Moving to Dubai from South Africa: Go-to Guide!

As a bustling hub of business and innovation with a matching booming economy, there are several reasons why Dubai is an attractive destination for expats. In fact, many call Dubai the world’s expat capital. Which makes sense given that 85% of Dubai’s total population moved there from abroad⁵. The thriving job prospects and high quality of life in Dubai have also attracted many South African nationals thinking about the many advantages of moving to this bustling metropolis.

If you’re considering relocating, this article will delve into the process of moving to Dubai from South Africa, including how to apply for a work visa, the cost of living in Dubai, and how to open a bank account as a South African living in this UAE city.

We’ll also give you a brief introduction to Wise, a bank alternative specialising in international money transfers to South Africa⁴.

Learn more about Wise

Moving to Dubai from South Africa (quick facts)

Currency	United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)
Population	3.64 million⁶
Language(s)	Arabic, English, Hindi, Urdu, and Tagalog
Weather	Tropical desert microclimate - very hot summers and warm winters. Dubai has very little rain all year round, however, the summer months may feel more humid.
% of expats	85%⁵
Average yearly salary	Full-time employees in Dubai typically earn an average annual salary of 189,000 AED.⁷

Send money to South Africa using the mid-market rate

Expats can send money to South Africa using Wise, a money service provider specialising in international money transfers, to save money¹ when making overseas payments to South Africa.

The mid-market exchange rate is the rate that banks use to transfer money between them. While some banks support international payments, they usually add a markup on top of the mid-market exchange rate for this transaction that customers end up paying.

Find out what you would pay for an international money transfer with Wise:

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Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate along with a small fee mentioned upfront for all transfers. This means you’ll likely be getting better rates for international money transfers, and you’ll know upfront how much each transaction will cost you¹.

Put simply, Wise helps South Africans save money¹ when they need to make international payments to South Africa.

Join Wise!

Dubai visa types and requirements

South Africans who want to move to Dubai can do so on several different visa types.

Work Visa

A work visa enables you to work in the UAE legally. To apply for a work visa, you will need to find a job before you move. This is because your new employer will need to apply for the visa and your subsequent residency permit on your behalf as your sponsor.

Freelance Visa

Professional freelancers in South Africa (or those wishing to become so) can apply for a freelance visa. This allows you to legally provide professional services to clients and conduct business in the UAE.

Investment Visa

For South Africans looking to make a substantial investment in the UAE through opening a business, buying a property etc, an investment visa can be a good option. You can apply for this visa using your property or company as sponsorship.

Green Visa

This new residency programme permits highly skilled foreign individuals to live and work in Dubai without needing a corporate sponsor. Many people can apply for this visa, including freelancers, investors, skilled employees and even PhD students.

Cost of living in Dubai

Comparing the cost of living in Dubai vs South Africa is an important step when thinking about relocating to the city.

The standard of living in Dubai is high, which means the cost of living is also fairly expensive, too. Research shows that Dubai is the 18th most expensive city in the world.⁸

Estimated monthly costs for a single person (without rent)	3,919.1 AED (19,991 ZAR)⁹
Average monthly cost of a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre	7,496.36 AED (38,238 ZAR)⁹
Average monthly cost of a one-bedroom apartment outside the city centre	4,322.76 AED (22,050 ZAR)⁹

It’s worth noting that property prices in Dubai can vary significantly. This is because property types can range from modern city apartments to large luxury villas.

Regardless of property type, all expats will need to register the housing contract in Dubai’s Ejari system to validate the tenancy contract.

How to open a bank account in Dubai?

The large number of expats living in Dubai has positively affected the process of opening a bank account in the city. These days, opening a bank account as a foreign national is pretty straightforward.

Since most banks in the UAE require a bank officer to be present when you sign for a new bank account, opening an account in person is generally easier. However, some banks do allow you to open an account remotely by giving a financial advisor permission to act on your behalf. Not all banks offer this service so it’s advisable to call ahead and check.

You will need to submit the following documents to open a bank account in Dubai:

• Copy of a valid passport
• Original copy of personal bank statements for the last six months
• Proof of address
• Residency visa
• Emirates ID

Some banks might also require:

• An updated CV
• Letter of employment
• Reference letter from your bank in South Africa

Opening a business account in Dubai requires you to submit:

• Valid trade licence
• Certificate of shares
• Company memorandum
• Certificate of incorporation
• Articles of association
• Passport copies of shareholders and shareholders’ signatures

Maintenance fees and charges

There is a standard monthly fee of 30 AED (153 ZAR) charged by banks in the UAE.

Many of the different bank accounts in the UAE also come with specific requirements like minimum balance, minimum income, and minimum deposit. These vary depending on the type of account.

If your account balance falls below the monthly balance limit, the bank will inform you via SMS or email of the penal charge.

For account holders who don’t want to maintain a minimum bank balance, zero-balance savings accounts are popular options.

Finding a job in Dubai

Finding employment in the city is an important part of living in Dubai as a South African, especially since applying for a work visa requires you to find a job before you move.

Given the enormous expat community in Dubai, there are always plenty of positions available for skilled workers looking to relocate. If you’ve got relevant experience and qualifications, you’ll also significantly increase your chances of getting a job in the city.

You might notice that Dubai job adverts ask specifically for gender, age, or nationality. This is normal in the UAE since there aren’t the same discrimination laws in place.

Several online job portals advertise employment positions in Dubai and the UAE:

• BAC Middle East¹⁰
• Akhtaboot¹¹
• Gulf Talent¹²
• Indeed.ae¹³
• Bayt¹⁴
• LinkedIn¹⁵

Requirements for professionals moving to Dubai from South Africa

To apply for a work permit in Dubai as a professional from South Africa, you’ll need to submit the following paperwork:

• Copy of your passport
• Passport-sized photograph
• Copy of your educational certificates (as attested by Embassy of the UAE in South Africa and MOFAIC)

Requirement for students moving to Dubai from South Africa

The high standard of living and incredible after-study job opportunities also makes the city a great choice for South African students looking to study abroad. To be able to apply for a Dubai student visa, the following requirements must be fulfilled:

• Be 18 years or older
• Have an official approval letter from a UAE university
• Obtain a certificate of continued study (for older students)
• Pass several medical tests
• Gain approval from the competent General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs
• Have a visa sponsor from the university or family member
• Graduate with at least 95% from any school (for long-term study visas)

Students also need to submit:

• Personal photo
• Copy of passport
• Acceptance letter from educational institution

Make friends and socialise

Meeting new people and making new friends is extremely easy in Dubai given the sheer number of foreigners living in the city; this big melting pot of cultures gives South African expats the chance to experience a wealth of other cultures from across the world, as well as enjoying Dubai’s unique cultural offering, too.

There are several easy ways to make friends in Dubai:

Use social media

With thousands of community groups on Facebook, expats can meet people interested in the same hobbies and attend the regularly advertised real-life meetups. Some of the best Facebook groups for South African expats include:

• South Africans in Dubai¹⁶
• Dubai Expat Community¹⁷

Join a sports team

Sports teams are also great ways for South Africans living in Dubai to meet new people, and many expats solely join social leagues as a way to make new friends. There are leagues for all levels and abilities, so it doesn’t matter if you’ve never played the sport before, or haven’t exercised for a while.

Find a gym buddy

Gym culture is big in Dubai. Many gyms offer classes or bootcamp programmes which are an easy way to start chatting with new people. If you’re into fitness, finding a gym buddy will help you expand your social circle when you first move to the city.

Healthcare in Dubai

In Dubai, there is both a public and a private healthcare system. However, unless you are part of the 15% of Emirati citizens that make up Dubai’s population, you need to take out private medical cover.

For expats that move to Dubai with a working visa, your new employer is legally required to provide you with basic private health insurance. However, this doesn’t cover your dependents like your partner, children, or parents.

With more than 130 private healthcare facilities in Dubai, accessing great quality healthcare as an expat is easy. These facilities are known for providing foreign nationals with impressive access to a range of specialists and notably shorter wait times than private healthcare in other countries.

Is it worth moving to Dubai from South Africa

When figuring out if it’s worth moving to Dubai from South Africa, there are several advantages and disadvantages to take into consideration. The table below lists various pros and cons of living in Dubai vs South Africa.

Advantages	Disadvantages
85% of Dubai’s population are expats⁵, so making friends is easy.	As the 18th most expensive city in the world, living in Dubai is expensive.⁸
As a leading and innovative business hub, there are always plenty of job opportunities available.	Fewer job discrimination laws mean you might have fewer positions to apply to.
The quality of life in Dubai is very high.	The tropical climate can be difficult, particularly in the summer months.
There are various work visas for highly skilled individuals so gaining a residence permit in Dubai is reasonably straightforward.	Various internet restrictions might make it harder to communicate with those back home.
Dubai offers centrality and a great bouncing-off point to access most parts of the world.	You’ll need to take out separate private medical cover, which comes with its own expenses.

Researching the process of moving to Dubai from South Africa is essential for those interested in relocating. This includes the more complex bureaucratic processes of applying for a visa as a South African national and opening a bank account in Dubai.

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In terms of managing money overseas, Wise is a great money service provider for international⁴ money transfers to South Africa.

Join Wise!

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Sources:

1. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
2. Transaction speed claimed depends on funds availability, approval by Wise’s proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners’ banking system, and may not be available for all transactions.
3. Eligibility is subject to verification of customers identity. Wise may request additional documents to verify a customer's identity.
4. Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visitwww.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
5. Dubai Expat Population
6. Dubai general population
7. Dubai average wage
8. Dubai ranking as 18th most expensive city
9. Cost of living in Dubai
10. https://bacme.com/
11. https://www.akhtaboot.com/en
12. https://www.gulftalent.com/
13. https://ae.indeed.com/
14. https://www.bayt.com/
15. www.linkedin.com
16. https://www.facebook.com/groups/sadxb/
17. https://www.facebook.com/groups/Dubaiexpat/