How it usually works
If you're moving for a job, your employer normally sponsors your residence visa and books your medical test and Emirates ID biometrics. Once your own visa is through, you can then sponsor your partner and children as family members.
The Emirates ID card is your key document day to day. Landlords, banks, schools and DEWA will all ask for it.
Why it comes before the house
Most landlords want to see your residence visa and Emirates ID before they sign a long-term tenancy contract, and you need them to register the tenancy (Ejari). If yours are still being processed, ask your employer for an official letter confirming it. Some landlords will accept this while you wait.
Bridge the gap
Plan for a few weeks in a serviced apartment or short-term rental when you first land. It takes the pressure off, and you can view homes in person while your paperwork goes through.
Sort these out before you leave Europe
- Passports for the whole family, with plenty of validity left
- Marriage and birth certificates, legalised (attested) for use in the UAE. This is far easier to arrange from home than from Dubai
- Degree certificates, if your employer needs them for your work permit
- School reports and records for each child, for school applications
How I can help
I'll line up viewings and a shortlist while your visa is in process, so you're ready to sign the week your Emirates ID arrives. Your employer's HR or PRO team is the best contact for the visa itself.
General guidance only, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change, so always check with your employer and the official authorities.