What is important to know about moving to the UAE from Russia
Miscellaneous / / April 22, 2022
The quality of medicine, the level of service and business conditions will please, but the prices for housing and food will rather scare you away.
The UAE consists of seven emirates. Each of them is a separate state with its own laws. In the article, we will mostly talk about Dubai - it is easiest for a foreigner to get there. If you wish, you can continue your journey around the Emirates from this city.
Whatever part of them you find yourself in, it is worth remembering that the UAE is a Muslim country. There are no particularly strict requirements for foreigners, but it is still worth showing respect for local traditions. Do not dress provocatively off the beaches, do not photograph Emirati residents without permission, and do not speak harshly about the religion and authorities of the UAE.
The second half of Friday is reserved for prayers, so the working day will be shortened. The country strictly monitors the implementation of all laws. For drinking alcohol in a public place or an indecent gesture, you will immediately be fined, so read about the rules in advance.
You also need to be prepared for roast climate. From May to September temperatures sometimes rise above 41°C.
Documentation
In the UAE, Russians can get a free tourist visa. It is issued upon arrival at the country's airports, you do not have to arrange anything in advance. The conditions for entry to different emirates are different. The simplest ones are in Dubai, we will tell about them further. To you needTraveling to the UAE / The United Arab Emirates Government portal passport, medical insurance with COVID-19 coverage and a certificate of vaccination, or a certificate of past coronavirus, or a negative PCR test.
A certificate of vaccination is required with a QR code, in English or Arabic. WHO-approved vaccinations and Sputnik V are suitable.
PCR test is also needed with a QR code and in English or Arabic, take it no earlier than 48 hours before the trip. The requirements for a certificate of transferred coronavirus are as follows - it must be issued no earlier than a month before the move.
As soon as you arrive in Dubai, you will be asked to install the DXB Smart mobile app to track COVID‑19 symptoms. In some cases, airport staff will require another PCR test. You won't have to pay for it. Children under the age of 12 do not need to undergo a PCR test to travel to Dubai, either before or after arrival.
There are two types of tourist visas in the UAE: single entry for 30 days without the possibility of extension and multiple entry. For long trips, it is better to arrange a second one.
A multiple-entry visa is valid for 90 consecutive days or in aggregate for several trips within 180 days a year. There is possibilityTourist visa / The United Arab Emirates Government portal extend it twice for 30 days. Each time you need to pay a fee of 600 dirhams (163 dollars) and apply on the websites gdrfad.gov.ae, smartservices.ica.gov.ae or in taiping centers and AMER centers are government services dealing with migration issues. The extension usually takes up to 3 days.
If you have already extended your visa twice, you can leave the UAE, return to the country again with a fresh PCR test and get a new one.
You cannot officially work in the UAE with a tourist visa, for this you need to apply for a resident visa. With it, it will be possible to freely carry out financial transactions, hand over driver's license, in a simplified manner to enter the country, enjoy free healthcare, get places in public schools and kindergartens and do not pay income tax. Family members can also enjoy all the benefits of a resident visa.
You can get it if:
- officially get a job in a local company or government agency;
- invest at least AED 2 million ($544,000) in a business in the UAE;
- buy property in the UAE worth at least 1 million dirhams ($272,000);
- enroll in an educational institution in the UAE;
- be a pensioner over 55 years of age with financial savings of at least AED 1 million ($272,000) or regular income of at least AED 20,000 ($5,445) per month.
To obtain a resident visa needResidence visa / The United Arab Emirates Government portal submit documents on the portal ica.gov.ae and undergo a medical and safety check. Depending on the grounds, a visa is issued for up to 10 years. The paperwork will take about a week. After that, on the same site, you should leave an application for an Emirates ID - an identity card.
Since 2020 freelancers and entrepreneurs mayRemote work visas / The United Arab Emirates Government portal apply for a special work visa in the UAE. It is issued for a year and, if necessary, is extended. To get into this program, you need to have health insurance covering treatment in the UAE, salary or income from $5,000 per month and confirm this with a bank statement for the last 3 month. Freelancers must provide a work contract valid for one year, and entrepreneurs must provide documents confirming ownership of the company for at least one year. The visa costs $287 and gives all the benefits of a resident visa.
There is also a long-term "golden visa" for up to 10 years. It is renewed automatically, and it is not necessary to have a job offer or serious capital to receive it. Such a visa is issued to investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, talented students, cultural and artistic figures, highly qualified doctors and other specialists from priority areas for the UAE. More information about the program can be found on the website. u.ae.
Road
Getting from Russia to the UAE will be possible only by plane. The flight will take 5-6 hours. There are direct flights from Moscow to Dubai. Tickets will go up in the coming days. at 57,447 rubles.
You can directly get to Dubai from Mineralnye Vody, the flight costs 29 980 rubles.
Transfer options are cheaper. You can fly to Dubai from Moscow via Minsk for 28 145 rubles.
Tickets for later dates cost about the same, but it's better to keep track of airline offers. You may be able to find better options.
Language
The official language of the UAE is Arabic, but there are a huge number of expats living in the country, so English is perfectly understood everywhere.
In recent years, there have been many tourists from Russia in Dubai, so there are menus and signs in Russian in the emirate. Employees of hotels and shops can also know the language.
Money
The monetary unit of the United Arab Emirates is the dirham, there are 100 fils in one dirham. The currency is designated as AED or Dh. Sometimes the country pays with dollars, usually it concerns duties for foreigners, large purchases and rental housing.
The exchange rate for April 13, 2022 is as follows: 1 dirham - 22.57 rubles, 1 dollar - 3.67 dirhams.
Mastercard, VISA and Mir cards issued in Russia will not work in the UAE. But in some shops and malls acceptUAE/UnionPay International UnionPay. You can withdraw cash from ATMs from a Chinese payment system card.
Rubles in exchangers are unlikely to be accepted, and, most likely, the exchange rate will be very unfavorable. It is safer to bring euros and dollars.
A local bank account is usually only open to residents. But expats say that the service is also provided on a tourist visa. To do this, you will need a copy of the international passport with a page on entry into the UAE, a letter of recommendation from any bank whose you have been a client before, an account statement for the last 6 months and a CV - a short curriculum vitae with indication of places work. Documents must be translated into English and notarized.
Banks check future customers very carefully, so be prepared to provide additional documents, answer questions from employees or be refused. Expats are advised to contact Standard Chartered, Citibank, HSBC, Emirates NBD, FGB, ADCB and Dubai Islamic Bank.
Housing
We warn you right away: rent, like everything else, in the UAE is a couple of times more expensive than in Russia, so be prepared for high prices.
Look for daily accommodation on Airbnb, booking.com and Dubizzle - This is a site with a variety of ads, similar to Avito. A day in a one-room apartment in the center of Dubai will cost $100. In other emirates, prices are lower, so it makes sense to settle there. In Abu Dhabi there are apartments for 60-70 dollars a day, on the outskirts of Sharjah - for 30-40 dollars.
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Dubai districts differ in terms of transport accessibility, but in general they are equally comfortable and safe, so consider cheaper options outside the center.
Apartments for long term can be found on the same Dubizzle, property finder, Bayut, Zoom property and on social networks. One of the largest Russian-speaking chat rooms - "Rent Dubai». Usually, housing is rented not monthly, but immediately for a year, but the payment is sometimes divided into two parts. You will also likely be asked to leave a deposit.
Monthly rent a small one-room apartment in not the most luxurious areas of Dubai will cost a minimum of 5,000 dirhams (1,360 dollars), in the center - about 50,000 dirhams (13,600 dollars) per month. The average price for the same housing in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah is 3,000–4,000 dirhams (816–1,089 dollars). Utilities will cost 500-750 dirhams (136-204 dollars).
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If you want to save on housing, look in chats and communities for neighbors and rent a two- or three-room apartment together.
Food
There are several large supermarket chains in the UAE: Carrefour, Almaya, Talal, LuLu, Spinneys, Waitrose and VIVA. Here are the prices for some products from the Spinneys catalog:
- 1 kg of bananas - 6.95 dirhams (1.9 dollars);
- 1 kg of carrots - 5.5 dirhams (1.5 dollars);
- 1 kg of potatoes - 19.5 dirhams (5.3 dollars);
- 1 kg of tomatoes - 3.95 dirhams (1.1 dollars);
- 1 kg of cucumbers - 5.5 dirhams (1.5 dollars);
- 1 kg of apples - 9 dirhams ($2.45);
- 10 eggs - 28 dirhams (7.62 dollars);
- 1 liter of milk - 14.5 dirhams (3.95 dollars);
- 200 g of hard cheese - 17.75 dirhams (4.8 dollars);
- 1 pack of yogurt - 2.65 dirhams (0.7 dollars);
- 1 kg of chicken fillet - 42 dirhams (11.4 dollars);
- 1 kg of beef - 70 dirhams ($19);
- 1 kg of ham - 85 dirhams (23 dollars);
- 1 kg cod fillet - 99 dirhams (27 dollars);
- 1 package of white bread - 7 dirhams (1.9 dollars);
- 1 kg of rice - 9.5 dirhams (2.6 dollars);
- 1 pack of pasta - 22.25 dirhams ($6);
- 1 kg of sugar - 5 dirhams (1.4 dollars);
- 1 liter of vegetable oil - 15.75 dirhams (4.3 dollars).
Products with delivery can be ordered in mobile applications Yalla Market and instashop or through their own supermarket chain services.
A sandwich and coffee snack in a cafe will cost approximately 75 dirhams ($20), falafel with vegetable salad and pita - 12-15 dirhams (3.3-4 dollars), a large portion of fried chicken with french fries - 20 dirhams (5.5 dollars).
For a dinner for two with drinks in a moderately priced restaurant, they will ask for 450–500 dirhams ($122–136).
Connection
There are two major operators in the UAE - Du and Etisalat. At passport control at airports, free SIM cards with 1 GB of mobile Internet are issued for the first 24 hours in the country. Cards are valid for 30 days.
If you want to use the number longer, buy a regular SIM card with your passport. They can be found in the offices of mobile operators, at the checkouts of supermarkets, in kiosks at metro stations.
A tariff with 20 GB of mobile Internet costs 200-250 dirhams (55-68 dollars). You can replenish your account in a mobile application, terminals or using vouchers. They are sold in communication salons and ordinary stores.
Work
Dubai has favorable conditions for starting a business, so startups are often looking for developers, product managers, designers, marketers and analysts here. In the vast majority of cases, only candidates with knowledge of English are considered.
You can get a job not in a startup, but in a large local company. Architects, petroleum engineers, doctors, IT specialists are especially valued. There are many job openings in the service industry.
Look for jobs online akhtaboot.com, beyond.com, www.uaejobmarket.com, careerjet.com, dubizzle.com, efinancialcareers.com. Create a profile on LinkedIn and look at thematic communities on social networks, for example Jobs in Dubai, UAE and UAE | work in dubai. A good way to find a job is networking. Entrepreneurs in Dubai often throw parties to make useful contacts. Try to go to this event. Follow the announcements on social networks.
For official work in the UAE, a permit is required. According to lawExpatriates working in the UAE / The United Arab Emirates Government portal, his and a work visa, if not, is issued and paid by the employer. Before that, he must conclude an employment contract with detailed conditions with a foreign employee. To issue a permit, you will need to legalize documents on education. A copy of the diploma will have to be translated into Arabic or English, notarized and marked in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the UAE Embassy. A work permit will be issued within five days.
In the UAE, you can open a business in a free zone, completely free from taxes, and on the mainland - the rest of the country. For foreign entrepreneurs, the first option is much easier and faster.
There are several dozen "free zones" in the country, each with its own conditions, a list of permitted areas of activity and forms of organization. You can study this information and select a zone Online Ministry of Economy. But the procedure in all free zones is the same: you will need to select the type of legal entity and trade name, apply for a business license, obtain pre-approval, register a business and collect a license. In some cases, registration requires a minimum start-up capital and a physical office.
To make the business registration process easier, contact one of the consulting companies in the UAE. They will help you prepare documents, choose a suitable area and find an office.
The medicine
Residents of the UAE have access to free public healthcare, which is at a very high level in the country. Tourists can apply for help with insurance. It is better to make it before arrival, but it will be possible to issue a policy on the spot. To compare the conditions of different companies, use the service insurancemarket.ae.
Another option is to go to a private clinic on your own. The price level is approximately the following: a day in a hospital - 5,000-7,000 dirhams (1,360-1,905 dollars), an appointment with a therapist - 300 dirhams (82 dollars), at a narrow specialist - 350-400 dirhams (95-109 dollars), complete blood count - 90-100 dirhams (24.5-27 dollars), PCR test - 100-150 dirhams (27-41 dollar).
The UAE strictly monitors compliance with coronavirus restrictions. Now indoors needUAE relaxes Covid‑19 countermeasures starting tomorrow / National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority be sure to wear a mask. Cafes and restaurants are open.
Free coronavirus vaccination in the UAE doVaccines against COVID‑19 in the UAE / The United Arab Emirates Government portal only residents and citizens of the country. In Dubai, even for money, it is difficult to find a clinic where the vaccine is given, so many people go to Abu Dhabi to get vaccinated. To get vaccinated in this city, go to one of the emirate's vaccination centers with a passport and a copy of your visa and pay 370 dirhams ($100). The choice will be made of any vaccine approved by WHO. List of vaccination centers Online ministries of health. There is no need to sign up or register in advance.
Service
Dubai has a metro and a well-developed surface transport network. A single Nol card is used to pay for travel, it will also come in handy to pay for parking. You can top up your balance at vending machines at metro stations and bus stops. The cost of a trip by public transport depends on its distance, focus on 4-8 dirhams (1.1-2.2 dollars).
Taxi in the UAE can be ordered through Careem, Uber, Kiwi Taxi and Dubai Transportation Authority App RTA. Popular car sharing services - Ekar, Udrive and FriendyCar.
There are apps for food delivery Talabat, Deliveroo, Careem NOW, EatEasy and Zomato.
There are many beauty salons and fitness clubs in major cities of the UAE, prices vary greatly depending on the area of the city. Reviews and recommendations can be found in Russian-language chats in Telegram. For example, there is a thematic WomanChat.
There are plenty of places to stay in Dubai. There are huge amusement parks, oceanariums, shopping centers, water parks, museums and even a ski resort with artificial snow. You can visit one of the beaches on the coast of the Persian Gulf, go on a desert safari or tour the palaces and mosques.
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