Securing a Visa for Your Family: The UAE’s Sponsorship System Explained

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been a beacon for professionals from across the globe, offering lucrative employment opportunities and a high standard of living. For many expats, moving to the UAE also means relocating with their families. Understanding the UAE’s visa sponsorship system is crucial for such individuals to ensure a smooth transition for … Read more

How To Open A Bank Account In The UAE

The financial landscape of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been steadily improving for a number of years now. New developments in technology (as well as new regulations being implemented) have transformed the banking sector. The Central Bank is at the helm of the banking system, presiding over the local and foreign banking institutions operating … Read more

How To Rent Or Buy Property In The United Arab Emirates

Although housing prices have dropped in recent years, accommodation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remains expensive. Dubai and Abu Dhabi in particular attract many expats, with Dubai being the most expensive city and Abu Dhabi coming in at a close second. Sharjah, Fujairah and Al Ain are all less expensive options.As a federation of … Read more

How To Apply For A Visa In The United Arab Emirates

All foreign visitors entering the United Arab Emirates (UAE) must obtain a visa prior to arrival, unless they are a national from a visa-exempt country. Citizens from member nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) can enjoy freedom of movement within the UAE, with the exception of citizens from Qatar (unless they are a family … Read more

How To Find A Job In The UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is made up of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Sharjah, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain. The official language of business is English and around 85% of the population are expats.Whilst opportunities for work exist in each of the seven emirates, the majority are to be found … Read more

How To Keep Your Insurance Costs Low In The UAE

If you are an expat who is resident and employed in the UAE, you will need to have private health cover. Until 2019, public healthcare had not been open to expat residents of the Emirates, although now there is limited eligibility for expats to become citizens of the UAE if they are in some professions: … Read more

How To Register With The Health System In The UAE

As an expat in the UAE, you will probably not be able to access a significant degree of public healthcare. Health insurance schemes in the UAE, a federation of seven Emirates, vary depending on which region you are working in, but overall, free healthcare is only available for UAE citizens with the exception of the … Read more

What Quality Of Healthcare Can You Expect In The UAE?

The quality of healthcare in the UAE is of a globally recognised standard. If you are an expat who is living and working in the Emirates, you will only be able to access the various public healthcare systems under certain circumstances, but will have full access to the private sector since a criterion of obtaining … Read more

How Much Do Health Procedures Cost In The UAE?

If you are an expat who is resident and working in the UAE, the cost of any healthcare procedures that you undergo will depend on whether you are paying for your care out-of-pocket or whether you have private health insurance.The various Emirates do have public healthcare schemes, but unlike many countries, as an expat, you … Read more

Expat Health Insurance In The UAE: What You Need To Know

The UAE is a hugely popular expat destination, with about 80% of its residents being from abroad. Most of the expats living there are from Asia, although its relatively liberal culture compared with other Gulf states makes it popular with expats from Western nations too. There are many reasons to move to the UAE, from … Read more

Which Jobs Could You Be Offered As A Female Expat In The UAE?

The UAE has been considered an infamously difficult climate for women for some time now. Even in Dubai, for example, which is largely thought of as the most liberal city in the Middle East, women have only been legally allowed to drive in the past two years or so. It is unsurprising therefore that many … Read more

Living In The UAE: The Pitfalls Expats Can Face

The UAE can be a great place to live and work. With a high standard of living, good transport links and education, plus zero income tax, it’s a popular choice for a number of expats – more than 88% of its population come from abroad, according to the UN. Some 120,000 of those are from … Read more

Alternatives To Skype For Expats In The UAE

Maintaining relationships with family and close friends is often a tricky path to navigate when moving abroad. Coffee mornings, pub lunches, birthday celebrations and family barbecues are invariably replaced, somewhat inadequately, by Skype video calls and WhatsApp group chats. However, expats in the United Arab Emirates are now suffering further setbacks in familial communications with … Read more

Abu Dhabi: A Guide To The City For LGBT+ Expats

Transformed nearly overnight from sleepy coastal towns to glimmering metropoli by oil money, the United Arab Emirates have developed their economy in large part by spending generously on international talent. A large majority of the people living in the UAE at any given moment are non-citizens on temporary permits for work, and the United Arab … Read more

What Do The UAE’s New Expat Healthcare Policies Mean For You?

A number of interesting changes have been underway in the United Arab Emirates lately, some of which could prove particularly useful and beneficial to the UAE expatriate community. In particular, the UAE healthcare system is set to receive a large overhaul, which is predicted to see exponential growth in the medical sector and provide a … Read more

Expat Education In The Gulf States

The Gulf has become an incredibly popular and desired option for expats over recent years. With a population reaching 8 million across the United Arab Emirates alone, the pull of luxury lifestyles, great pay and safe culture is an alluring prospect for many. In the international expat series, Stephen Spriggs from William Clarence Education shares … Read more

An Expat Guide To Working In The UAE

The United Arab Emirates, or the UAE, occupies a central location in the Middle East, and has people from over 150 nationalities living within its borders. The country has the reputation of being the second richest Arab nation in the world. Thanks to its extensive oil and natural gas reserves, it occupies an important position … Read more

Promoting Positive Mental Health In The Workplace

On World Mental Health Day (Oct 10), The Priory’s Dubai Wellbeing Centre highlights how Priory is helping companies in the UAE with the mental health of their workers. In his day-to-day work as a Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Director at Priory’s Dubai Wellbeing Centre, Dr Walid Abdul-Hamid treats many Dubai workers suffering from mental health … Read more

Why Are Expats In The UAE Struggling To Save Money?

The UAE has for a long time been considered a major player in the world in tourism as well as business. Expats are attracted to this country because of the tax-free lifestyle and the high standard of living. For decades, the UAE has had a large expat community, one that accounts for at least half … Read more

An Expat Guide To Universities In The UAE

There are several benefits to studying in the UAE. There’s the ever-present sunny weather, the sea and sand, and the chance to earn a tax-free income upon graduation. More importantly, there are 116 higher learning institutions, which include three public institutes and 30 international branches of universities from across the world. Most international universities are … Read more

The UAE – Recommended Social Media Accounts

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at the UAE and some of the social media accounts you should be following if you’re thinking of moving there.Dubai Expat Community Facebook Group With … Read more

A Guide To Renewing Your Residence Visa In The UAE

The United Arab Emirates has come a very long way in the last few decades. People from all over the world are drawn to the Middle East’s most modernized cosmopolitan country because of its high living standards, quality of education, and career or entrepreneurial opportunities.In order to enjoy the benefits of this popular expat destination, … Read more

Report: UAE Struggling To Fill Jobs As Expats Look Elsewhere

Until recently the UAE was a shining beacon for international workers, drawing expats from far and wide to high-paying, low-tax jobs in the desert heat. From teachers to technical experts, executives to engineers, the country was a luxury destination that paid well and afforded a high quality of life.Seen as one of the most liberal … Read more

What Expats Need To Know About Healthcare In Dubai

Since 1 January, it has been a mandatory requirement that all expats must have health insurance to live and work in Dubai, or face fines for not having it. Expats face a monthly fine of Dh500 (£109/$136) for not complying with Isahd (Insurance System for Advancing Healthcare in Dubai), which in Arabic means ‘bringing happiness’. … Read more

Middle Eastern Property Market Suffers Following US Election Result

The real estate market of the Gulf is often in the global news. This sector has been through a considerable number of ups and downs for a long time now. The last few decades have seen a huge improvement in the types of residential and commercial properties that have been constructed across the region. Moreover, … Read more

UAE – Recommended Blogs

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at the UAE and some of the blogs that might be useful for expats there.Lady And Her Sweet Escapes www.ladyandhersweetescapes.com Lady and Husband Ed are … Read more

Here’s Why You Should Rent Instead Of Buying In The UAE

The United Arab Emirates is home to hundreds of thousands of expats from all across the globe. Contrary to what a lot of people believe, this cosmopolitan country is a lot more tolerant and modernized than the majority of nations in the Middle East. In fact, people of all ages can settle in quite easily, … Read more

How To Budget For A Move To The UAE: An Expat Guide

It is hard to talk about the United Arab Emirates without using superlatives. In less than four decades this Middle Eastern country has completely transformed itself from a tribal culture that was mainly dependent on fishing, pearl diving, and agriculture to a commercial, entrepreneurial, and industrial success story. The UAE has come a long way … Read more

Interview with Annabel Kantaria, Author of Coming Home

Expat Focus talks to Annabel Kantaria a British journalist and author living in Dubai. In 2013, she won the inaugural Montegrappa Prize for First Fiction at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. Her work caught the critical eye of top London agent Luigi Bonomi and Annabel went on to secure a three-book contract with Harlequin’s … Read more

A Guide To The Expat Property Hotspots Of The UAE

The modern cities of the UAE offer numerous work opportunities for expats. These cosmopolitan destinations have thriving business environments and provide the expat population with many benefits, such as excellent salary packages and no income taxation. These cities therefore have a significant expat community, enabling new entrants to feel at home easily. Here are some … Read more

Ten Basic Phrases In Arabic For Expats Moving To The UAE

The UAE is one of those places where knowing the local language is not terribly important for expats. Even for expats who are eager and willing, there just isn’t much opportunity – you might somehow begin to learn the language, but you’ll find there’s almost no one to practice with. For most expats, interaction with … Read more

Running Your Own Business In The UAE – Five Things You Need To Know

The United Arab Emirates has become one of the most popular expat destinations in Asia due to its cultural diversity, high standard of living, low crime rate and modern infrastructure. Factors like economic stability, strategic business framework, no-tax policy and free markets have also helped to attract foreign investors from across the globe. While setting … Read more

Marlon Atreides, Oil & Gas Sector Manager, Randstad MENA

Marlon, please tell us a little about yourself and your background.Originally from Manchester in the UK, I moved to the Middle East, specifically Dubai, in March 2014 to become the Power & Energy Sector Manager for Randstad MENA. I am an NLP master practitioner with 10 years’ experience working for multinational executive consultancies. I have … Read more

UAE – Five Recommended Expat Blogs

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look the United Arab Emirates and some of the bloggers who write about living there. Life With Baby Kickshttp://lifewithbabykicks.blogspot.ae/ Life With Baby Kicks is a blog … Read more

Interviewing For A Job In UAE: Five Things You Need To Know

The job interview is one of the most crucial elements of successfully landing a great job. What comes before and after is of course equally important, but will rarely have the make-or-break nature of the job interview itself. Here are five things you need to know when interviewing for a job in the UAE: • … Read more

5 Foods You Must Try When Living In The UAE

The UAE is a land of striking contrasts. It is both deeply traditional, and also incredibly modern. On one hand, it sits in the midst of the dessert, but it does also have a spectacular coastline. The one other thing that makes this destination stand out is the cuisine. Laden with Middle Eastern traditions that … Read more

An Overview Of International Schools in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates has a thriving expat population, much of it centered in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Lucrative employment, investment opportunities, tax-free income and a high standard of living are factors that make the UAE a highly popular destination among expats. The education system in the UAE has undergone considerable reform since the 1960s … Read more

5 Expat Clubs In The UAE You Should Consider Joining

Joining a club or group in a new country is a way to make the most of your expat life. These clubs, founded with various aims in mind, are a great way to connect with people from your home country and keep familiar traditions alive, while integrating into the new culture at the same time. … Read more

Moving To The UAE – What To Expect As A New Expat

The United Arab Emirates has always been popular with expats, and many of them are drawn to places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi because of the lucrative business and investment opportunities available here. The UAE also has a liberal culture compared to its neighbors in the Middle East, and expats find it easier to adapt … Read more

5 Great Golf Courses For Expats In The United Arab Emirates

Golf has gained a great deal of popularity in the UAE and there are many top-quality courses across the region. UAE also hosts a European Tour golf tournament called the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, held in January every year since 2006. The UAE has even played host to the World Sand Golf Championship in … Read more

Expats and the UAE Bikini Ban

In recent days, visitors to the public beaches of the United Arab Emirates were met with some disheartening warnings: signs were placed along these beaches warning that skimpy or revealing attire such as bikinis and briefs are no longer welcome there. While exact penalties for this newly minted offense are unclear as of the moment, … Read more

UAE Labor Laws: Getting Things Right

The United Arab Emirates, as of a 2011 Al Arabiya report, was host to nearly 4 million foreign-born laborers from sub-Continental Asia, the Arab world and elsewhere, with an expatriate population of twice that number (and, just as a reminder, the vast majority of UAE residents do qualify as expatriates). The majority of the foreign-born … Read more

Dubai Aside: Other Great UAE Towns for Professional Expats

The world has been hit by huge financial problems in recent years, but the numbers of professionals flocking to live and work in the UAE have increased. Dubai tends to be the place of choice for expats, due to the high standard of living and safety, as well as a cosmopolitan feel and of course … Read more

Latest United Arab Emirates Job Market Statistics

The United Arab Emirates [hereinafter UAE] are a federation of seven different principalities each governed by its own emir: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. Since the early 1960’s, these federated states have advanced in prosperity largely on account of their oil exportation. Abu Dhabi, which led the charge among … Read more

Property in Dubai – What Expats Should Know

For those with an eye and ear on international affairs, the very word ‘Dubai’ can conjure up images of an extravagant, hyper-modern dreamworld, defined by its bold “science fiction now” innovations in architecture and landscaping. Of course, there are certain lightning rods for attention, like the new underwater Water Discus hotel being developed by the … Read more

Jeffrey Todd, Deputy Editor for The National

Jeffrey Todd is the Deputy Editor for "The National", one of the UAE's most popular English newspapers. Jeffrey, can you tell us a bit about your background before you joined "The National"? Prior to The National I worked at the Toronto Star covering the crime and destruction beat, including fires, car crashes, murders and kidnappings. … Read more

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