, health insurance confirmed, ILOE checked if applicable, UAE bank account opened, Ejari registered if renting, DEWA activated, nol card ready and driving licence or Salik arrangements completed if you plan to drive.
Once those essentials are handled, Dubai becomes significantly easier to navigate.
## **Why this matters**
Moving to Dubai involves more than getting a residence visa and finding an apartment.
A few systems—Emirates ID, UAE Pass, Ejari, DEWA, health insurance, ILOE, nol and Salik—connect to a surprisingly large part of everyday life.
Setting them up correctly during your first few weeks can save time, prevent missed obligations and make the transition into life in Dubai much smoother.
Welcome to Dubai. The paperwork comes first; the good part starts right after.
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