When we talk about “residency in the UAE,” this involves obtaining the following four elements:
– Residency visa (Investor/Working/Family Visa)
– Identity card (Emirates ID)
– UAE driving license
– Personal bank account in the UAE
It is worth noting that a Visa/Emirates ID are now required to open both personal and professional bank accounts in the UAE. They also enable you to rent accommodation, buy/rent a car, etc.
It’s important to differentiate between residency visa and tax residency:
– Regarding the residency visa, if you spend more than 183 days (for an employee) or more than 364 days (for a shareholder) between two trips outside Dubai, you will automatically lose this visa.
– Regarding tax residency, be careful not to become a tax resident of another country than the UAE because you would then meet the internal criteria of that country.
Our fees for comprehensive assistance are AED 2000 (for an employee, spouse, or child) and AED 4000 (for a shareholder).
Points to note regarding residency in Dubai
Here are some important points to note:
– If a residency visa is requested while you are present in the UAE on a tourist visa, there is an additional cost of AED 1600 to change your status to a residency visa.
– Local medical insurance is required for all residency visas (we can advise you on this).
– The visas listed below are automatically cancelled if the holder spends more than 6 consecutive months outside the UAE. For an investor visa, this consecutive period outside the country is 12 months.
– Exchange of Driving License: for AED 1055, it is possible to exchange a foreign driving license with a UAE license (see list of available countries on the next page). This amount is to be paid directly on site (we assist you for free with this exchange). Note: for some countries (France, Belgium, etc.), the original license will be returned to you with the new UAE license.
For a Family visa (spouse, children), it is required that the person sponsoring them has already obtained their Investor visa before they can apply for their visa. This type of visa is not linked to the size of the company’s office (shared or private).
It is possible to obtain a UAE driving license without retaking local exams (theory and practical) if you have a license from one of the following countries: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.
