Among many other countries where people from India generally wants to relocate and settled in, Dubai is definitely one of them. Being geographically closer to India, it’s one of the favorite countries for Indians, especially for people with special technical skills. Also, Dubai is considered to be one of the safest Middle Eastern countries for the outsiders. The laws are quite strict and hence there is less crime in Dubai in comparison to other places. But, the process of relocating to Dubai and getting settled in Dubai from India may be a bit longer. And therefore, you have to be a little patient while you relocate and settle in Dubai from India.
So, if you
are planning to relocate to Dubai and wondering about how to settle in Dubai
from India, then I have got you covered. We all know that you have to secure a Visa,
confirmed job etc, but that is not all that you need to settle in comfortably
in Dubai. There is more to it and that’s
what we are going to discuss in this post.
Quick reference guide to settle in Dubai from India
Quick reference guide to settle in Dubai from India
Rules and laws
are very strict in Dubai, and probably that’s the reason there is less crime in
Dubai. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you abide by the rules and the
laws of the land, and avoid taking any shortcut routes or misuse the liberties
given to you. If you are caught in some illegal acts, then your dream of
settling in Dubai may turn into a nightmare.
Visiting Dubai for a week to attend a seminar or a conference is a different thing all together. But, when you plan to relocate and settle in Dubai from India, you got to understand everything well, or else you may find it hard.
So, if you
plan to relocate and settle in Dubai, then here’s the quick reference guide to
settle in Dubai from India. It’ll help you to relocate and get settled in Dubai
much comfortably.
Get a valid Visa
You cannot
enter Dubai unless you have got a valid Visa. And therefore, if you are
planning to move and get settled in Dubai from India, then you must obtain a
valid Visa.
There are
various visa options available, such as
Employment
Visa
Dependent
Visa
Student
Visa
Investor
Visa
Property
owned Visa
Most
probably, you will be interested to get employment visa, if you are planning to
relocate and settle in Dubai permanently, but the point is to obtain a valid
visa.
Get a job as fast as you can
Dubai is
really costly. It will be hard to spend days here without a job unless you
already have lots of saving and money in your bank accounts. So, what most
Indians do is to find a job here in India and then move to Dubai using your
Employment Visa. If that is not possible you may take up Visit Visa and find a job
in Dubai. However, since in the latter case you will have less time in hand, it
is advisable that you remain prepared from before.
To be
specific, start searching for jobs online from before, prepare a proper CV. At
first, do the job hunting from your own field, in other words from your own
industry that you want to join. Also, keep a track on the other general jobs
available so that they act as a backup for you. Once you reach Dubai, try to
attend as many interviews as possible. Do not miss out the walk-in interview
options. And, yes, it is important that you do the follow ups time to time as
the competition is quite high there.
Find a home for yourself
Once you
have reached Dubai, you got to find a home for yourself. For that, you have got
2 options in your hand. Firstly, you may rent a property. This is actually what
most of the Indians who visit for the first time do. However, buying a property
is also a good thing to do if you have a decent amount in your account. The
best thing here is if you have to leave Dubai anytime, you can always rent it
out. Imagine how good a source of income it will become for you in future. So,
think about it.
Get in touch
with other Indians there- One of the most important things that will help you
get adjusted to Dubai quickly is by getting in touch with the Indians
communities there. Obviously, with a strong Indian presence all around, you
will feel home and that will make your stay in Dubai easier.
To get in
touch with the Indian communities, you may consider joining groups such as those
brought together by InterNations and Expat Dubai. Also, look into the websites
full of information specifically for the Indians residents in Dubai, and Dubai
Desi can be a good starting point for you.
Moreover,
there are other means as well that you can use. Like for example, Dubai hosts
cricket matches on a frequent basis. These matches usually attract lot of
crowd. Visit the matches. I am sure you will get acquainted with many Indians
there.
Learn driving
You cannot
drive your car without a valid driving license. So, take up driving classes and
get a license fast. However, owning a car is not too much of a necessity there
as the public transport is quite good there. Metro, bus and taxi facilities are
there for regular travel.
Admit your children in school or college
If you have
relocated to Dubai with your family, then the next immediate task is to find a
good school or institution and admit your children. If you want to admit your
children in some good school, then there is nothing to worry as there are many
good schools there. In fact, there are many Indian schools offering ICSE and
CBSE here. But, I will suggest you to start searching for the schools well in
advance so that you can admit your kid to the best schools and at the right
time.
Explore the food and lifestyle
There is a
lot to explore as far as food is concerned. There are so variations that you
will absolutely enjoy them. However, if you are a complete Desi and love only
Indian foods, then also you will face no problem because there are loads of
Indian restaurants there. You will get all the native ingredients in the
supermarkets there. So, food is never going to be a problem for you during your
stay in Dubai.
Check medical facilities
The
employers provide compulsory medical insurance to their employees in Dubai.
And, the medical infrastructure is quite good in Dubai. In fact, there has been
huge development in the past few years.
Transferring money from Dubai
It is
obvious that when you are earning in Dubai, you will send money back home. The
good thing about transferring money from Dubai to India is that it does not
attract any income tax. You just have to pay the transfer fee and even that can
be managed in some banks.
Visit tourist attractions
Dubai has a
lot to offer to the tourists. So, to start loving the place more, you can visit
all of the popular tourist spots there. Be it the Burj Khalifa, to desert
safaris to water parks to beaches to architecture, there is a lot to explore
there.
Enjoy Dubai nightlife
If you are a
party person then you are at the right place. I mean Dubai has literally
everything that can suit your mood. You have plenty options to dance, drink and
dine. However, make sure you drink only in the licensed venues in Dubai and
avoid public drinking as it is illegal. To avoid any trouble and seen in a
drunken state in public, it is advisable that you take taxi directly from
nightclubs to your home or bring your own car. Carry your ID with you as a
proof that you have turned 21.
As far as
the dress code in the bars and nightclubs of Dubai is concerned, it is mainly
polished. So, leave behind your jeans when you visit one. Ladies are open to
wear shorts and minis but it is better if you bring along a jacket or a wrap to
throw when you are outside.
Shop your heart out
If you are a
shopaholic, then Dubai is certainly a dream come true place for you. There are
so many shopping malls there and you can completely take advantage of Dubai
being tax free.
Respect the local culture and people
You are an
outsider who is trying to get settled in Dubai, so while doing that, it is
important that you respect the culture of Dubai and its people. The main
religion of the people there is Islam and they follow a tolerant version of
Sharia law. The locals are a friendly bunch and they welcome people of other
religions openly. So, they also deserve equal respect and warmth from you.
Other dos and don’ts worth knowing
Apart from
the above-mentioned aspects, there are some other dos and don’ts that you
should consider:
When
you visit Dubai, it is advisable that you dress respectfully and sensibly. It
is best to wear clothes that are loose fitted and skirts that drop to the knee.
You can wear swimwear but only when you are on a beach or by the poolside.
Wearing swimwear in other places may land you in trouble. Jeans and trousers
are good for the men and long sleeve tops are preferred.
Take
off your shoes while entering someone’s home and avoid showing the soles of
your feet. It is also advisable that you avoid eating with your left hand.
Weekend
here is in Friday and Saturday. Friday is same as Sunday in the West. So, many
entertainment venues or shops remain closed at least for a part of the day.
Hence, do not forget to check the times that are the opening and closing times.
You
can drink from the tap waters. It is free and safe.
Make
sure you always use a pedestrian crossing while crossing the roads as speeding
is a very common occurrence.
Be
very respectful towards Emirati women. Shake hands with them only if she offers
her hand first. Taking pictures of any woman without her permission is a
complete NO-NO.
Keep
in mind not to do PDA (public display of affection). Holding hands is fine but
anything more than that may offend the people there.
Losing
your temper in public may land you in big trouble so please try to stay as calmer
as possible even in stressful situations.
Taking
drugs is illegal. So, please stay away from it.
Remember
not to drink or eat publicly during Ramadan.
Please
do not take photographs of the government buildings. It is not allowed.
Learn
to bargain and avoid paying face value. Vendors will expect you to do that and
will enjoy the attempts you will make to lower the prices of the items.
Conclusion
Indians have
enough reasons to get settled in Dubai. But, the laws, culture, lifestyle etc.
of Dubai is slightly different from India which may become a challenge for the
Indians planning to get settled there. This is why it is necessary that you
learn more and more about the place. Obviously, the more aware you are about
the various aspects of Dubai; the quicker you will be able to get adjusted to
the place.
I have
thoroughly talked about the visa requirements, job related issues, education,
lifestyle, accommodation and many other important aspects that are important
for getting settled in Dubai.
What else do you think one should look for to
relocate and settle in Dubai comfortably?
