Three things to help you settle in the UAE
Step-by-step guides
Visas, Emirates ID, renting, banking, schools and more. Simple English, official sources.
Read the guides →Business directory
Movers, visa and PRO services, car garages and more, recommended by people who used them.
Find a business →Friendly community
A free Facebook group with weekly meetups. Ask anything, meet people, feel at home.
Join the community →From landing to settled, one step at a time
Scroll to follow the route. Each stop links to the guides you will need next.
Day 1You land. Your visa comes first.
Almost everything in the UAE starts with your residence visa. Learn which visa you have, and what to do next.
Week 1Get your papers and your money in order.
Your Emirates ID and a bank account open the door to a phone plan, a home lease and a doctor.
Week 2Find a home that fits.
See how renting works, what Ejari is, and how to set up water, power and internet.
Month 1Get moving and get working.
Sort your driving licence, understand your work contract and look at schools if you have children.
Month 2 and onMake it feel like home.
Find your people. Join a meetup, learn the culture and plan your first weekend trip.
Trusted businesses from our community
Real businesses, recommended by expats. New residents use this page to find who to call first.
You do not have to figure it out alone
Coffee meetups, sports, board games and business talks since early 2026, across all seven emirates. Most friendships here start with one easy coffee.
Looking for WhatsApp? It is members-first and currently full. Join the waiting list.
List your business where expats are actually looking.
This guide reaches new residents at the exact moment they're choosing a bank, a school, a mover or a doctor, not scrolling past an ad. Listings are limited per category to keep the directory useful, not crowded.