Moving to Dubai from Australia: the complete guide

Most Australians move to Dubai on a job offer, and the job is what makes the paperwork work: your employer sponsors the visa, and everything else hangs off that.

The short version

Australian passport holders can get a tourist visa on arrival, which is fine for a look-see trip but not for working [1].
For work, your employer applies for a standard work visa, valid for two years and renewable [2]. Skilled people earning at least AED 15,000 a month may qualify for a self-sponsored five-year Green Visa instead [3].
Once you're a resident, the Emirates ID is the card you'll use for almost everything, and it's tied to your visa [4].
Some ordinary Australian habits are illegal in the UAE. Read the local laws before you pack your medicine bag [1].
Dubai has no personal income tax, but that doesn't automatically mean Australia stops taxing you. Sort your tax residency early.

Before you fly: the Australian side

Leaving well is half the job. The things Australians most often wish they'd done before boarding:

Check your passport. Smartraveller says it needs at least six months' validity, a numerical date of birth, and both first and last name fields filled in. Passports with an "X" or "U" gender marker can't be used to enter or transit the UAE, and emergency passports aren't accepted [1].
Get your medicines in order. Bring no more than a three-month supply, with your prescription and a doctor's letter. Some medicines that are legal in Australia are banned in the UAE [1]. Check every one before you pack.
Clear any debts or legal matters. Unresolved criminal charges or unpaid debts can lead to detention on arrival, even in transit [1]. This mostly applies to UAE debts, but people returning after a previous stint get caught.
Work out your tax residency. If you'll keep strong ties to Australia, the ATO may still treat you as a resident and tax your Dubai salary. Our tax guide for Dubai goes through it.
Tell the ATO about a HELP debt. If you'll be overseas for 183 days or more in a 12-month period, you must lodge an overseas travel notification within seven days of leaving [5].
Bring originals of key documents. Degree certificates, marriage and birth certificates often need to be attested (officially legalised) for visas, family sponsorship and Green Visa applications. Ask your employer's HR team exactly what they need before you leave, because it's far easier to arrange from home.

Your visa options

Your path into Dubai depends on how you'll earn a living. Here's how the main routes compare.

Route	Who it suits	Who applies	Validity
Visa on arrival	Short visits, job interviews, house hunting	You, at the airport [1]	Short stay, not for work
Standard work visa	Most employees	Your employer [2]	Two years, renewable [2]
Green Visa (skilled employee)	Bachelor's degree, skill levels 1–3, salary at least AED 15,000 a month [3]	You (self-sponsored)	Five years, renewable [3]
Green Visa (freelancer)	Self-employed with a freelance permit and at least AED 360,000 income over the past two years [3]	You (self-sponsored)	Five years, renewable [3]

The standard work visa in practice

On the standard route, the employer drives the process and covers the government side through HR or a PRO (the company's visa fixer). Expect a short whirlwind of appointments in your first weeks: a medical fitness test, biometrics, and stamping or digital issuance of the residence permit. In Dubai, residency is handled by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) [2]. Keep copies of everything you sign, and don't hand over your passport for longer than the visa process needs.

Green Visa holders

The Green Visa is attractive because it isn't tied to a single employer and you can sponsor family yourself [3]. The catch is the evidence. For skilled employees, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) wants a valid employment contract, a bachelor's degree or higher, a role at skill levels 1 to 3 under the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation classification, and a salary of at least AED 15,000 a month [3].

Your first month: the order of play

Dubai runs on documents. You need each one to get the next, so the order matters.

Land and get the residence visa done. Until your residency is issued, you can't sign much in your own name.
Get your Emirates ID. The Emirates ID is issued by ICP, carries a 15-digit number that stays with you, and you're required to carry it. Companies can record its details but aren't allowed to keep your card [4].
Open a bank account. Banks will want your Emirates ID, passport and visa, and usually a salary letter.
Sign a lease and register it on Ejari. Every Dubai tenancy contract is registered through the Dubai Land Department's Ejari system. Registration online costs AED 177.75 in total in 2026 [6]. You'll need Ejari for utilities and for sponsoring family.
Connect power and water. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) bills on a slab tariff, with 5% VAT on top [7].
Get a mobile plan and a Nol card. A Silver Nol card for the Metro, trams and buses costs AED 25, with AED 19 of credit loaded [8].
Sort your driving licence. If you plan to drive, check the Roads and Transport Authority's licence exchange rules for Australian licences before you buy a car.
Bring the family across. Once you have your visa, Emirates ID and Ejari, you can start sponsoring a partner and kids, subject to the rules for your visa type.

Where to live in Dubai

Commute matters more than postcode. Dubai's main road, Sheikh Zayed Road, runs parallel to the coast and the Metro's Red Line follows it, so most newcomers choose by how far they are from the office and the nearest station.

Dubai Marina and JLT (Jumeirah Lake Towers): high-rise living, walkable promenades, Metro and tram access. Popular with young professionals.
Downtown and Business Bay: close to DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) and the big corporate towers. Pricier, busy, very central.
Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim: low-rise villas near the beach. Lovely, but you'll need a car.
Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills Estate, The Springs and The Meadows: gated villa communities with parks and schools nearby. Family territory.
JVC (Jumeirah Village Circle) and Al Barsha: better value, well located for the new Dubai side of the city.
Mirdif: quieter and closer to the airport, well liked by families who work on the older side of town.

Our guide to renting in Dubai covers deposits, cheques and how the rental index works.

The laws that trip Australians up

Dubai is modern and international, but it is not Bondi with better malls. Smartraveller's list of UAE laws is worth reading in full [1]. The highlights:

Alcohol: the legal drinking age in Dubai is 21. Public intoxication is illegal, and so is driving with any alcohol in your blood. Neighbouring Sharjah is dry [1].
Drugs: zero tolerance, including trace amounts in your system and products that look like drugs, such as cannabis-flavoured items [1].
Behaviour: public displays of affection, including kissing, can lead to arrest. Photographing people without permission, or posting identifiable photos online, can be illegal [1].
Relationships: unmarried cohabitation is decriminalised everywhere except Sharjah, but same-sex relationships remain illegal [1].
Ramadan: avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours [1].

Heat, health and getting help

From June to September, temperatures can pass 50°C [1]. Most people adjust their lives around it: early morning runs, indoor weekends and long trips home in July and August.

There's no reciprocal health care agreement between Australia and the UAE [1], so your health insurance comes through your employer or your own policy. Private hospitals in Dubai are generally good.

If something goes wrong, the Australian Consulate-General in Dubai is on Level 25 of the BurJuman Business Tower in Bur Dubai, on +971 4 508 7100. The Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi covers the capital, and the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre is on +61 2 6261 3305 [1][9]. Emergency services in the UAE are on 999 [1].

Find your people

The Australian Business Council Dubai, which describes itself as the largest and oldest Australian business group in the Gulf, runs networking events and business forums, plus an Australia Ball [10]. For day-to-day questions, join Cooee UAE, our Facebook group for Australians in the UAE, where members swap flat leads, school tips and which brunch is showing the footy.

Moving to Dubai from Australia: visas, paperwork and your first month