Dubai has been very much at the fore of the property market for some time and this post offers some very useful and practical advice for those looking at what is a completely different culture to places such as the UK.

The thread starts off with a simple overview of four main areas to consider when moving to Dubai :-

Schools

There are more and more British schools appearing in the area with English one of the more popular languages in Dubai. Finding a school of repute and one which you can afford is easy, if you know where to look!

Residency Visa

This subject is covered in very basic terms so there can be no misunderstandings and is a must read for anyone moving to Dubai. Visas are vital to life in Dubai and are often needed to open bank accounts, obtain credit and even rent a property.

Accommodation

The price of accommodation varies dramatically across Dubai and it does no harm to be aware of even the base costs. Walking into a new environment totally unprepared is crazy and can be very dangerous – a move from the UK to Dubai is not a like for like change.

Traffic And The Roads

While many people joke about the standard of driving in places like Dubai, it seemingly is as bad as people say! Petrol is cheaper than most places in the world but the downside is the danger on the roads.

As happens with most useful threads we have seen this one grow and grow with useful information on every page - employment, finances, cultural difference, Islam, it is all there for those looking to Dubai.

Summary

Not only has this grown into a very informative post but it is very much on topic with more and more people looking to Dubai as something of a safe haven in these troubled times. Whether you are looking to move to Dubai or just invest in a property the information on this thread is worth its weight in gold.

Dubai has an image of being an expensive area in which to live and work, but how many people actually know the figures involved? Do you know what you should be demanding from your employer? What you need to live and where you should look for a property?

These are all very basic elements which should be first on the to do list if moving to Dubai, so why are so many people ill prepared? Why do they assume that someone else will do the paperwork and organise the living arrangements for them?
Thankfully there is help at hand but you need to know where to go and what to do, where to find the ex-pat communities and what to expect from your new home. Going into any new environment totally blind is madness and when you throw in the cultural differences with places such as the UK, there are potentially far reaching legal implications (as we recently saw with an unmarried couple caught in a compromising position).

There is a need to respect your neighbour, integrate into life in Dubai and also ensure that you have the finances to hand to make it happen. While you would expect a substantial pay rise for many employment positions in Dubai, you need to ensure that there is more than enough to enjoy your time in the country without living hand to mouth!

Read the full debate on relocating to Dubai.