Dubai reputation as the easy place to set up is mostly true — setup is usually faster than in many European countries. But there is still a specific order, and getting it wrong can cost you a week of waiting around. Here is the actual checklist.
Week 0 — Before You Land
- Have your visa approved (employer-sponsored, freelance permit, Virtual Working visa, Golden Visa, or family sponsorship)
- Bring printed copies of: passport, visa entry permit, employment offer (if applicable), university certificate (attested if you will need it for work), passport photos, marriage certificate (if applicable, attested)
- Pre-book a furnished apartment for the first weeks while you sort everything else
Day 1-3 — Foundation
1. Activate Your Entry Permit
When you land at DXB, the immigration officer scans your entry permit and stamps your passport. You now have a 60-day window to complete the residency process.
2. Get a Tourist SIM at the Airport
Du and Etisalat both have kiosks at the arrival hall. Check the current plans. This is your bridge SIM until you upgrade after Emirates ID.
3. Check Into Your Apartment
Cosmica Rentals furnished apartments let you skip the chicken-and-egg problem (need Emirates ID for annual lease, but the Emirates ID takes time). Monthly rentals require only passport and visa. Move in same day.
4. Open a Bridge Bank Account (Wise / Revolut)
If you do not have one already. You will need this for the first few weeks before your UAE bank account opens.
Week 1 — Medical and ID
5. Medical Fitness Test
Required for residency. Book at any approved medical center (Dubai Health Authority, Smart Salem, or several private clinics). Check the current cost and timing with the centre. You provide blood and a chest X-ray.
6. Emirates ID Biometrics
Once your medical clears, book a biometrics appointment via the ICA Smart Services app or website. Fingerprints, photo, signature — 15 minutes. You do not receive the physical card immediately; it is mailed to you, and a digital ID is available earlier.
7. Residency Visa Stamp
Your visa is stamped into your passport (or made digital). Your sponsor (employer or visa-issuing entity) typically handles this. Without it, you cannot open a UAE bank account or sign an annual lease.
Week 2 — Real-Life Logistics
8. Switch to a Real Mobile Plan
With Emirates ID, you can sign up for a post-paid plan. Du and Etisalat both offer post-paid plans; compare the current offers. Or stay prepaid if you prefer flexibility.
9. UAE Bank Account
The big-bank trio: Emirates NBD, FAB, Mashreq. The fast/digital alternatives: Liv. (NBD digital brand), Mashreq Neo, Wio Bank. You will need:
- Passport with residency visa stamp
- Emirates ID (or proof of application)
- Employer salary certificate or proof of income (Golden Visa / freelance)
- Address proof (tenancy contract or Cosmica Rentals invoice works)
Ask the bank how long the account takes to open.
10. RTA Nol Card
For the metro, tram, and most buses. Get a Nol card at any metro station. Top up at the machines. You can also pay via Apple Pay or Google Pay at the gates.
Week 3 — Annual Apartment (Optional)
11. Decide Monthly vs Annual
Many residents stay on monthly furnished rentals for a few months before committing to an annual lease. The annual route requires:
- Passport + residency visa
- Emirates ID
- Salary certificate or 6 months bank statements
- A security deposit
- An agency fee, paid to the broker
- Ejari registration
- Payment in 1-4 cheques upfront
For most first-year residents, monthly is the safer bet until you know which neighborhood truly fits.
12. DEWA (Electricity and Water)
If you sign an annual lease, you set up DEWA in your name. A deposit and a setup fee apply; check the DEWA website for the current amounts.
If you stay with us monthly, ask whether utilities are included in the price of your apartment.
What Does Setup Actually Cost?
We do not publish a cost table: government and operator fees change. Ask the medical centre, the ICA, the telecom operator, the RTA and DEWA for the current amounts, and ask your landlord for the deposit, agency fee and Ejari registration amounts in writing.
Mistakes New Residents Make
- Signing an annual lease in the first week before knowing the city
- Paying agency fees and then realizing they could have gone direct via Cosmica
- Trying to open a bank account before residency visa stamp (impossible)
- Not getting an Emirates ID immediately — it gates everything downstream
- Choosing a neighborhood by Instagram, not by their actual commute
The Smart Order
- Tourist SIM → 2. Cosmica monthly apartment → 3. Medical test → 4. Emirates ID biometrics → 5. Residency visa stamp → 6. UAE bank → 7. Real SIM plan → 8. Decide annual apartment
Ready to Land?
Browse our Dubai monthly apartments — Marina, JLT, Downtown, Business Bay — and book direct for your first weeks. Write to us before you land with your arrival details and your questions about the building and check-in.