Moving to Dubai with your family. Do the maths first.
Rent, school, car, insurance and savings as a range, in AED and euro. Then we settle which structure carries that budget.
As of 10/2026. Sources: UAE Federal Tax Authority, GDRFA, KHDA. Not legal or tax advice.
Three questions every family asks first
The order decides weeks and money. These three questions come at the start.
What does living here cost?
Rent is the largest item and is paid in 1 to 4 cheques in advance. School comes on top, per child and year. The calculator puts a range on both.
When do I register the children?
Alongside the visa process, not after it. The sought-after schools are full 12 months ahead.
Where does the income come from?
From a company in the Emirates, from a local employment contract or from assets. The answer sets visa, structure and tax. We settle that in the first call.
The family cost calculator. Free, for an email address.
These are benchmarks, not quotes. The figures show the order of magnitude before you have a conversation.
Unlock the calculator
Two questions, then your details. After that the calculator sits right below and stays open on this device.
The numbers for your family
The calculator opens once the form is filled in. After that it stays open on this device, and you can run it as often as you like.
5 steps, in this order.
Settle the German side
Exit tax (Wegzugsbesteuerung, § 6 AStG), health insurance, tenancy agreement, deregistering the children from school. Everything that can only be shaped beforehand.
Fix the structure, start the sponsor visa
One parent becomes the sponsor, through a company, an employment contract or a Golden Visa. The family follows once the sponsor holds their Emirates ID.
Register for school, choose the area
Runs alongside step 2. Think about area and the route to school together.
Family visas, health insurance, bank account
Each family member individually. Insurance is mandatory and tied to the visa. The account follows the Emirates ID.
Home, Ejari, everyday life
Tenancy agreement with Ejari registration, DEWA, SIM, driving licence. All of it hangs on the Emirates ID.
Legalising documents in Germany, the UAE embassy in Berlin included, stays with you. From arrival onwards we take over.
What Exit Palm handles for families
| Task | You | Exit Palm |
|---|---|---|
| Legalising certificates (birth, marriage) | ✓ | Checklist and order of steps |
| Structure and sponsor visa | The decision | Analysis, recommendation, delivery |
| Family visas, medical, Emirates ID | Attending appointments | Applications, deadlines, escort |
| Family health insurance | Choice of plan | Quotes from licensed partners |
| Personal and company account | The KYC conversation | A prepared KYC file |
| School, housing | ✓ | Guide with 12 schools and contacts |
| A will in the UAE | The decision | Advice, preparation, registration through partners |
After arrival: the UAE Guide 2026/27
60 pages for the first year: authority visits day by day, German-speaking doctors, 12 schools with fees, banks, insurance, wills. AED 149, PDF.
Go to the guideCommon questions
How long does a family move take?
From the decision to an Emirates ID for everyone, typically 8 to 14 weeks. The sponsor goes first; the family follows with its own visa process of 2 to 6 weeks per person.
Can my partner work without their own company?
On a family visa, a work permit from the employer is required. The alternative is a licence of their own. We settle both beforehand.
Which school is the right one?
British, American, IB and German curricula are available. The guide lists 12 schools with location, rating, fee and admissions contact.
What happens to German health insurance?
Statutory cover ends when you leave. A dormant entitlement (Anwartschaft) is possible if a return is conceivable. That belongs before the flight.
Do we need a will in the UAE?
For families with assets or children in the Emirates: yes. Without a registered will, a court decides on the estate and on guardianship. More on the page about wills.
The numbers are in. Does the structure carry them?
15 minutes, free of charge, by video. Afterwards you know which visa fits the family, what to settle in Germany first and what it costs.
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; see the date for the version it reflects.
As of 10/2026