Banking, Golden Visa, health insurance, VPN restrictions and money transfers for expats in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Updated April 2026.
Opening a bank account in the UAE requires a UAE residency visa. You cannot open a full bank account on a tourist visa. Once you have residency, Emirates NBD, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) and Mashreq are the main options for expatriates.
For the first weeks before your residency is processed, a Wise multi-currency account with AED support lets you spend in local currency at the mid-market rate. No UAE bank account required.
The largest UAE bank by assets. Widely available across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. English-language banking app. Requires residency visa, passport, Emirates ID and proof of address. Salary accounts available through employer arrangements.
Often regarded as the most accessible for new residents. Digital-first bank with a good app. Neo account available with lower documentation threshold than traditional accounts.
Official source: icp.gov.ae — UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security. Also: UK Gov UAE travel advice.
Requirements change. Verify with UAE government's official immigration portal (icp.gov.ae) or GDRFA Dubai.
Available to investors (AED 2 million+ in property or investment), entrepreneurs, outstanding specialists in science/medicine/arts/sports, and executives earning above certain thresholds. Also available for remote workers employed outside UAE. Renews automatically. Includes family sponsorship.
Sponsored by your UAE employer. The standard route for those working in the UAE. Tied to your employer — changes job mean new visa sponsorship. This is how the majority of Western expats in the UAE live.
For those employed by a company outside the UAE. Requires income of at least USD 3,500/month. Includes health insurance requirement. Allows working remotely in the UAE without UAE employer sponsorship.
Using a VPN to commit a crime or access blocked content in the UAE is illegal and can result in severe penalties. Using a VPN for legitimate privacy purposes is a grey area — technically legal but prosecutions have occurred. VoIP calls via WhatsApp, Skype and similar are restricted and remain blocked even with a VPN. Exercise caution. Verify current legal position before use.
ExpressVPN is the most consistently reported to work in UAE for general privacy use. NordVPN works with some reliability. Surfshark is less consistent. Status changes — check expat forums for current status.
Du and Etisalat (e&) are the two UAE networks. Tourist SIMs available at Dubai Airport. For long stays, a local SIM requires residency — use eSIM on arrival and get a proper local SIM once your Emirates ID is issued.
UAE data plans from around $8 for 5GB. Works across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Essential for your first days before getting a local SIM sorted with your residency.
Get a UAE eSIM from Airalo (AD)Health insurance is mandatory for all UAE residents — your employer is legally required to provide it if you're on an employment visa. If you're self-sponsored, on a Golden Visa, or a remote worker, you must arrange your own.
There's a gap between arriving in a new country and getting long-term health insurance sorted. Travel insurance covers you in that window — and for trips back home, visits to neighbouring countries, and activity-based incidents that IPMI doesn't always cover. It's not a substitute for proper expat health cover but it fills the gap.
Designed specifically for travellers and new expats. Covers emergency medical, trip cancellation, adventure activities and personal liability. Available to residents of most countries. Get a quote online in minutes — cover can start immediately.
Travel insurance is not a substitute for international private medical insurance for long-term residents. See our health insurance comparison →
Most people moving abroad ship less than they expect and buy more locally than they planned. That said, some things are worth shipping — clothes for all climates, specialist equipment, sentimental items. Get multiple quotes before committing.
International removals by sea and air. Door-to-door service covering most of our destination countries. Competitive for partial loads. Quote online.
Get a removals quote (AD)Before booking a container, price up buying equivalent items at your destination. In Thailand and Malaysia, furniture and electronics are often cheaper locally. In UAE and Singapore, not so much. Ship what you can't replace, buy the rest.
What changed this month, what it means for you. Visa rules, tax updates, provider changes, exchange rate moves. Monthly. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
No spam. Unsubscribe any time. We will never share your email with anyone.