Moving to Dubai: what expenses will you have to pay before your first salary?

Costs of moving to Dubai before your first salary: payment calendar, deposits, temporary housing and confirmed employer support.

Moving can be affordable in terms of monthly expenses and at the same time require more free money than the family has prepared. The reason is a discrepancy between dates. Salaries have not yet been received, but temporary housing, a rental agreement, transportation of things and connection of services already require payment. Therefore, you should start preparing with the payment calendar, and then choose an apartment and departure date.

Here we consider moving to work with family. For an entrepreneur, real estate owner or person who moves without an employer, the composition of obligations will be different. Even with the same apartment, two families may need different starting capital: one company pays for accommodation in advance, the other reimburses expenses only after registration and going to work.

First find out the date when the money will actually become available

In a job offer, the size of the salary is usually more noticeable than the order of the first payment. Meanwhile, it is he who determines how much of his own funds will be required after arrival. Ask the employer to confirm in writing the start date, pay period, pay day, and method of receiving your first paycheck if a local bank account has not yet been opened. Specify separately whether the first month will be paid in full or in proportion to the time worked.

Don't consider a verbal promise of an advance as a ready source of money. You can include a payment in the receipt calendar that has a confirmed amount, date, and conditions. Performance bonuses, future reimbursement of expenses and the expected return of the deposit are considered possible income: purchasing non-refundable services at their expense before confirmation is risky.

This is especially important when both spouses are moving. The income of the second person should be taken into account after confirmation of work and the first payment. The opportunity to find a job in Dubai helps assess the family’s prospects, but does not pay the immediate housing bill.

Divide the starting amount into expenses and temporary money

Carrier fees and refundable deposits impact family finances in different ways. The family finally spends the first amount. The second one can be returned, but it cannot be used until the return conditions are met. When you lump these payments into one line item, “cost of moving,” it’s easy to underestimate your need for available cash.

For example, DEWA specifies a refundable security deposit of AED 2,000 for an apartment and AED 4,000 for a villa. This is the data for electricity and water connections in Dubai, verified on September 27, 2026. They do not cover the entire utility bill and do not replace a deposit to the landlord. Activation fees, cooling services and other charges should be verified on a site-by-property basis.

Do not automatically transfer employer responsibilities to the family budget

MOHRE's employee handout allocates the cost of hiring and issuing a worker's residence permit to the employer. We are talking about appropriate labor relations, and not about unconditional payment of all family expenses. Visas for spouse and children, transportation of furniture, temporary housing and training may be included in the company's package, but this must be confirmed separately.

Ask for a list for each family member: who orders the service, who pays, what documents are needed, whether there is a limit and when coverage begins. The wording “the company helps with the move” is not sufficient for the calculation. Organizational assistance does not always mean payment, and reimbursement after the move does not eliminate the need to have money in advance.

If the agreement provides for the return of some early retirement benefits, find out the basis and applicability of the provision before signing. The mere presence of a clause in a document does not make any retention legal. Disputed terms must be checked against the employer's legal regime: federal private sector rules cannot be automatically transferred to the DIFC, ADGM or public service.

Assess the transition between temporary and permanent housing

Temporary housing should have a clear purpose: to provide accommodation until the family can choose and gain access to a permanent address. A booking that is too short forces you to make a rental decision in a hurry. A non-refundable booking that is too long may result in charges to two addresses at the same time.

Before signing the lease, compare the date of handing over the keys, the readiness of the apartment, the connection of the necessary services and the delivery time of things. Check whether furniture and appliances are included, whether you can use the Internet right away, and who is responsible for eliminating any deficiencies found. The promise “the apartment is ready” should be turned into a list of equipment and an agreed date of access.

Transport, cleaning, purchasing bedding and delivering furniture often appear after choosing an apartment. Receive offers with a final price: floor, elevator, assembly and re-delivery may change the composition of the service. For comparing carriers, it is more useful to have the same cargo and route description than the lowest advertised price.

Collect a calendar that will show the lack of money in advance

For each payment, record the confirmed offer amount, currency, payment date, and refund status. Place confirmed receipts next to it. Then sequentially calculate the remainder after each operation. The lowest point on this calendar shows how much money will be needed in addition to the balance already available.

Please check your payment method separately. The presence of funds in a foreign account does not guarantee the ability to make a local payment on time: bank restrictions, transfer deadlines and recipient requirements are important. Do not disclose your details to unverified intermediaries and agree on an acceptable payment method directly with the organization you are paying.

The plan can be considered ready when the family understands three things: what is paid before the first paycheck, what amounts will remain temporarily tied up, and what expenses the company actually assumes. This calculation allows you to discuss the moving date and the employer’s package in detail - before purchasing tickets and signing obligations.