Relocating to the UAE in 2026: Behind the Scenes

According to Dubai Land Department (DLD) data, Dubai's real estate market reached AED 761 billion in 2024, with total transactions including sales and rentals hitting 2.78 million — a historic high that exceeded 2023 figures by 17%. Reuters notes the growth in entrepreneurial activity in the region, linking it to Dubai's strengthening position as an international financial hub. This is facilitated by a transparent tax system and government regulation, stable inflow of international capital, and a strategic geographical location that allows companies to work simultaneously with Middle Eastern, African, and South Asian markets.

However, people relocate to the UAE not only for business — the country is increasingly chosen by families with children. The Emirates offer long-term residency visas, including the Golden Visa for up to 10 years, a developed international education system (the country has over 600 international schools), as well as high levels of safety and healthcare.

Natalia Movchan, Director of METROPOLITAN CONSULTING, shares insights on what solutions simplify relocation to the UAE and where challenges commonly arise. The company is part of METROPOLITAN GROUP — an international group of companies founded in 2008, providing a full range of real estate and consulting services in the UAE for local and international clients. METROPOLITAN handles turnkey business and family relocation to the UAE — supporting property purchases or rentals, business launches, visa and license processing, opening bank accounts, selecting health insurance, and choosing schools.

Real Estate as an Entry Point: Buying or Renting Property in the UAE

In practice, relocation to the UAE almost always begins with choosing accommodation — renting or buying property. This makes sense: in the Emirates, real estate is directly linked to residency status, the ability to open a bank account, and everyday comfort.

Purchasing property in freehold zones gives foreigners not only a reliable asset in a stable jurisdiction but also the right to apply for a residency visa. It's important to understand that this isn't just about buying square meters, but selecting a property that aligns with your goals — whether it's family relocation, investment, obtaining a visa, or a combination of all these objectives.

This is why many clients choose professional support at this stage. METROPOLITAN views real estate as part of an overall relocation strategy and selects properties considering clients' goals, visa criteria, and next steps — from opening bank accounts to residency processing. Our company works directly with leading developers and uses a verified secondary market database, ensuring legally clean transactions and transparent purchase terms.

Special attention is given to the financial side of transactions. For primary market projects in the UAE, an obligatory escrow mechanism is in place: the buyer's funds are placed in a special account and transferred to the developer only as contract conditions are met. METROPOLITAN supports clients at every stage — from contract verification and escrow payment organization to final property title transfer, minimizing risks and eliminating opaque schemes.

After property acquisition, METROPOLITAN provides comprehensive support, including technical acceptance (snagging), utility connections, renovation coordination, and ongoing property management — so you can focus on relocating and living in the UAE without unnecessary hassles.

A similar support model applies to property rentals: the company supports clients at all stages — from property selection and viewings to legal contract review and signing. METROPOLITAN's team includes professional mortgage brokers who provide consulting support and assistance in obtaining mortgage financing in the UAE.

Business and Work in the UAE: Relocation and Company Setup, Bank Accounts, Restructuring, and Freelance Licenses

The UAE's economic attractiveness is largely tied to its tax system. However, details matter here. Since 2023, the country has implemented a 9% corporate tax, but it only applies to profits exceeding 375,000 dirhams per year — approximately 102,000 USD. Below this threshold, the tax rate is effectively zero.

Natalia Movchan: "We often encounter entrepreneurs who either overestimate tax risks or, conversely, believe there are no taxes at all. In reality, everything depends on business structure and properly chosen jurisdiction."

The key decision at the start is choosing the work format: mainland company, free economic zone, or freelance license. This directly affects tax obligations, reporting requirements, the ability to work with local clients, open corporate accounts, and obtain residency visas. A mistake at this stage often leads to the need for business re-registration or license changes after launch.

Company registration in the UAE isn't just formal license acquisition. The process includes defining business activities, interacting with economic departments, and opening a corporate bank account. Banks carefully assess business structure, income sources, and owners' residency status, and without proper preparation, the process can drag on for months.

In such cases, METROPOLITAN CONSULTING helps entrepreneurs and companies choose jurisdiction and legal form, build a licensing model, prepare documents for banks, and supports corporate bank account opening. As businesses develop, METROPOLITAN also handles license renewals and amendments, and when necessary — restructuring, allowing businesses to adapt to changing market and regulatory requirements. Additionally, METROPOLITAN CONSULTING supports trademark registration to protect brands and intellectual property in the UAE.

For specialists working with foreign clients, the UAE provides a freelance license format that allows legal residence in the country without opening a full company. This format enables renting accommodation, opening a bank account, and obtaining residency status, but requires income confirmation and regulatory compliance. METROPOLITAN CONSULTING supports freelance license and visa applications, and helps assess when the freelance format remains optimal and when it's advisable to transition to a full corporate structure.

Family Residency Visas

The UAE's visa system has become one of the most flexible among countries focused on long-term relocation in recent years. Residency visas are available to investors, business owners, specialists, freelancers, retirees, and their family members, with the UAE's key distinction being long residency periods that allow planning life and work years ahead.

One of the most sought-after tools remains real estate investment-based visas. Dubai offers a 10-year Golden Visa for investments from AED 2 million, as well as a 2-year investor visa for property valued from AED 750,000. For applicants over 55, a 5-year Retirement Golden Visa is available with a threshold from AED 1 million. Similar conditions for the 10-year Golden Visa apply in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah. In some cases, residency status is possible through bank deposits or investments in UAE-accredited funds — from AED 2 million, or from AED 1 million for applicants over 55.

In practice, obtaining a visa rarely comes down to just meeting thresholds. It's important to consider the property's completion stage, specific emirate requirements, and the regulator's position. METROPOLITAN CONSULTING supports visa processes based on both completed and under-construction properties, including cases requiring property revaluation to reach the established investment threshold.

Beyond investor programs, the UAE offers visas for freelancers and digital nomads, allowing legal residence and use of basic infrastructure without opening a full company. A separate category includes visas for family members and domestic staff, which require correct document preparation and consular legalization. The UAE doesn't recognize apostilles, so documents must undergo consular legalization in their country of issue, then be translated into Arabic or English according to specific authority requirements. METROPOLITAN CONSULTING helps navigate all nuances and expedite this process — right through to document acceptance by UAE government bodies.

As part of family relocation, METROPOLITAN CONSULTING builds a visa strategy as part of the overall move: from selecting the optimal visa type to supporting medical examinations, insurance coverage, and residency card processing for all family members.

Family and Daily Life: Schools, Insurance, Driver's Licenses, and Other Documents

When relocating with family, process complexity increases. Obtaining residency status for the main applicant is just the first step. Next come visas for spouses, children, and, if necessary, domestic staff.

A key requirement is mandatory health insurance. Residency visa processing is impossible without it. Insurance coverage requirements depend on the emirate and visa category. METROPOLITAN CONSULTING experts help select the optimal insurance program for each specific client's needs.

One key question for families is children's education. The UAE offers a wide choice of international schools and universities — British, American, and IB programs. School admission depends on availability, the child's academic level, and chosen residential area, so selecting an educational institution is directly linked to property choice. As part of relocation, METROPOLITAN CONSULTING helps build this connection: from choosing the area and accommodation to interacting with schools and preparing enrollment documents.

With independent relocation, a significant amount of time goes to everyday bureaucracy, including opening personal bank accounts: for residents this process is simpler, but banks still require an extended document package and status confirmation. METROPOLITAN CONSULTING supports clients in choosing banks and interacting with financial institutions, helping reduce timeframes and lower rejection risks.

Additionally, METROPOLITAN CONSULTING helps exchange or obtain driver's licenses in the UAE, arrange mortgages for residents and non-residents, resolve asset protection and inheritance matters including will registration with Dubai Courts, ADJD, and DIFC, as well as pet relocation complying with veterinary and customs requirements. This approach allows viewing relocation not as a set of disconnected tasks, but as a transparent, understandable process of family adaptation to life in a new country.

The Real Risks of Relocating Without Professional Help

Relocation to the UAE requires a comprehensive approach. A mistake at an early stage — in property choice, license, or visa strategy — almost always leads to additional costs and time loss.

Natalia Movchan: "Our task at METROPOLITAN CONSULTING is to build a holistic relocation model for the client, where business, accommodation, visas, banks, and family work in synergy."

This approach makes relocation not a formal change of country, but a deep yet comfortable transition to a new life and work in an international environment.