Work and live in the UAE with answers you can check.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi, for every nationality. Each rule shows its source and the date we checked it. Free, no ads, nothing to sell.
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All situationsStep by step, with the deadlines that matter. Pages not yet checked lead to the full list.
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Collections that point to the right page and the official channel.
From deciding to leaving, in nine steps
See all stepsLife in the UAE
Nineteen areas, each owned by one page.
- Deciding and planning the move
- Getting there and arrival
- Visas and residency
- Work and employment
- Starting a business and freelancing
- Housing
- Utilities and connectivity
- Healthcare and insurance
- Schools and childcare
- Driving and transport
- Money, banking and tax
- Family and personal status
- Laws and conduct
- Medication
- Consumer rights
- Pets
- Emergencies and safety
- Daily life and community
- Leaving the UAE
Recent rule changes
All changes-
Published the mainland gratuity calculator, checked against Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Articles 51 to 53 and 67, and Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, Articles 29 and 30. /tools/gratuity-calculator/
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Published: deadlines after termination for mainland, DIFC and ADGM, checked against the law. Mainland claims: two years (Art. 54(9)), not the one year u.ae states. ADGM final pay: 21 days. DIFC claims: six months. /work/fired-what-now/
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Published: the WPS steps under Ministerial Resolution 340/2026 and the MoHRE complaint route, with a two-year claim limit (Art. 54(9)). /work/unpaid-salary/
How this handbook is checked
- Every rule links to the law or the authority's own page, with a quote.
- Every page shows the date it was checked. If the review is late, the page says so.
- Mistakes are corrected in public, with the date.