Landed

For new residents of Dubai

You've landed in Dubai.
Here's your setup — in the order that works.

Visa, Emirates ID, Ejari, DEWA, bank, SIM, licence. Each one is locked behind another. Answer three questions and get your exact sequence — what each step needs, and what it unlocks.

✓ Free, no account ✓ We don't sell your details ✓ Cites the official portals

Tell us your situation

Costs are typical 2026 ranges. Rules and fees change — always confirm the exact requirement and price on the official portal linked in each step before you go. Landed is an independent guide, not a government service.

Take it with you

The Relocation Pack

Your plan is free. The pack is for the person who wants zero mistakes at the counter — everything on paper, in your hand, ticking off as you go.

  • ✓ Your nationality's licence answer — swap with no test, or the RTA course — with the exact documents and fee
  • ✓ Where to do each step — the exact app, centre and official link, in a PDF you follow offline
  • ✓ A progress tracker — see how far into your move you are and what's next
  • ✓ A move-in cost calculator — deposits, agent fee, the buffer before your first salary
  • ✓ An EN / AR counter cheat sheet of the key terms
AED 3.99

One-time · pay once · no subscription

Secure payment by Ziina. You'll build your plan first, then check out — your pack is generated instantly after payment.

Digital pack — no shipping. Works on phone and laptop.

Why an order, not a list

The problem isn't the paperwork. It's the sequence.

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The wall

You turn up to activate DEWA and get sent home — no Ejari yet. Back to Ejari, but that needs your Emirates ID. The delay is almost never the paperwork; it's arriving in the wrong order.

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The order

Every static checklist dumps all the steps on you at once. Landed lights up only the step that isn't blocked, tells you what to bring, and shows what finishing it unlocks next.

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The honest note

Government rules move. So every step links the official portal and carries a date — we'd rather tell you to check u.ae than guess a fee and be wrong when you're standing at the desk.

The questions everyone lands with

Dubai setup, answered in order

In what order do you set up in Dubai as a new resident?
Residence visa (which includes the medical fitness test), then Emirates ID, then a tenancy contract registered on Ejari, then DEWA for water and electricity, then a UAE bank account, then a SIM, then your driving licence. Each step needs the one before it, which is why the order matters more than the list.
Do I need Ejari before DEWA?
Yes. DEWA will not activate water and electricity without a registered Ejari tenancy certificate. Register Ejari first (about AED 155 to 220), then apply to DEWA.
Can I open a UAE bank account before my Emirates ID?
Usually not for a current account — most banks ask for your Emirates ID, residence visa and a salary certificate. Some banks let you open a savings account earlier. Get your Emirates ID first.
Do I need Emirates ID before Ejari?
Yes. Registering a tenancy on Ejari requires your passport, residence visa and Emirates ID. Your Emirates ID is issued after your residence visa is stamped.
How much does it cost to set up in Dubai?
The paperwork itself is modest — Ejari is roughly AED 155 to 220, a DEWA deposit is around AED 2,000 for an apartment, and a driving-licence conversion is about AED 850 to 1,200. The bigger cost is upfront rent and deposits; many new arrivals budget an AED 30,000 to 50,000 buffer before their first salary. Always confirm current fees on each official portal.
Can I convert my foreign driving licence in Dubai?
If your country is on the RTA approved list you can swap it without a driving test. If it is not, you will need lessons and the RTA tests. Either way you need your Emirates ID first.
What is the first thing to do when I land in Dubai?
If an employer sponsors you, they file your entry permit, medical test and Emirates ID — your job is passport validity of at least six months and any attested documents. If you sponsor yourself or your family, start the permit application and get documents such as a marriage certificate attested early, because every later step waits on it.
Is Landed an official government service?
No. Landed is an independent planner that shows you the order and what each step needs. Always confirm the exact requirement and fee on the official UAE government portal (u.ae) and each authority's website before you go.