For Indian IT professionals
Moving to Dubai from India (2026)
Short answer
Bengaluru Dubai
about 4 hours · Dubai is 1.5 hours behind
Your visa as an Indian passport holder
- 1
Job offer
Your employer applies for your entry permit
- 2
Entry permit
Valid 60 days. You fly in on it
- 3
Medical test and Emirates ID
In your first two weeks
- 4
Residence visa
2 years, renewable
Indian passport: you need your employer's entry permit before you fly, unless you hold a US visa or green card, or a residence permit or visa from the UK or the EU (then you can get a short visit permit, and your employer changes your status in the UAE).
- 1
Accept the offer
You sign the MOHRE offer letter. Check the basic salary, allowances and who pays the visa: by law, your employer does, and can't charge you for it.
- 2
Your employer applies for the entry permit
They apply for a work permit and an entry permit. You send a passport copy, photo and your attested degree.
- 3
Fly to Dubai
You travel on the entry permit, which lets you stay 60 days while the residence is done (or on a visit visa if your passport allows it; the employer then changes your status inside the country).
- 4
Medical test and Emirates ID
A medical fitness test at an approved centre, then fingerprints for your Emirates ID, soon after you arrive.
- 5
Residence visa and labour contract
Your residence is issued and linked to your Emirates ID. Your employer registers the labour contract with MOHRE within 60 days of your entry.
- 6
Sponsor your family
Once your residence is issued, you can sponsor your spouse and children if you meet the salary rule.
Documents to prepare in India
- A job offer on the MOHRE offer form, signed by you and your employer
- A passport valid for at least 6 months
- Your degree certificate, attested at home and in the UAE (skill levels 1 and 2 need a bachelor's degree)
- A medical fitness test and biometrics for your Emirates ID after you arrive
- Marriage and birth certificates, attested the same way, if your family will join you
Salary: Dubai vs India
| Role | In India (before tax) | In Dubai (no income tax) |
|---|---|---|
| Software engineer | ₹17 LPA | AED 30,500 / month ≈ ₹95 LPA |
| Senior backend engineer | ₹36 LPA | AED 29,000 / month ≈ ₹90 LPA |
| Data engineer | ₹16 LPA | AED 29,500 / month ≈ ₹92 LPA |
Medians. India figures for Bengaluru. After India's new-regime income tax, ₹36 LPA leaves about ₹2.4 lakh a month; in Dubai the whole salary is yours.
Cost of living: Dubai vs Bengaluru
A family of three, a month
| Bengaluru | Dubai | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (2-bed flat) | ₹32,000 | AED 7,500 (≈ ₹1.9 lakh) |
| School fees (one child) | ₹24,000 | AED 3,850 (≈ ₹99,900) |
| Groceries | ₹36,000 | AED 3,150 (≈ ₹81,700) |
| Transport | ₹3,000 | AED 2,750 (≈ ₹71,300) |
| Total | about ₹1.2 lakh | AED 21,700 (≈ ₹5.6 lakh) |
A senior engineer on AED 36,500 (≈ ₹9.5 lakh) keeps about AED 14,800 (≈ ₹3.8 lakh) a month after family costs.
The full budget for a family of threeGetting a job from India
Apply from India
Most employers interview on video, and many hire straight from India. Look for jobs that say the visa is provided.
Use a Gulf-style CV
Two pages, with your notice period, visa status and nationality near the top.
Watch for fake offers
Never pay a recruiter or a “visa fee” to get a job. Real employers pay for your visa.
Degree attestation
Your employer needs your degree attested for the work permit. Allow 2–8 weeks.
- Step 1: State HRD or notary
- Step 2: MEA attestation
- Step 3: UAE embassy in India
- Step 4: MOFA in the UAE
Degree attestation, step by step: time, cost and doing it from abroad
Check the current process with the Ministry of External Affairs and your employer.
CBSE and Indian-curriculum schools
- Fees from AED 2,793 a year (≈ ₹72,500)
- Schools in International City, Downtown Dubai, Discovery Gardens, Business Bay, Jumeirah Village Circle, Al Nahda, Dubai Hills Estate, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Mirdif and Motor City
- Rated by the KHDA every year
- GEMS Modern AcademyAED 30,272–63,792 ≈ ₹7.9–16.6 lakh a year · International City
- GEMS Our Own Indian SchoolAED 7,043–14,359 ≈ ₹1.8–3.7 lakh a year · Downtown Dubai
- Delhi Private SchoolAED 10,883–15,234 ≈ ₹2.8–4.0 lakh a year · Discovery Gardens
- JSS Private SchoolAED 11,866–25,769 ≈ ₹3.1–6.7 lakh a year · Business Bay
- JSS International SchoolAED 16,362–42,695 ≈ ₹4.2–11.1 lakh a year · Jumeirah Village Circle
- The Millenium SchoolAED 17,858–26,259 ≈ ₹4.6–6.8 lakh a year · Al Nahda
- GEMS New Millennium SchoolAED 22,612–32,787 ≈ ₹5.9–8.5 lakh a year · Dubai Hills Estate
- The Indian International School (Dso Branch)AED 9,679–21,000 ≈ ₹2.5–5.4 lakh a year · Dubai Silicon Oasis
- Pearl Wisdom SchoolAED 15,712–19,570 ≈ ₹4.1–5.1 lakh a year · Al Nahda
- Sabari Indian SchoolAED 15,730–19,141 ≈ ₹4.1–5.0 lakh a year · Al Nahda
- Amity SchoolAED 16,313–32,627 ≈ ₹4.2–8.5 lakh a year · Al Nahda
- Global Indian International SchoolAED 22,378–41,029 ≈ ₹5.8–10.6 lakh a year · Downtown Dubai
- Crescent English SchoolAED 2,793–10,136 ≈ ₹0.7–2.6 lakh a year · Al Nahda
- The Central SchoolAED 4,081–7,183 ≈ ₹1.1–1.9 lakh a year · Al Nahda
- Buds Public SchoolAED 8,356–14,920 ≈ ₹2.2–3.9 lakh a year · Mirdif
- Woodlem Park SchoolAED 12,312–23,598 ≈ ₹3.2–6.1 lakh a year · Al Nahda
- Dhruv Global schoolAED 18,000–24,000 ≈ ₹4.7–6.2 lakh a year · Motor City
Questions
Can I move to Dubai from India without a job?
You can go on a visit visa or a job-seeker visa to look for work, but you can't work until an employer sponsors your employment visa. Most people apply from India and move with an offer.
What is a good salary in Dubai for an Indian family?
A family of three spends about AED 21,700 a month, including a 2-bed flat and one school place. To live comfortably and save a fifth of your pay, aim for about AED 27,000 a month.
Is my Dubai salary taxed in India?
Usually not, if you become a non-resident Indian (NRI). Broadly, you're non-resident for the year if you spend fewer than 182 days in India, with stricter rules if your Indian income is high. Income you earn in India, such as rent, is still taxed there. Check with a tax adviser for your case.
Do I need my degree attested?
Yes, for most work permits. The usual order is your state (HRD) or a notary, then the Ministry of External Affairs, then the UAE embassy in India, and finally the UAE foreign ministry after you arrive. Allow 2–8 weeks.
This is guidance, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; check u.ae, the MEA and the Income Tax Department before you act.
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