Moving To UAE From The UK

Moving to UAE

If you are moving to the United Arab Emirates, whether to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, Britannia Movers International has the experience and the local knowledge to tailor the move to your individual needs.

	Importing Personal Effects to the UAE Shipments of household goods and personal effects are allowed duty-free entry, provided that they have been owned and used prior to importation. All necessary documentation must be completed and submitted when requested before your shipment is dispatched. Please note that you must be in the country in order to successfully complete all customs clearance procedures.
	UAE Customs Prohibitions and Restrictions Shipments of household goods and personal effects to the UAE are usually allowed duty-free, subject to you supplying a resident’s permit, there are some restrictions to what you can bring in with you. New household goods are subject to duty, which will be determined by customs officials. There are restrictions set on any written material (books, leaflets, newspapers, and magazines), pictures, records, films, tapes, slides, movies, videos, CDs and computer software, which are subject to censorship and confiscation. These must be packed separately for easy access and clearly marked on the inventory. This is because any political, religious or pornographic material or content may be deemed offensive and prohibited. Additionally, medication and foodstuffs are subject to special approval and inspection by the Ministry of Health and must be packed separately. In general, it is in your interest not to import the following items: Firearms & ammunition Inflammable goods & substances Plants & plant material Foodstuffs, perishables or otherwise Narcotics and dangerous goods Offensive materials Alcohol & Tobacco Britannia can help you complete your inventory and import documentation, making the process as straight forward as possible. It normally takes 7 to 10 days for customs clearance and delivery.
	Transit Times to UAE Groupage or shared load consignments via Dubai usually take 8 to 12 weeks door to door. However, this can vary depending on volumes being shipped, customs or immigration delays and prevailing weather conditions. Sole-use containers usually take 5 to 6 weeks door to door.
	Protecting Your Items for Transport to UAE All groupage consignments will be bar coded before they are loaded into the shipping container. This will ensure that no items are left at origin.
	Moving Pets to the UAE When bringing your pet to the UAE, you must get an Import Permit for each animal you wish to move and be able to prove that your pet is over 4 months old, with all the necessary vaccinations. They will also need a microchip number for identification. Britannia can recommend a specialised animal shipper to assist you in sending your family pet(s) from home to home. They will coordinate all documentation and necessary veterinary procedures. Britannia can recommend a specialised shipper of animals to assist you in sending your family pet(s) from home to home. They will coordinate all documentation and necessary veterinary procedures. Find out more about pet transport.
	Importing Motor Vehicles to the UAE Used cars and motor vehicles can be imported but will be subject to duty. You will need to hold a UAE residence visa and supply a range of documentation to do so, including registration documents, title of deed, copy of purchase invoice, certificate of origin, copy of passport, insurance policy, proof of ownership and a residence permit.
	Currency Transfer for UAE When you are making international payments for individuals you can benefit from IFX expertise in seeking the best possible rate, whether you are sending or receiving foreign currency. IFX can help to protect you from exchange rate fluctuations and save you time and money on international payments. IFX offers: International payments Regular Overseas Transfers Prepaid Currency Card Forward Contracts More info on the IFX website.

Moving to the UAE With Britannia

Your move to UAE with Britannia – Britannia has established a long-standing and successful relationship with a network of dedicated removers, who will assist you with your destination services. Their full contact details will be sent to you prior to the forwarding of your consignment. Our agents are part of our extended Britannia family and we meet with them on a regular basis to ensure high standards of service are maintained.

Customs clearance – It normally takes 7 to 10 days for customs clearance and delivery. The time taken to clear goods through customs can be affected by Government policy, X-raying of goods, physical inspection, volume of traffic and the levy of any import duties or taxes. Charges raised by customs or quarantine officials will be paid for by our Britannia agents, who will seek reimbursement from you prior to delivery.

Destination services – Following customs clearance your consignment will be delivered to your home, if you have paid for a door to door service, on a mutually convenient date. Goods will be delivered into your new home and placed in the relevant rooms as directed by you. Professionally wrapped and packed goods will be unwrapped and cartons unpacked onto a flat surface. All used packing materials will be removed from site on the delivery day. Although there will be insurance implications, you do retain the right not to have some or all items unpacked or unwrapped should you so choose.

Living in the UAE

Made up of seven states; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Qaiwain, Ras Al-Khaimah and Fujairah, the UAE has become a desirable destination for expats worldwide looking to enjoy a quality of life unaffordable elsewhere. It is also the most westernised of the Middle Eastern countries, marrying the comforts of home with a glamorous and exotic lifestyle. Britons are within the top three nationalities of expats now living in the United Arab Emirates, drawn in by the perk of paying no tax on their earnings as well as beautiful beaches, active social lives and the opportunity to explore a unique landscape quite different from home.

Up until the 1950s, the UAE’s economy was based mostly on fishing. Once oil was discovered and regular exports commenced Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan began to heavily invest in property development, schools and buildings which created the modern cities of the UAE that we know today.

These days the UAE is home to some of the wealthiest and ambitious individuals on the globe. Residents in the UAE enjoy the 3rd highest per capita income in the world. The majority of the UAE’s economy revolves around natural exports, in 2009 85% of the economy was based on natural gas and oil exports.

The UAE has a much more relaxed approach to Western cultures than many other Arab or Islamic nations. For instance, although drinking in public is forbidden, in bars and hotels it’s allowed. Although Western fashion is very popular due to the high number of expats based in the region, stricter rules apply in public spaces. It’s important to be aware of these laws and any restrictions before you decide to move permanently to the UAE.

UAE Language

Arabic is the national language of the UAE and the language of the Emiratis and Islam. Urdu is also widely spoken due to the majority of the population being Indian and Pakistani. Despite this, everyone generally speaks English and all signs and official documents are translated into English.

Choosing a Place to Live in the UAE

If you’re considering moving to the UAE, it is important to do your research fully so you can be sure that you are moving to the right place. Priorities will be different for everyone; schools, work, social life and community may all be important, among a variety of other things. This will help you discover which areas tick the boxes for you to make the right decision.

While there is a great deal of attractive elements that make the United Arab Emirates a desirable place to live, the culture and climate is quite different and you may need some time to familiarise yourself with those changes before making the move. The climate is subtropical and air conditioning in most buildings is a prerequisite for those concerned about dealing with the heat all year round. Despite this, you may make this a consideration when making a decision.

The UAE is an Islamic state which means that they operate according to Muslim traditions. Therefore, it is common for some public areas to have designated areas or facilities for women, such as on public transport, fitness centres, banks and recreational areas. Working hours are often more varied depending on the nature of a business and the weekend is over Friday and Saturday with the beginning of the working week landing on a Sunday. It is also illegal for unmarried men and women to cohabit, and although the local police do not seek out couples living together, it is important to remember this. Additionally, it is against the law to use rude language or gestures towards the Emiratis or appear drunk in public.

These are a few examples of the changes in the culture you may experience when in UAE cities and while UK expats generally acclimatise and embrace these fairly quickly, it is helpful for you to be aware before you arrive to avoid a culture shock!

Visas for the UAE

To emigrate or spend any length of time over 30 days in the UAE, you will need a visa. The easiest and most common route is if you have a job lined up, since your future employer will sort out all of these details for you. The rules also vary from each different emirate, contacting the bodies within your chosen one first is advisable so that you can find out where you stand.

If you have a family, you will need to check whether your employer will sponsor them. If not, you will need to get in touch with the UAE embassy in London. Adults travelling with children will need to provide documentary evidence, for some UAE countries, of their parental responsibility, such as a birth certificate, before they can enter or leave the country, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. You will also need to get all birth and marriage certificates legalised by the UK Foreign Office. If you are a woman, you will need to work in specific professions to be able to sponsor your family’s move.

Jobs in the UAE

The UAE is experiencing a boom in a variety of career sectors due to the quick development that is taking place, most notably in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Now leading the rest of the world in net migration rates, a diverse range of industry professionals are now looking to make the move there with good wages and the perk of no income tax being a huge attraction. Sectors that are seeing huge rises in job availability include construction, financial services, tourism, media, marketing, telecommunications, engineering and IT.

Finding a Job in UAE

There are a range of online job boards for the UAE. Expat-recommended ones are Dubizzle and Gulf Talent, although there are plenty more advertised online that will be worth checking out. Businesses are often looking for skilled, experienced and educated people for a wide range of sectors. Graduates or people with specialist skills or trades are very much sought after and have a good chance of gaining employment within the UAE. Upon employment, it is usually standard procedure for your new company to help organise your work permits, residence visa and Emirates ID card for you.

UAE Currency

The local currency is the Dirham (AED) which is available in banknote denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000. There are also coins denominated in Fils (100 Fils = 1 Dirham) available in denominations of 5, 10, 25, and 50 Fils.

Cost of Living in the UAE

According to Numbeo, the cost of living in the UAE is nearly 14% lower than in the UK, not counting rent costs. Rent costs alone are 2.4% lower in the UAE than in the UK.

You can check out some of the items you are likely to purchase regularly whilst living in the UAE below. Prices are shown in AED and converted to UK pounds alongside the price in the UK so you can see how costs match up.

Education in the UAE

Education in the UAE is a massive priority and a valued part of its development. They offer free education at all levels to male and female students from nursery to university. There is also a substantial private education sector, expatriate children in the UAE are most likely to attend an international school, all of which are private. There are schools following the British National Curriculum as well as the International Baccalaureate.

You will be required to supply details of your child’s academic records when applying for entry into one of these international schools, and they may be required to take a test. Most of these international schools have very good educational standards, although the fees vary quite widely and can cost anything from 30,000 to 40,000 AED a year. It may be worth scouring one of the many UAE Dubai expat forums to gather information from other expat families about schools they would recommend you apply to.

UAE Climate

There is not a great deal of difference in climate wherever you are within the UAE, with all major cities on the coast sharing very similar climates as a result. With the UAE located in the Middle East, temperatures never reach particularly cold levels.

From October to April the weather is very mild and on average around 27 – 28° C in the hottest hours of the day and around 17 – 18° C in the morning. It is most likely to rain during this season, although it tends to occur no more than 10 days in total throughout the year in the United Arab Emirates.

Summer in the UAE can be incredibly hot during the months of June to September. The temperature often exceeds 40° C and rarely goes below 30 °C. This makes it almost impossible to go outside and air conditioning an absolute necessity.

UAE Food

Due to the United Arab Emirates’ mix of both Middle Eastern traditions and Western influences, you can get just about any cuisine you want. The country prides itself on its cosmopolitan restaurants and hotels, providing Michelin-star standard food. However, it would be a shame not to enjoy the tasty traditional food on offer across the UAE. Their traditional food includes a lot of spices, much like Indian food it commonly contains rice, fish and meat as the main ingredients. Stuffed Camel, Al Harees and Shawarma are just three of the leading traditional dishes you can and should experience.

Stuffed Camel is published in the Guinness Book of World Records as one of the biggest dishes served in the world. A lot of elite Emirati families serve it at special occasions, such as weddings. The ingredients include a whole camel stuffed with one lamb, 20 chickens, boiled eggs, fish and rice.

Al Harees is an exotic UAE dish made of meat and wheat, often served during Ramadan, Eid and at weddings. It is simply flavoured with a variety of spices and salt, then boiled in water until it forms a smooth paste. It is then served on hot plates with local ghee – a type of butter.

Shawarma is a popular dish ordered regularly across the country. Generally served as lamb or chicken with a mixed salad of garlic, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce leaves and mixed spices in a arabic roti wrap. Much like a kebab, this dish is often prepared in a variety of different ways.

UAE National Holidays

There are two types of public holidays in the UAE – fixed holidays such as New Year’s Day, and Islamic holidays, which are subject to moon sightings. This means that their dates can vary by a few days each year. Below are the 8 UAE public holidays:

• New Year’s Day – 1^st January
• Commemoration Day – 1^st December
• National Day and Holiday – 2^nd and 3^rd December
• Eid al-Fitr – 4 days, moveable
• Arafat (Hajj) day – moveable
• Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) – 4 days, moveable
• Al-Hijra (Islamic New Year) – moveable
• Prophet Mohammed’s birthday – moveable

The start of Ramadan is not an official holiday but it is an important date in the UAE calendar and is another Islamic event where the date will be decided based on sightings of the moon.

Choose Britannia for Your UAE Relocation

If you are thinking about moving to UAE and want to find out more about our UAE removal services or request a quote, you can call us on 0845 6006661 or email sales@britannia-movers.co.uk. Our team will be happy to discuss how we can help you with your international relocation.