Dubai: country guide

Advice on Dubai travel, earning, tax, healthcare and more…

Visting Dubai

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• Make sure your passport is valid. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your intended stay.
• Visitors will need a 30-day visit visa — available free of charge on arrival at your port of entry. A 30-day extension can be applied for at the local Immigration Office. Note: visa requirements may change, so always check the latest visa requirements.
• The cost of living is relatively high in Dubai, so you may need to budget for higher food and rental expenses.
• On medication? Then it's vital to check whether you are allowed to bring your medication into Dubai.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office states that you can currently bring up to three months' supply of a prescription item into the country as a visitor if you can produce a doctor's letter or a copy of the original prescription. But before you travel, it's good advice to check whether your medication is on the controlled list at the UAE Ministry of Health.

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Dubai has a wide variety of transport options, by air, sea and land:

• Airports: over 100 airlines fly into Dubai International Airport from around the world
• Buses: there's an extensive bus network, with almost 60 routes spanning the Emirate
• Taxis: Government-operated and private taxis are readily available
• Underground: currently under construction is a 47-stop metro system, due to open in 2012
• Boats: a time-honoured way to travel between Deira and Bur Dubai is by abra, a traditional wooden boat

Driving in Dubai
For temporary permission to drive in Dubai, you need an International Driver's Licence plus your national driving licence.

Foreigners with a driving licence from an approved country can also apply for a full Dubai driving licence without a test.

To convert your current driving licence, you must:

• hold a passport with the same nationality as the licence
• pass an eye test at a local hospital, clinic or optician
• submit a "no objection" form from your employer

To obtain a new licence in Dubai, you must take a driving test which has three parts:

• an eye test
• a traffic signal test
• a practical road test

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ATMs can be found throughout Dubai and are usually linked to international money systems. Most machines provide instructions in both Arabic and English.

Internationally recognised credit cards are widely accepted, although sometimes not by some smaller merchants.

There are no currency controls in Dubai, and both locals and foreigners can take as much money as they like into or out of the country.

Lloyds TSB International could save you money on transfers: to find out more, call 0800 876 6555.

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Working in Dubai

To work in Dubai, foreign nationals are required to obtain a residence visa and labour card, and to be sponsored by an employer or working spouse.

The sponsor will usually undertake the administrative work associated with obtaining the visa and work permit.

Residence visas last for three years and are renewable.

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To get access to your Dubai salary you will need a local or an international bank account.

Opening a bank account in Dubai requires significant documentation, including paperwork from your sponsor, and can be complicated by the language barrier.

Simplify the process by opening an International Account before you go.

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One of the attractions of working in Dubai is that you are not subject to income tax in the UAE. There is also no tax on rental income, capital gains, inheritances, or property transfers.

As a Lloyds TSB International Account customer, you can get full tax advice through our partners. For more information, call 0800 876 6555.

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The UAE is a Muslim country and local laws reflect the fact that Islamic practices and beliefs are closely adhered to.

As Friday is the Muslim day of rest, many businesses close on either Thursday or Saturday so that the five-day working week runs uninterrupted. Many international companies based in Dubai choose to close on Saturday.

In the month of Ramadan, the working day is reduced to six hours, and during this period non-Muslims are expected to refrain from eating, drinking and smoking in public between sunrise and sunset.

While Arabic is the official language, English is widely used within the business community.

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Living in Dubai

Expats working full-time in Dubai will generally be covered by an employer-sponsored health insurance plan, or take out private medical insurance.

If you are not covered by company or private medical insurance while in Dubai, it is advisable to apply for a health card, which entitles both nationals and foreign residents to low-cost medical treatment at public hospitals and clinics.

To apply for a health card, you will need:

• a copy of your passport
• a letter from your sponsor
• a copy of your visa application
• two passport-size photographs
• a completed application form

As a Lloyds TSB International Account customer, you can get discounted heath insurance. For more information, call 0800 876 6555.

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In Dubai, entrance to state schools can be a challenge, and the curriculum is Arabic-based. However, you can choose from a range of private international schools, mainly following the British or American curriculum.

For more information, a useful starting-point is the British Schools in the Middle East website.

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While you are not taxed on your earnings in Dubai, it's very important to know your tax position before you move — particularly if you are paying into a pension scheme or sending money home.

There are no state pensions for foreign workers in Dubai, so you will need to plan for the future while working in the Emirates.

As a Lloyds TSB International Account customer, you can get individual tax advice through our partners. For more information, call 0800 876 6555.

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This information is based on our understanding of current law and tax authority practice and may be liable to change, which could be with retrospective effect. This information is for general information purposes only. No liability can be accepted for the effect of any subsequent legislation of change of official practice. If you require tax advice you should consult your own professional advisers, and not rely on the information contained within this booklet. The greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy but the Bank cannot take responsibility for omissions or errors. Tax levels or relief are those currently applicable and may change. The value of any tax relief depends on the individual circumstances of the investor/customer.