Moving to Dubai from the UK

Dubai is rapidly becoming one of the more attractive destinations for UK expats. Boasting unparalleled economic growth it is a city aflame with an entrepreneurial spirit and opportunity for the enterprising. It also offers a completely different environment from the UK, with scorching weather, and vastly different language, religion, laws, and customs.

Those willing to integrate though will find Dubai very welcoming, much more diverse than one might initially expect, and much more affordable than the UK. In addition, there is a thriving expat community with whom you can socialise, play sports and indulge in your favourite British pastime (aka drinking).

Myths about Dubai are prevalent in the media, but in fact, you can buy alcohol in bars and specialist shops (with a liquor licence granted to non-Muslims) and you don’t have to adhere to an Islamic dress code (though there are prohibitions against ‘indecent clothing’). You can also buy pork in the western section of some supermarkets.

If you’re already set on moving to Dubai from the UK, why not jump to the next step? Costs.

To find out how much it’ll cost you to ship your belongings from the US to Dubai, simply fill out a few details on this short form. Our trusted suppliers will then be in touch with quotes for you to compare.

Select the size of your move to get free quotes

Why move to Dubai?

Of all the changes undergone by world cities in the last few decades the most startling and dramatic have occurred in Dubai. Once a mere business hub for the oil industry, the Emirate has taken advantage of rising oil prices and businesses moving from other parts of the Middle East to massively expand its economy and explode onto the international scene.

Today less than 1% of Dubai’s GDP is from oil – at one time it was over half. The city has radically diversified its economy to encompass real estate, construction, trade, financial services, and tourism.

This transformation has seen the landscape and population change as much as the economic balance: Dubai skyscrapers continue to shoot up, piercing the Arabian skyline, while man-made islands create real estate and tourism opportunities; Emiratis are now a minority in their own city as foreign workers have been sucked in to sustain the boom.

Opportunities for British people emigrating to Dubai are therefore plentiful and many have taken advantage of the low crime rates, enhanced spending power, and low property prices to vastly improve their quality of life.

In 2020, the UAE was the world’s only country to have three of its cities – Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah – all among the top ten safest cities in the world.

How much does it cost to ship your belongings to Dubai?

If you’re moving to Dubai, you’re going to want to know how much it’ll cost to ship your belongings there.

What you’ll spend will depend on whether you choose sea freight or air freight too, so we’ve broken down the average costs in the sections below.

Sea freight costs from the UK to Dubai

Although shipping costs vary, the table below shows a rough idea of what you can expect. We sourced these rates from Freightos.com, and they’re based on the port-to-port transportation of a 20ft container of used furniture worth £55,000 (the typical value of the contents of a three-bedroom home according to the Association of British Insurers).

Please note: these container shipping costs exclude typical add-ons such as door-to-door delivery, professional packing/unpacking, and basic insurance cover. Our shipping suppliers normally incorporate these services into their prices, so expect some discrepancy between the rates given here and the quotes you receive. These estimates should be used as an indication only. This information is up to date, as of January 2025.

Air freight costs from the UK to Dubai

If you want to get your goods to Dubai as quickly as possible, air freight is your best choice. Speed and convenience comes with an added cost of course, so expect to pay more to fly your goods to Dubai. In fact, air freight can be up to 18 times more expensive than container shipping.

To get some idea of how much air freight would cost you, take a look at the prices in the table below.

We sourced these figures from Freightos.com, and they’re based on flying 250 kg of household goods (worth £2,500) from either London or Manchester to Dubai.

Data updated as of January 2025

Setting up your finances

It’s quite simple to set up your finances in Dubai, as non-residents are able to open a bank account with relative ease. You’ll need your Emirates ID and residence visa to do so, however, so make sure you sort this out before attempting to open a Dubai bank account.

Also, be aware that non-resident bank accounts come with less privileges, but you still get access to essential financial services (so you don’t need to worry about not being able to pay for stuff).

If you’re moving money to Dubai, you’ll need to use a transfer service to convert your pounds. Of course, you could just use a bank for this, but the exchange rates are often unfavourable and will leave you more out of pocket than you need to be! With that in mind, let’s talk about transferring money to Dubai.

Transferring money to Dubai

When moving to Dubai, you’ll need to convert some of your UK pounds into United Arab Emirates Dirham.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with Wise, an easy-to-use online international money transfer service that uses the real exchange rate and charges low fees.

How much could you save? Well, its service can be up to eight times cheaper than high street banks.

Join more than 12.8 million people and start using Wise today.

Job market

Dubai has a well-earned reputation for being a haven for people looking to boost their careers. Tax-free salaries and excellent job opportunities have lured thousands of expats yearly.

Dubai’s economic boom of the previous decade seems to have dwindled somewhat in comparison. However, while sectors such as retail and hospitality have seen a bit of a recent dip, industries such as education, agricultural sciences, and manufacturing have enjoyed considerable growth.

The most sought after employees in Dubai are engineers, teachers, and people who work in more creative fields such as marketing and communications.

Select the size of your move to get free quotes

Property market

Throughout 2024, property prices in Dubai have continued to increase and while this might be attractive for investors, it’s not ideal for people planning to buy a home to live there.

However, despite this increase, average property prices in Dubai are still only 2.3% above the peak in 2014. All things considered then, costs to buy a home in Dubai have remained pretty stable for more than a decade now.

Interesting fact: Dubai has no address system – no street numbers, no road names, and no zip codes. Directions and the postal systems run on what landmarks you are near.

Property cost in Dubai

If you’re convinced about life in Dubai, you’re going to want to know what you might be spending on property there. Whether that’s renting an apartment, or buying a home, we’ve done the research and given you average prices in the table below.

Average house price in Dubai: £612,300

Average apartment price in Dubai: £383,493

Cheapest places to buy a house in Dubai: Dubai International City (average price £145,217)

Healthcare for expats

Dubai boasts a highly developed modern healthcare system for natives and expats alike. The public hospitals – free to use by citizens and expats who have a health card – provide free or highly affordable healthcare.

Every resident of Dubai is legally required to have some form of private medical cover, and unless you are an Emirati national, you will need private medical cover in Dubai.

If your employer isn’t providing you with adequate medical cover, it’s a very sensible idea to take out some private medical insurance.

That’s why we’ve partnered with Cigna for private medical insurance in the UAE. With four levels of annual cover to choose from and extra modules for more flexibility, Cigna will sort you out with a plan that suits your needs.

Start building a customised plan with a free quote to protect your most important assets – you and your family.

Visas and work permits for Dubai

While permanent residency visas are relatively easy to obtain for Brits with employment in the UAE, it’s virtually impossible for those without. This is especially difficult since the global financial crisis precipitated a severe downturn in the UAE and led to the government introducing quotas for foreign workers.

As such, you really shouldn’t move to Dubai unless you have a job that will lead to a work permit, which will, in turn, lead to residency and the right to rent an apartment, access healthcare and education, etc.

If you’ve entered Dubai on a visit visa and want to work, you’ll have to get a probationary work visa from the Ministry of Labour.

You should absolutely make sure you secure a work visa before working in Dubai because if you’re caught working without one, you could face a fine or even time in prison.

Schools and education in Dubai

The prospect of finding a school for your child in the United Arab Emirates that teaches the right curriculum, in the right language, and which is near enough to your home may appear daunting at first but you’ll actually find that there’s a great deal of choice. School fees are also a lot more affordable than the tuition fees of private schools in Western countries.

Those looking for a British curriculum might consider the highly regarded Dubai British School where fees range from around AED 51,809 to around AED 77,715 per year. At least 60 schools are offering a UK curriculum though, with fees for primary education starting at around AED 4,000.

There are also a number of other international schools with various curricula and programmes from which to choose.

Special needs schooling is rarer and the costs are higher (up to around AED 88,000).

Many large foreign universities have set up institutions at the Dubai International Academic City located 40 km southeast of the centre of Dubai.

Comparing Dubai to London

Moving from London to Dubai will make you wonder how you ever managed to survive in a city as expensive as the UK capital. Everything from groceries to utilities is cheaper in Dubai – among the very few things you’ll find yourself paying a premium on are, understandably, alcohol and women’s fashion.

Compared to London, Dubai is generally safer and property is more affordable. The city’s roads though are highly congested so you won’t be escaping the London pollution.

Culture and nature

In cultural terms Dubai isn’t going to serve up your Western staples – English language theatre, cinema (apart from the biggest Hollywood blockbusters) and live popular music will all be hard to find. If you’re willing to embrace the difference though you won’t be disappointed – the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding is a good place to start.

There are also nature reserves, scenic parks, a well-curated museum, a racecourse, some of the world’s most ambitious modern architecture to admire, and golf courses aplenty.

Weather

Dubai’s climate is desert – much further removed from that of London you could not get. Average high temperatures in the summer months regularly exceed 40°C and rainfall is virtually non-existent except during the months of December to March.

The summer humidity can be quite uncomfortable unless you’re in an air-conditioned building or near a chilled pool.

Packing list for your move to Dubai

No matter which part of the UK you’re moving from, there are several things that you have that you won’t need in Dubai. There are also several things you own that will get more mileage out of your time in the UAE.

Donate:

• All things winter (except for use in that indoor ski slope)
• Umbrella
• Rain gear (except for one jacket for visiting the UK)
• Hot water bottle

Pack:

• Sandals
• Sunglasses
• Adapter
• Long trousers and skirts

This is clearly not an exhaustive list for your move to Dubai; you’ll want to pack more so view the cost of shipping from the UK to Dubai. There you’ll find the costs, options to ship your belongings, and what is restricted in the UAE.

Summary

Whether you’re moving to Dubai for the plethora of job opportunities, the luxurious venues, the gloriously sunny weather, or just for a change of scenery, you’re bound to have a blast.

Before you get tempted to book your tickets and hop on the plane, it’s wise to figure out how much it’s all going to cost.

That’s where we come in. To find out how much it’ll cost you to ship your belongings from the US to Dubai, simply fill out a few details on this short form. Our trusted suppliers will then be in touch with quotes for you to compare.