How do I relocate to Dubai with my family?

Check who will sponsor each family member and which residency requirements apply. For the standard employee sponsorship route, the UAE Government lists a minimum salary of AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. Meeting that threshold is only one part of eligibility; confirm your family’s specific requirements with GDRFA Dubai or an Amer centre before applying. Dependants aged 18 and above generally need medical fitness screening.

Prepare everyone’s passports, photographs and relevant entry documents, together with your marriage certificate and children’s birth certificates. Family sponsorship applications may require attested relationship documents, so check certification and translation requirements before leaving your home country. Bring school records, vaccination histories and important medical documents as well.

Choose your home and your children’s school together. Contact schools about available places, admission requirements and total fees before committing to a neighbourhood. Consider both parents’ commutes, school transport, childcare and nearby healthcare. Temporary accommodation can give you time to view homes while completing your residency and Emirates ID arrangements.

Build a family budget that includes rent payments, deposits, home setup, dependent residency costs, insurance, school expenses and an emergency reserve. Confirm when everyone’s health cover begins and whether any gap needs separate insurance. Dubai requires health insurance, and an employee’s policy does not automatically mean their spouse and children are covered. www.dubai.ae

Once your tenancy is signed, arrange Ejari, utilities, internet and the building’s move-in approvals before scheduling major deliveries.