v256.0 · relocation checklist · US → AE · verified 2026-04
United States to UAE — relocation checklist
15-step ordered checklist covering visa, banking, healthcare, housing, taxes, schooling, shipping, and pets. Written for the US citizen / professional / founder seeking 0% personal income tax + Golden Visa pathway.
From
Total cost
USD 8,000-25,000 — visa, shipping, deposits, school
Timeline
10-16 weeks pre-arrival, 4-6 weeks post-arrival
Typical profile for this pair
US citizen / professional / founder seeking 0% personal income tax + Golden Visa pathway
Step-by-step checklist (15 steps)
Pre-departure (12-16 weeks out)
- Choose visa — Golden Visa (AED 2M property/investment or AED 30K/month salary), Employment, Investor, Freelance Permit (free-zone)
Pre-departure (10-14 weeks out)
- Golden Visa: investment proof gathering; Employment: employer files via Tasheel
Pre-departure (8-12 weeks out)
- Attested educational + experience certificates — USDA Apostille
Pre-departure (6-10 weeks out)
- FBI background check + Apostille
Pre-departure (4-8 weeks out)
- US tax planning — Form 8854 if intending eventual expatriation; FEIE ($126,500/$130,000 for 2024/2025)
Pre-departure (2-4 weeks out)
- Ship household goods — sea freight LA/NY to Jebel Ali 25-35 days, USD 5,000-12,000 for 20ft
Pre-departure (1-2 weeks out)
- Pet — UAE permit + microchip + rabies + ISO 11784 + USDA APHIS 7001 (USD 1,500-3,500)
Arrival (Week 1)
- Medical fitness + Emirates ID biometrics
Arrival (Week 1-2)
- Ejari rental contract registration
Arrival (Week 2-3)
- Open bank (Emirates NBD, FAB, Mashreq) with Emirates ID + Ejari + salary cert/investment proof
Arrival (Week 2-4)
- Utilities (DEWA / ADDC) + mobile (Etisalat, du) + internet
Arrival (Week 3-4)
- Children — American School of Dubai, Dubai American Academy, Dubai International Academy, Repton, Brighton College Abu Dhabi
Arrival (Week 4-6)
- Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) from UAE FTA — 90-day or 183-day basis
Arrival (Month 2-3)
- US 1040 + Form 2555 (FEIE); Form 8938 + FBAR for foreign accounts >$10K
Ongoing
- Golden Visa renewable every 10 years; UAE citizenship very rare
Cost breakdown
| Golden Visa (AED 2M investment route) | AED 3,000-15,000 + investment |
| Medical + Emirates ID | AED 1,500 |
| Ejari + first month rent + deposit (Dubai 2BR) | AED 20,000-50,000 |
| Shipping (sea freight 20ft) | USD 5,000-12,000 |
| School (per child, K-12) | AED 30,000-100,000/year |
| Pet relocation | USD 1,500-3,500 |
⚠ Gotchas + watch-outs
- US CITIZENSHIP-BASED TAXATION — must file 1040 even at $0 US income
- FEIE $126,500 (2024) / $130,000 (2025); use Form 2555
- FBAR + Form 8938 for foreign accounts >$10K (penalty $10K+ per miss)
- Renunciation triggers IRC §877A exit tax for "covered expatriates" (net worth >$2M)
- UAE Corporate Tax 9% (June 2023+) for businesses outside qualifying Free Zone
- Some US banks close accounts of UAE residents — keep Schwab/Fidelity in place
Official sources
- UAE GDRFA — https://www.gdrfad.gov.ae/
- IRS FEIE Form 2555 — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-2555
- UAE FTA — https://tax.gov.ae/
See also: United States profile · United Arab Emirates profile · all relocation checklists · United Arab Emirates digital nomad visa · United Arab Emirates tax residency · United Arab Emirates banking · United Arab Emirates healthcare
Last verified 2026-04. Immigration, tax, and banking rules change frequently — verify with official sources before acting.