Residency in the UAE
Today, the UAE is considered one of the most prominent countries for immigration. It is noteworthy that the economy of this country has experienced significant growth. Among the methods of immigrating to this country, we can mention work, investment and educational immigration. The important point here is that the living standards in the UAE are higher than most countries in the region. The cheapest method is work immigration.
Here we will discuss the methods of immigrating to the UAE.
Work immigration to UAE
The United Arab Emirates consists of eight big cities: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Sharjah, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Al Ain and Umm Al Quwain. The relentless economic growth in recent years has made working in the UAE impressive on any resume. The UAE is a place where tradition meets modernity and English is the main language of business. Dubai is famous for tourism and business, but another reason to go to Dubai is job hunting. You may have noticed that many people have tried to get a job in Dubai. People who go to Dubai often do not find their jobs or sometimes work but with low salaries. After unsuccessfully trying to find a job, they typically say that Dubai is facing a recession, but the reality is that Dubai is creating lots of job vacancies every day. If people apply for jobs the right way with some specific methods, they will find their dream jobs.
The UAE is a country of contrasts in iconic buildings, vast deserts, large expat populations and golden opportunities for skilled graduates. UAE is one of the freer countries in the region. However, graduates going to work in the UAE need to understand its cultural and religious values and the impact these have on everyday life. Immigrants usually seek to be able to get a permanent residence or passport after working in that country.
You get your money’s worth as the standard of living is world class
Immigration to the UAE through investment
In recent years, the UAE government has considered a plan to grant Dubai residency to international entrepreneurs. The two main pillars to get an entrepreneur visa are financial ability and a strong business plan. Initially, all eligible people will be granted an investment visa valid for 60 months. It is possible to extend this visa if you pay all of your taxes during this period. The capital required to obtain an UAE entrepreneurship visa is around one and a half million dollars.
Another way to immigrate to the UAE is to buy shares in UAE state-owned companies. As in other Arab countries, ownership of a part of the registered company by UAE citizens is considered the main condition for private company registration. However, this does not apply to company registration in some regions of this country. In some regions of this country, a company with 100% foreign ownership can be registered. With the strong economy of the UAE, one can be sure of the company’s profitability in the long term.
One of the biggest advantages of investing in the UAE is the lower tax rate in this country compared to other European countries. Also, they pay much less for hiring labor in the UAE than in European and American countries. The main condition for the extension of the UAE investment visa is not to sell the property during the first 36 months of receiving the visa. With this investment method, you can get a permanent residency in the UAE faster than the study or work method.
Immigrate to the UAE through education
If you are looking to study in a safe, dynamic and economically stable country, the United Arab Emirates can be a good option. Despite the high cost of living in the UAE, this country is one of the countries that has various scholarships that can help reduce the costs of students.
The presence of universities with the American education style has multiplied the pleasure of studying in this country.
The cost of studying in the UAE is calculated by the hour and in some universities it reaches more than one hundred thousand UAE dirhams per year. Immigrant students were not allowed to work in this country until a few years ago, but now, international students can work part-time while studying.
Necessary documents to apply for the UAE student visa:
- Medical health certificate
- Approval of the General Directorate of Residence and Foreign Affairs
- Valid passport with at least six months remaining and two blank pages for visa
- Four copies of the passport
- 12 pieces of passport photos
- Bank statements that show your financial competence during your stay
- Copy of the tuition fee in the current academic year
- A copy of the visa fee receipt for the current academic year
Immigration to UAE through company registration
Dubai is of global importance as an international business center and one of the most popular cities in terms of attracting expats in the UAE. Registering a company there is one of the best ways to obtain residency in the UAE and it brings countless benefits. By registering a company in Dubai, you can also get accompanying visas for your spouse and children. Not needing a language certificate, the possibility of 100% ownership of a company with a business license without an Emirati guarantor, zero percent income tax and only 5% value added tax are other advantages of registering a company in Dubai.
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Application form for company registration in Dubai:
- Business plan
- Passport of company directors
- Passport and identity card of the sponsor to verify the identity of the UAE citizen
- NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the sponsor (employer) for employment in the UAE
- Bank letter of introduction for each shareholder
- Copy of tourist visa
- Lease (in case of physical company registration)
- Company Statute
- Photo with white background
- Iranian ID card
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Benefits of registering a company in Dubai:
- No need for a degree (except for some jobs and areas of professional license)
- No need for a language certificate
- No need to have a company in advance
- No age limit from 18 to 60 years
- The possibility of obtaining UAE residence for spouse and children
- Obtaining a 3-year residency in the UAE with the possibility of unlimited extension
- The possibility of issuing a job offer and attracting labor from outside the UAE (even Iran) after starting work
- Very short time process for company registration
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Disadvantages of registering a company in Dubai:
- Compulsion to have a guarantor to obtain a professional license and an industrial license to register a company in Dubai.
- It is not possible to register all companies for Iranians, and you, as an Iranian, can only register 3 types of limited liability companies, joint stock and non-stock companies in Dubai.
- Requirement to pay some additional costs if you want to put a non-Arabic name on the company.
The United Arab Emirates has made it possible to obtain residency through company registration either in Dubai or in other emirates in this country. Due to the fact that registering a company in Dubai is a relatively easy process and does not require any special documents, this residency method is very popular among applicants for residence in the UAE, especially in Dubai. By obtaining a company registration visa in Dubai, you will receive a 3-year right of residency for you and your family members. Note that to maintain your residency in Dubai, you must travel to the UAE once every six months.
Immigrate to UAE through property purchase
Obtaining UAE residency through purchasing property and buying a house in Dubai is one of the ways to invest and immigrate to this country. The United Arab Emirates issues two types of visas for applicants to purchase property in the UAE. One of which is for a stay of two to 10 years, depending on the price of the property, and the other is for a stay of 6 months, which allows entry into the countr. In the first type of visa, if the purchased property has a value of one million to five million dirhams, the issued residence is two years, the price of the property is between 5 and 10 million dirhams, the issued residence is 5 years and if the value of the property is more than 10 million dirhams. , the residence issued will be 10 years. This type of residence is included in the person’s passport and can be extended as long as the property is not sold to another person. Obtaining each of these visas has conditions that are discussed in this section. Applicants who buy property in Dubai that receive a six-month visa cannot obtain permanent residence in the UAE, but this visa can be extended. The cost of six-month UAE visa extension is ……….. dirhams per person.
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Advantages of buying property in the emirate:
- The quality of UAE schools are in line with international standards.
- The multicultural nature of the UAE and the existence of diverse schools is desirable for many people.
- Treatment conditions in the UAE as an advanced country are very modern and high level.
- It has a very efficient transportation system that makes day to day life much easier.
- The low rate of crime and the high level of security makes it one of the safest countries to immigrate to.
- Various shopping centers and providing the best and latest products and brands in the world.
- Its excellent and growing economy ensures financial stability.
- Expandability of the country.
- The possibility of renting the purchased property.
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Disadvantages of buying property in the UAE:
- Private insurance companies with high costs
- Private schools and universities and high tuition fees
- The possibility of doing work or starting a business only by obtaining a work permit or company registration
In the following, we will talk more about the process of obtaining a three-year residency in Dubai with you
The conditions for obtaining a permanent residence in the UAE are a little more difficult than in European countries. Proving the positive impact of your job position on the economy of this country is necessary to obtain permanent residence.
In this section, there are methods such as obtaining residence in the UAE (Dubai) by purchasing a property, obtaining residence in the UAE (Dubai) through investment and registering a company (license partner of the Emirates (Dubai), residence in the UAE (Dubai) through education and residence in the UAE through The work will be reviewed comprehensively and completely for you.
There is no need to worry because GTC experts are always by your side.
Checking the amount of income in the UAE
The UAE is considered one of the most prosperous countries, and the income of its employees is higher than other countries. Of course, this amount can be different for each person and his abilities. Although the incomes are higher, the cost of living in the UAE is also high.
In general, each person in a service position in the UAE receives an average salary of 8,000 to 12,000 dirhams per month. People’s income can vary from 4,370 dirhams (lowest average) to 12,000 dirhams (highest average). This amount is different in each city of the UAE. For example, the average salary in Dubai is about 5-9 thousand dirhams, in Abu Dhabi it’s about 12-18 thousand dirhams, in Al-Ain it’s 10-12 thousand dirhams, and in Ras Al-Khaimah it’s about 5-9 thousand dirhams.
Job | Monthly income (minimum) |
Graduate with university degree | $2500 |
Skilled technician | $1,500 to $2,000 |
A worker with a diploma earns | $1,000 to $17,000 |
Accountants of reputable companies | $1,000 to $5,500 |
Advertising works | $1500 to $2500 |
Car repairman | $1400 to $3000 |
The cost of renting a house in the United Arab Emirates
House rent is one of the basic factors that must be checked to estimate the cost of living in the UAE. Of course, the rent varies significantly depending on the city. In general, the cost of buying a house in the center of the city is about 1,230,879 dirhams per square meter; while each square meter outside the city limits costs about 799,654 dirhams.
The approximate cost of renting all types of houses and apartments in the UAE is as shown in the following table:
House type | Average monthly rent (in dollars) |
One bedroom apartment in the city center | 500 to 1000 dollars |
One-bedroom apartment outside the city center | 400 to 850 dollars |
Three-bedroom apartment in the city center | 1000 to 2200 dollars |
Three-bedroom apartment outside the city center | 900 to 1,800 dollars |
The cost of food in the UAE
After estimating the cost of renting a house, another one of the important factors in determining the cost of staying in the UAE is estimating the cost of food. Although the UAE has a hot and dry desert climate, access to the sea and the use of new technologies for planting and harvesting agricultural products have more or less affected the lack of food and the cost of buying food.
Also, the extensive food trade at the global level has caused the diversity of food and edibles in this country. The cost of living in the UAE in terms of food is as described in the following table:
Type of food | Cost |
A meal in an average restaurant | 25 to 45 dirhams |
A McDonald’s sandwich | 20 dirhams |
A cup of coffee or cappuccino | 5 dirhams |
A can of soda | 3 dirhams |
A bottle of water | 1 dirham |
To estimate the cost of living in the UAE for food, you can use the following average supermarket costs:
Commodity | Cost (average) |
A liter of milk | 3 dirhams |
Half a kilo of rice | 4 dirhams |
Half a kilo of local cheese | 7 dirhams |
12 eggs | 8 dirhams |
Half a kilo of veal | 15 dirhams |
A kilo of chicken breast | 12 dirhams |
A kilo of apples | 5 dirhams |
A kilo of oranges | 6 dirhams |
A kilo of bananas | 6 dirhams |
A kilo of tomatoes | 5 dirhams |
5 pieces of bread | 6 dirhams |
A piece of lettuce | 5 dirhams |
A kilo of onion | 3 dirhams |
300 grams of jam | 3 dirhams |
In general, it costs about 170 dirhams to prepare food for a week. This cost is estimated for families of 1 to 2 people. Naturally, the more people there are, the cost of shopping and the cost of living in the UAE will also increase.
Daily cost of living in UAE
The average cost of living in the United Arab Emirates for one person is as follows:
Period of time | Average cost |
A day | 100 dirhams |
7 day | 700 dirhams |
14 day | 1500 dirhams |
30 day | 2500 dirhams |
The average cost of living in the UAE for a couple is also:
Period of time | Average cost |
7 days (one week) | 1000 dirhams |
14 days (two weeks) | 2200 dirhams |
30 days (one month) | 3300 dirhams |
The cost of transportation and commuting in the UAE
Due to the warm climate of the UAE, most people use public transportation to travel. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost of transportation and finally the cost of living in the UAE by using the bus system, taxi, subway or ferries. In general, the cost of each liter of gasoline in Dubai is 2.16 dirhams and the cost of a taxi is 2 dirhams per kilometer.
Also, buying a one-way public transportation ticket in this country costs about 5 dirhams, which becomes about 200 dirhams in a month. People can also rent a car during their stay. The cost of renting a car for a day starts from 17 dirhams and goes up to 31 dirhams.
Cost of medical services in United Arab Emirates
Another effective parameter in determining the cost of living in the UAE is the cost of healthcare. Every resident in the UAE must have health insurance. More than fifteen types of public facilities affect the health organization of this country. Also, insurance institutions support the medical expenses of this country and pay about 600 dirhams of the expenses of each citizen.
Tax cost
One of the advantages of living in the UAE is not paying any income tax for most jobs. However, this country receives about 100 dirhams every year for renewing the identification cards of immigrants. It also collects airport and tourism taxes for these people to leave the country or for visa processing. In general, the following taxes should be taken into account when estimating the cost of living in the UAE:
- Restaurant tax: about 10% on the total bill
- Municipal tax for hotels and entertainment facilities: about 10%
- Municipal tax for renting residential properties: about 5%
- Municipal tax for renting commercial properties: about 10%
The cost of entertainment in the UAE
As mentioned, UAE is one of the prosperous countries in the world and has many tourist attractions and forms of entertainment. Therefore, partaking in these activities adds to the cost of living in the UAE. The price list of some of the entertainment and recreational activities in the UAE is as follows:
- Cinema ticket for one person: about 40 dirhams, 30 to 50 dirhams
- Club for one month: 100 to 200 dirhams
- Food for one person (affordable restaurant): about 30 dirhams
- Food for 2 people (average restaurant): 80 dirhams
- Food for 2 people (luxury restaurant): 200 dirhams
The cost of a leisure trip to the UAE
In leisure trips to the UAE, the daily cost is between 100 and 200 dirhams. Travelers should budget an average of 150 dirhams for a day’s meals and 57 dirhams for local transportation. Also, the average price of a hotel in the UAE for a couple is around 150 to 300 dirhams, which can vary depending on the type of hotel. Therefore, a seven-day trip for a couple will cost an average of 4,000 to 7,000 dirhams.
Conclusion
In general, living in the UAE has many advantages and is considered a suitable option for immigration. People who want to immigrate to this country must have complete and accurate information about the living conditions in this country. One of the most important factors that must be considered before immigrating to the UAE is the cost of living and staying in the UAE. In this article, we examined the income rates in different cities of the UAE and all the costs of living in the UAE; we hope that the presented material was useful for you. For more information, you can also contact our consultants at GTC International Holding.