Moving to the Gulf for a tech job involves a lot of paperwork, but most of it follows a clear order. Your employer handles much of the visa process. This checklist covers what you need to do yourself, before you leave and after you arrive.
Rules and fees change, so check the official links for the latest details.
Before you leave home
- Check your passport. It should be valid for at least six months. The UAE work permit application needs a passport with at least six months’ validity (u.ae).
- Attest your degree. For a UAE work permit, your qualifications must be attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (u.ae). This usually starts in the country that issued the degree, so begin early. Ask your Saudi employer what they need if you’re moving to Saudi Arabia.
- Prepare family documents if your family is coming. Children’s residence visas need attested birth certificates (u.ae). Ask your employer which other documents, such as a marriage certificate, need attestation.
- Read your job offer. In the UAE, the offer must be in Arabic and English and becomes your employment contract once you arrive (u.ae). Check the basic salary, allowances, notice period and start date.
- Ask your employer what they pay for: flights, temporary housing, shipping, visa fees and family visas.
- Plan your first month’s money. Rent, deposits and agency fees may be due before your first salary arrives. See our Dubai cost of living guide.
- Sort out tax at home. Check when you stop being tax resident. See our tax basics guide.
- Bring your driving licence if you plan to drive (see below).
UAE: your first weeks
1. Enter on your entry permit
Your employer gets your entry permit before you travel. It is valid for two months, and you need to finish the steps below within that time (u.ae).
2. Medical fitness test
Residence visa applicants aged 18 and over must pass a medical test (u.ae). Your employer will tell you when and where to take it (u.ae).
3. Emirates ID
The Emirates ID is the UAE identity card for citizens and residents. It is mandatory, and you must carry it with you (u.ae). You apply through ICP’s website or a typing centre, and you may need to visit an ICP centre to give fingerprints. Your employer will tell you when to apply, as part of your visa process (u.ae).
Good to know:
- Your employer is not allowed to keep your Emirates ID card.
- Tell ICP about changes to your personal details within one month.
- If you lose the card, report it to ICP within 7 days.
4. Employment contract and residence visa
Your signed offer is registered with MOHRE as your contract within 14 days of your arrival (u.ae). Your residence visa is then issued based on your work permit.
5. Health insurance
Your employer must provide it. Since 1 January 2025, employers must buy health insurance before they can apply for or renew a private-sector employee’s residence permit. In Dubai, employers must insure their employees, and sponsors must insure their dependants. In Abu Dhabi, employers and sponsors must cover their employees and their families: one spouse and up to three children under 18 (u.ae).
- Check what your policy covers and which hospitals are in the network.
- If you live in Dubai, check whether your employer also covers your family, or whether you need a separate policy for them.
6. UAE Pass
Many UAE government services use UAE Pass to log in. For example, Federal Tax Authority services are only available through UAE Pass (FTA). Set it up once you have your Emirates ID.
7. Bank account
The official UAE portal lists the documents most banks ask for (u.ae):
- Emirates ID
- valid UAE residence visa
- passport
- salary certificate or employment letter
- proof of address, in some cases
Approval usually takes from a few hours to a few days. Many banks have a minimum monthly balance and charge a fee if you go below it. Your salary is paid through the Wage Protection System, via a bank or other authorised institution (u.ae).
8. Housing and tenancy registration
To rent, you’ll typically need your passport, residence visa, Emirates ID and post-dated cheques for the rent (u.ae). So open your bank account first.
- Dubai (Ejari): landlords must register the lease with the Dubai Land Department. You pay a Dubai Municipality housing fee of 5% of the yearly rent, added to your monthly electricity and water bills. Rent increases are checked against the average rent in the area, using the official rental index (u.ae, Dubai Land Department).
- Abu Dhabi (Tawtheeq): landlords register the lease in the Tawtheeq system. A municipality fee of 5% of the rent (or the rental index, if higher) is added to your water and electricity bills over 12 months (u.ae).
- Agency fees: some brokers charge a commission of up to 5% of the yearly rent.
A registered lease is needed to connect water, electricity, gas and telecoms (u.ae).
9. Driving licence
Some expatriate residents can exchange a valid licence from their home country for a UAE licence (u.ae). Whether you can depends on the country that issued your licence. Check with the licensing authority in your emirate, such as RTA in Dubai.
10. Family visas
Once your residence visa is issued, you can sponsor your family. Their visas can’t last longer than yours. You’ll usually need your employment contract, a registered tenancy contract and health insurance for them (u.ae).
Saudi Arabia: your first weeks
1. Iqama (residence permit)
Your employer issues your iqama after you arrive. According to the Ministry of Investment’s service guide, it needs a work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, a medical report and an electronic health insurance certificate. The request goes through the Absher or Muqeem platforms (MISA Investor Guide).
- Complete your medical examination as your employer instructs.
- Check that your health insurance is active. It’s required for the iqama.
2. Absher account
Absher is the platform for residency services such as the iqama and exit and re-entry visas (MISA Investor Guide). Once your iqama is issued, set up your own Absher account so you can see your details and manage your services.
3. Exit and re-entry visa
To travel abroad and come back, iqama holders get an exit and re-entry visa through Absher or Muqeem. If you hold Premium Residency, you can leave and return without a visa (pr.gov.sa).
4. Bank account, housing and other set-up
- Bank account: ask your employer which bank they use for payroll and which documents the bank needs.
- Housing: ask your employer whether housing is provided or paid as an allowance, and for help checking your lease.
- Address and utilities: ask your employer or landlord what you need to register at your new address.
- Family: ask your employer about family visas and the fees for dependants. Premium Residency holders are exempt from these fees (pr.gov.sa).
We couldn’t confirm the current details of every Saudi step from an official English-language source. For the latest rules, check the Absher and Qiwa platforms, or ask your employer’s government relations team.
When you leave a job
- UAE: when your residence visa is cancelled or expires, residents get a grace period to stay in the country. It can be up to six months, depending on your residence category. When your visa expires, your Emirates ID expires too (u.ae). Your employer cancels your visa, and your Emirates ID is cancelled with it (u.ae).
- Both countries: check your end-of-service pay. See our tax basics guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to finish my UAE visa steps after I arrive?
Your entry permit is valid for two months, and you need to finish the medical fitness test and your Emirates ID application within that time. Your signed job offer must be registered with MOHRE as your employment contract within 14 days of your arrival. Your employer will tell you when and where to go.
Do I need a UAE bank account before I can rent a flat?
Usually yes, because landlords ask for post-dated cheques for the rent. Banks typically ask for your Emirates ID, residence visa, passport and a salary certificate or employment letter, and sometimes proof of address. Approval usually takes from a few hours to a few days. Plan for deposits and fees before your first salary.
Can my employer keep my Emirates ID?
No. Your employer is not allowed to keep your Emirates ID card. The card is mandatory and you must carry it with you. Tell ICP about changes to your personal details within one month, and report a lost card within 7 days. When your residence visa is cancelled, your Emirates ID is cancelled too.
Can I use my foreign driving licence in the UAE?
Some expatriate residents can exchange a valid licence from their home country for a UAE licence. Whether you can depends on the country that issued your licence. Check with the licensing authority in your emirate, such as RTA in Dubai, and bring your licence with you when you move so you have it ready.
How long can I stay in the UAE after my job ends?
When your residence visa is cancelled or expires, you get a grace period to stay in the country. It can be up to six months, depending on your residence category. Your Emirates ID expires when your visa does. Check your end-of-service pay too, and confirm the grace period that applies to you.
Do I need a visa to leave and return to Saudi Arabia?
On a standard iqama, yes: you get an exit and re-entry visa through Absher or Muqeem before you travel abroad and come back. If you hold Premium Residency, you can leave and return without a visa. Set up your own Absher account once your iqama is issued, so you can manage these services.
Related guides
- Work visas for tech jobs in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
- Cost of living in Dubai for tech workers
- Companies that sponsor visas
Ready to move? Browse jobs with visa sponsorship or jobs you can apply for from abroad.