Moving to the Emirates — in the right order.
The move rarely fails on the visa. It fails because something stayed open at home that could only be settled beforehand.
A move to the UAE typically takes six to twelve weeks from decision to Emirates ID: settle the home side, fix the structure, run the visa process, then bank account, home and insurance. What company and visas cost is calculated by the first estimate. As of 09/2026.
Moving to the UAE means giving up tax and civil residence in your home country and establishing residency in the Emirates with an Emirates ID, health insurance and a home.
Updated: 01/09/2026
Five steps, in this order
Settle the home side — before anything else
Exit taxation under § 6 AStG, running contracts, GmbH shares, property, health insurance. Asking after the move means negotiating about facts instead of shaping them.
Fix the structure and incorporate
Activity, free zone or mainland, visa needs. The licence is typically issued within a few working days and is the basis for everything else.
Run the visa process
Entry permit, entry, medical, biometrics, Emirates ID. Two to six weeks, individually per person. Family members follow once the sponsor has their status.
Account, home, insurance
Personal account after the Emirates ID, then a tenancy contract with Ejari registration, then the corporate account. Health insurance is mandatory and tied to the visa.
Deregister and arrive
Deregistration at the residents’ office, cancelling home-country insurance, transferring contracts. Only when this is done is the switch clean.
Budget for the first months
Realistic orders of magnitude for living there, not brochure figures. Rent is the biggest item and is often paid in one to four cheques in advance.
| Item | Single person (AED) | Family with two children (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent deposit and prepayment | 20,000 – 40,000 | 45,000 – 90,000 |
| Furnishing and settling in | 5,000 – 15,000 | 15,000 – 35,000 |
| School per child per year | — | 25,000 – 90,000 |
| Buffer for three months of living costs | 15,000 – 30,000 | 40,000 – 70,000 |
Market figures as of 09/2026; they vary strongly by location and school. Company, visas and health insurance are deliberately not in this table — they depend on your structure and are calculated in the first estimate.
What to settle at home
Deregistration
Deregistering at the residents’ office is the formal cut. On its own it does not end tax liability — residence and habitual abode decide that.
Giving up the apartment
An apartment in Germany available at any time can keep unlimited tax liability alive. Even a room at your parents’ counts if it is permanently at your disposal.
Health insurance
German statutory cover ends on departure. An entitlement arrangement can make sense if a return is conceivable — decide that beforehand.
Contracts and accounts
German accounts can usually be kept but require the new address to be filed. Cancel or transfer insurance, memberships and subscriptions separately.
Property
Rented property in Germany stays taxable there. That is no obstacle, but a point for the return as a limited taxpayer.
Pension and provision
Entitlements remain; further contributions are voluntary. Whether they pay off is calculated by a tax or pension adviser, not by us.
Arriving: housing, schools, daily life
Housing
Tenancy contracts usually run twelve months and are paid in one to four cheques. Ejari registration is mandatory and a prerequisite for family visas and utility contracts.
Schools
British, American, IB and German curricula are available. Places at sought-after schools are scarce — apply in parallel with the visa process, not afterwards.
Health insurance
Mandatory for every residence visa. Basic cover is inexpensive; comprehensive family plans cost considerably more and pay off with pre-existing conditions.
Daily life
Converting your driving licence, mobile contract, utilities, Salik for tolls. Everything hangs on the Emirates ID — which is why it sits so early in the sequence.
Frequently asked questions
How long does moving to the UAE take?
From decision to Emirates ID typically six to twelve weeks: licence within a few working days, visa process two to six weeks, then account and tenancy contract.
What does the start realistically cost?
The part we influence — company, visas, insurance — is calculated by the first estimate for your case. On top come rent, furnishing, school and a buffer for the first months; the orders of magnitude for those are in the table above.
Do I have to deregister in Germany?
Yes, that is the formal step. For tax purposes what counts is whether residence and habitual abode are genuinely given up — an available apartment can keep liability alive.
What happens to my health insurance?
German statutory cover ends on departure. In the UAE health insurance is mandatory and tied to the visa. A German entitlement arrangement is possible if a return is conceivable.
Can I keep my German bank account?
Usually yes, with a registered foreign address. Some banks close non-resident accounts — worth clarifying beforehand and holding a second account.
How do I find an apartment?
Through agents and portals, usually on a twelve-month contract paid in one to four cheques. Without an Emirates ID and an account it gets difficult — which is why they come first.
What about schools?
Choice is wide, good places are scarce. Fees run between AED 25,000 and 90,000 per child per year depending on the school. Start applications in parallel with the visa process.
Do I strictly need a company?
No, but it is the most common route to a visa. Alternatives are an employment contract with a local employer, a Golden Visa or a freelance permit.
Exit Palm does not provide legal or tax advice. For legal and tax questions we work with licensed partners in Germany and the UAE. All information without warranty, as of the date shown.
What belongs before your departure — and what after?
We walk through your sequence and name what needs a tax firm at home. 15 minutes, free of charge.