UAE Inform is an independent guide to living, working and doing business in the United Arab Emirates. Every guide is tied to the authority that publishes the rule — ICP and GDRFA for visas, MOHRE for jobs, the FTA for tax, the CBUAE for banking, the RTA for driving, KHDA and ADEK for schools — and is dated when it is checked, so you get the actual fee, deadline or threshold rather than a rough summary.
New to the UAE? Start with the expat guide. Looking for something specific? Pick a topic below, or look up an acronym like ICP, MOHRE or KHDA in the glossary.
Popular UAE visa status check Good conduct certificate UAE visa rejected
The directory lists businesses, parks, attractions and services city by city. Start with Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, or see the most-used lists: the best running tracks in Dubai and in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi
Qasr Al Hosn
Dubai
Al Fahidi wind towers
Sharjah
The Blue Souk
Ajman
Ajman Museum
Umm Al Quwain
Umm Al Quwain beach
Ras Al Khaimah
Jebel Jais viewpoint
Fujairah
Al Bidya Mosque
Via Wikimedia Commons.
The UAE lets travellers carry controlled medicines for up to three months and ordinary prescriptions for up to six — but only with the right paperwork, and 69 listed substances are banned outright.
Golden and Green visas, family sponsorship, attestation, police clearance, and what to do after a rejection.
Labour Law and MOHRE rules on contracts, salary, leave, gratuity, changing jobs and resigning.
Bank accounts, sending money home, credit cards and loans, mortgages, end-of-service gratuity and investing.
Schools and fees, family neighbourhoods in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, maternity, kids' healthcare and moving with children.
KHDA, ADEK and SPEA school ratings, curricula, application timelines, nurseries and universities.
DHA, DOH and MOHAP, mandatory insurance, hospitals, finding a doctor, medication rules and emergency care.
Licences, traffic fines and black points, Salik and parking, car registration, and Etihad Rail passenger trains.
Rent-increase rules in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, rental disputes and deposits, and setting up utilities.
Company setup, mainland and free zones, corporate tax and e-invoicing, business banking and Emiratisation.
Visa types, Emirates ID, cost of living, renting, public holidays, and choosing between the emirates.
Free running tracks across the emirates, the Dubai Fitness Challenge, and training around the climate.
Plain-language explanations of UAE acronyms and systems — ICP, MOHRE, KHDA, CBUAE, Ejari, Salik and more.
Arabic readers: UAE Inform بالعربية
UAE Inform is an independent, English-language guide to living, working and doing business in the UAE. Its guides cover visas and residency, employment, banking, schools, healthcare, driving, renting and company setup, and each one is tied to the authority that publishes the rule. It is free to read, and nothing requires an account.
Start with the expat guide. It walks through visa types, getting an Emirates ID, opening a bank account, renting, getting a driving licence and choosing between the emirates, and links to the detailed guide for each step.
Use ICP's free File Validity service for visas and entry permits issued in every emirate except Dubai, and the GDRFA Dubai service for Dubai-issued ones. The visa status guide explains both, and what a cancelled status means for you.
New UAE residents apply for an Emirates ID through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). You need a valid residence visa, your passport, and biometric registration at an authorised centre. The Emirates ID guide covers each step.
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