• Qualification certificates and important documents attested, including marriage certificate, birth certificate and divorce papers.

• Have some passport-size photographs taken to bring with you for visas etc.

• Inform banks and the tax office about your move to Abu Dhabi.

• Research schools for children well in advance and get your child’s name on the waiting list.

• Get information about different neighborhoods you might want to live in. You can join some FB groups for different compounds.

• If accommodation is not provided by your employer, arrange temporary accommodation for when you arrive. Lots of serviced apartments in Abu Dhabi.

• Organize a shipping company to move your goods over, and bear in mind it can take two-three months.

Family-friendly compounds in and near Khalifa City:

Khalifa Park and Maqta Area

• Mangrove One

• Bloom Gardens

• Mangrove Village

• Seashore Villas

Khalifa City A

• Al Raha Gardens (closest to GAA)

• Golf Gardens

• Al Forsan Village

• Al Rayyana Complex

Al Raha Beach Area

• Al Muneera (with retail area and private beach)

• Al Zeina (with retail area and private beach)

• Al Faridah (opposite Al Zeina)

• Al Bandar

• Al Hadeel

• Lamar Residences

(more residential buildings have been added to Al Raha Beach area)

Yas Island

• West Yas (villas)

• Yas Acres (villas)

• Ansam (apartments)

• Mayan (apartments)

Check out these websites for different properties:

• https://www.propertyfinder.ae/en/rent/abu-dhabi/properties-for-rent.html 

• https://www.bayut.com/to-rent/property/abu-dhabi/

• https://abudhabi.dubizzle.com/en/property-for-rent/ 

The most common places to get your furniture and household items:

• IKEA

• ACE

• Pottery Barn (expensive)

• West Elm (expensive)

• Marina Home (expensive)

• Home Center

• Jysk

• The One

• Pan Furniture (budget friendly)

• Homes R Us (budget friendly)

A lot of expats are selling furniture and household items on Facebook or Dubizzle. Here are some helpful Facebook groups for selling/buying. Check This Page for more marketplace facebook group:

• Al Zeina, Al Muneera and Al Bander Marketplace

• Al Zeina Marketplace

• Abu Dhabi Marketplace

• Al Raha Gardens Community

• Al Bandar Community

• West Yas Online Market

• Al Muneera Community

Make sure you join your compound's marketplace group on Facebook.

You can buy white goods from any of the big hypermarkets, such as Carrefour, Lulus.

The three-prong British variety, although some appliances can require an adapter because they have round, two-prong European plugs. The voltage in the UAE is 220-240V, which is much higher than in North America (120V). This means many of your US appliances (hair dryers, straighteners, etc.) are better left at home and repurchased in Abu Dhabi. You’ll be able to purchase any appliance easily enough, either at LuLu’s and Carrefour.

ADDC stands for the Abu Dhabi Distribution Company, which is the company that provides your electricity and water. 

ADDC charges a standard rate per unit, currently five fils per unit of electricity and AED 2.2 per unit of water for non-UAE nationals. Your bills are likely to be significantly higher in the hot summer months as air-conditioning is essential, as is a good hose down for any garden you may have.

The process for paying your ADDC bill is simple:

• ADDC calculates your monthly bill by reading the meter on your apartment or villa

• ADDC sends a monthly statement to your company.

• There is a machine in most compounds and malls to pay the utilities bill. 

• You can download your local bank app and register your account number and then each month log in and see how much you owe. This is the easiest because you won’t  have to wait for your bill to figure out how much you owe.

There is no mains gas supply in Abu Dhabi, but some newer apartment buildings supply gas for cooking from central storage tanks on the roof or underground. Gas canisters can be bought for cooking, which generally cost about AED 250 for a new canister and around AED 75 for a refill, depending on size.

Canisters can be bought from local shops, and if you live out of town you’ll hear the gas delivery van’s bell ringing in the morning as it goes on its rounds. You can flag these down or contact companies like Al Ruwais Industrial Gases or Tarish Ateeq Al Qubaisi Gas. These companies will often be able to install your canister too.

Don't forget that once you've moved in, the regular utility bills will need to be paid on time or you risk being cut off. No notice is given, you'll simply find your internet has stopped working or there's no water coming from the taps. Often you can get these reconnected quite quickly, but it can depend on the provider.

Cell Service:

You can purchase a mobile phone and/or sim card before you have your residency visa in your passport. Your mobile phone service will come from the recommended company: DU (https://www.du.ae/personal) or Etisalat (https://www.etisalat.ae/en/index.jsp). Both offer plans or top-up voucher systems, depending on your needs. The good news is that you can easily have a working mobile phone immediately after your arrival, making many other settling-in challenges much, much easier. Once you get your Emirates ID, then you can change to a prepaid plan, but you’re welcome to keep the same number. 

The lowest prepaid plan is AED 49 for 3GB and 30 minutes calls (DU) or AED 42 for 1GB and 60 minutes calls (Etisalat). The lowest postpaid plan is AED 131.25 for 4GB and 100 minutes both by DU and Etisalat. Please keep in mind that postpaid plans require minimum of 12 months commitment. To cancel a postpaid plan before expiry will result in cancellation fee. 

There is also Virgin Mobile, but post-paid plans only.

People here really don’t text, texting costs are not part of the prepaid plans.  Most people will use WhatsApp to message other people.

TV and Internet: 

You won’t be able to arrange for internet access in your home until your residence visa is in your passport, which means it will take a few weeks before you have wireless up and running in your apartment. Sorry, but there are no shortcuts, and this is perhaps one of the greatest initial frustrations most new arrivals have in Abu Dhabi. 

Etisalat is the provider for internet, however, you can’t just get internet, you also have to get cable and a landline.  The cost ranges from 360-1000 AED ($100-275 USD); the speed ranges from 20-100Mbps. 

TV packages also vary (the cheapest package has only a few English channels). Internet can be installed the same day for about  $72 USD extra, otherwise it could take up to a week. Here is a quick walk-through:

Etisalat

• For eLife TV bundles, visit an Etisalat office or Etisalat E-life Website for details

• Technician will come to your house to install box, cables, dish (if required)

• Buy additional decoder for extra sports channels 

• Pay installation charge and monthly subscription charge 

• An SMS will be sent notifying you when subscription is complete

• Etisalat provides tiered basic to premium viewing packages from AED 20-397

DU

• Many new residences are pre-wired for du’s cable TV+ services

• Pay installation charge and cost of set-top box 

• Pay monthly rental fee for decoder

• Pay monthly subscription charges

• du provides tiered basic to premium viewing packages 

• Du offers a box who can provide you just Internet for 199AED/month, BUT you get only 100Mpbs

OSN (a lot more sports/entertainment/movie channels)

• Order OSN box online unless you have already purchased one

• To activate box online, fill in application form at osn.com

• Provide smart card number, decoder number and mobile phone number

• To activate box, call 04 367 7575 

• An SMS will be sent notifying you when subscription is ready

• OSN provides tiered basic to premium viewing packages, the OSN platinum package starts from 396 

IPTV (Internet Protocol Television)

In some Shops in Electra street, you can get an box for IPTV for around 300aed (6 months - and then recharge for another 6 months for around 175aed). To get IPTV you need to have Internet and then you have more then 2 000 channels classified by countries - one of the best and cheaper option in UAE.

The Emirati Dirham is the official currency of the UAE, abbreviated officially as AED. Unofficial abbreviations include Dh and Dhs.

The dirham is divided into 100 fils. Coins are in the following denomination: AED 1, 50 fils, 25 fils and 1 fils.

Notes or bills are in the denomination of AED 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000.

If you would like to have some dirhams on hand then feel free to change some money before you depart your home country. Abu Dhabi and Dubai Airports have Money Exchange points, as well as ATMs.

To open an account in most banks, you will need a residence visa or to have your residence visa application underway. To apply, you will need to submit your original passport, copies of your passport (personal details and visa pages) and an NOC from your sponsor. Some banks set a minimum account limit – this can be anything from AED 2,000 for a deposit account and as much as AED 10,000 for a current account. This means at some point during each month your account balance must be over the minimum limit; but if your wages are paid into this account then for most expats that shouldn’t be a problem.

As you investigate services and rates at different banks, you might enquire about the following:

• Transfer fees–This is important when sending money back to your bank account in your home country.

• Service counters vs. branch offices–While there are many service counters for banks in Yas Mall, not all of these are full service, which means you will sometimes be redirected to a branch of the bank that is located in a different part of Abu Dhabi. This can be frustrating, especially if you don’t own a car!

• Processes for loan applications–If you plan on applying for a car loan, enquire about the process.

• Air miles–It never hurts to earn air miles for using your credit card. Not all banks offer deals like this, so you might want to ask if this is important to you.

There are plenty of ATMs (cash points) available all around Abu Dhabi, even the odd drive-through one, and most cards are compatible with the Central Bank network (some also offer global access links). You may pay a small fee for if you have to use another bank’s ATM but it should never be more than a few dirhams. Even if you use your bank card from your home country, you shouldn't have too many issues using an ATM, although the exchange rate given may not always be favourable.

Any major credit card will work in Abu Dhabi. You will be able to transfer money back to your bank account in your home country once you’ve opened a UAE bank account. It is suggested you contact your credit card provider and notify them of your move to Abu Dhabi so your purchases are not flagged in their system.

When choosing a UAE credit card, you will notice that they come with many benefits, like rewards points that can be converted to miles with Emirates, Etihad, FlyDubai, or used for shopping/booking hotels. Some credit cards can get you discounts in many restaurants.

Some credit cards offer education discounts, such as GEMS Titanium credit card with FAB.

Make sure  you download following useful apps:

• UAE Pass - UAE PASS is the first secure national digital identity for citizens, residents and visitors in UAE, enabling them to access many online services across various sectors, in addition to providing features such as signing and verifying documents digitally, requesting digital versions of official documents, and using the same in applying for services from UAE Pass partners.

• TAMM - TAMM is a state-of-the-art unified digital ecosystem of over 700 government and private sector services that is customer-centric at its core. 

• Abu Dhabi Police: to get weather, traffic warnings; to request move permit during quarantine; to check for traffic fines

• Ministry of Interior (MOI) UAE: for driving license, to pay traffic fines, police clearance certificate

• WAZE: great traffic navigator that also warns about speed  cameras

CHECK THIS PAGE FOR SAVINGS AND SHOPPING USEFULL APPS.

There is currently no traditional postal delivery service to home addresses, although that will hopefully change in the near future with Abu Dhabi’s new street naming scheme. For now, mail has to be delivered to a PO box. Emirates Post can offer individual PO box bundles, with installation of a box to a specific villa, to a building or in a residential compound. Customers can also use the more traditional method of having a PO Box at one of Empost's own post offices.

Your Own PO Box

To get your own PO box, fill in an application form at your nearest post office and pay the annual fee of AED 200. You will be given a set of keys (AED10 per key) to access your own box. Empost will send you notification by email when you receive registered mail or parcels in your PO box. Be warned that you might have to pay customs charges on international packages. Many people have their post sent to their work PO box instead of arranging a private one. Letters and packages do occasionally go missing and, if the item has not been registered, there’s little that you can do apart from wait – some turn up months after they’re expected.

Delivery Services

Empost offers a courier service for both local and international deliveries, with delivery times guaranteed and packages that can be tracked. Registered mail is a relatively inexpensive alternative and can also be tracked via a reference number. All the major international courier services deliver to Abu Dhabi, including DHL, FedEx, UPS and Aramex, and all of them will deliver to your door. If you are expecting a package, make sure the person sending it has included the correct phone number, as that is often the only way for a courier to find your location.

Be careful when ordering vitamins/medication from outside UAE using normal delivery service. Even a vitamin package may be withheld by Customs until declared by customer. It is best to use Aramex (Shop&Ship) when ordering these items to avoid the problems.

When you first arrive in Abu Dhabi, and if you are still on a visit visa, you can rent a vehicle providing you have a valid driving licence from your home country. In this instance, your car insurance and other costs, excluding fuel, will be covered by the car hire company. GEMS Rewards offers great deals with rental companies.

Once you have your residence visa you MUST apply for a UAE driving licence whether you are driving a rental car or your own vehicle.

The first thing you need to know is that if you’re a resident you can’t hit the roads with any licence other than an Abu Dhabi version. If you're visiting it is possible to use your international licence, you will need to consult the rental company you’re getting your vehicle from before hiring. However, if you're a resident and you have a licence from one of the countries below you're in luck, as it’s a relatively simple process:

• GCC countries

• Australia

• Austria

• Belgium

• Canada

• Denmark

• Finland

• France

• Germany

• Greece

• Hong Kong                                                                                                                                                         

• Ireland

• Italy

• Japan

• Netherlands

• New Zealand

• Norway

• Poland

• Portugal

• Romania

• South Africa

• Spain

• South Korean

• Sweden

• Switzerland

• Turkey

• UK

• USA

The driving licence must be valid or within one year of expiry and the applicant must be a citizen of the country where the licence was registered. If your country does not feature on the above list, you'll need to follow the ‘No licence at all’ procedure by visit www.edcad.ae/Default. If the licence you hold is from a country not featured on the above list, it is not eligible and that means that you will be required to sit and pass the theoretical and practical driving tests here in the UAE.

Converting Licence: The next steps, translation and documentation

First you'll have to get your printed driving license translated into Arabic. You can do that at any official typing or translation centre in the city. Before paying for translation services, make sure to research if the translation centre you visit is licensed and recognised by the Ministry of Interior. 

The next step, once translation is completed, is to visit the Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Department with all of the following documents:

• A passport photo

• Original and one copy of your passport

• Emirates ID

• Original and one copy of your foreign driving licence

• One copy of your valid Abu Dhabi residency visa

• A letter of no objection from your current employer or your visa sponsor

• An Arabic translation of your existing licence (which can be obtained at any translation outlet).

When you visit the licencing centre, you will be sent to take an eye test in a nearby building.

If that’s successful you’ll pay Dhs100 before being sent to collect your Abu Dhabi licence.

The whole process (including eye test and translation fees) will cost up to AED 800.

Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Department, Mussafah CAD (800 3333).

What to do if you have no licence at all

If you’re 18 years old and starting from square one, you will need to obtain a learning permit before you can get your motoring career into first gear. To do this, you need will first need to sit a theory test.

The first step is to go to Emirates Driving Company (EDC) (www.edcad.ae) and open a driving file.

Documents required to open a traffic file include:

• A copy of your passport and residence visa page

• A copy and original Emirates ID card

• Two photographs

• An eye test report

• No objection letter from your sponsor.

This will enable you to participate in theoretical courses and the test itself.

EDC administers courses on the eight units you need to pass before you can get your driving licence. These courses can be taken online.

The eight lessons are:

• Lesson one: Traffic rules, road markings and road signs

• Lesson two: Inside city limits

• Lesson three: Outside city limits

• Lesson four: Driving under difficult conditions

• Lesson five: Dealing with critical situations

• Lesson six: Driving behaviour and road manners

• Lesson seven: Vehicle knowledge

• Lesson eight: Safety

Once the classes are complete – each over a two-hour period – trainees sit a theoretical test so they can apply for a learning permit.

After the learning permit is obtained, drivers can start putting their theory into practice by taking lessons.

The number of lessons is dependent on the driver’s capability but is generally 30 hours for complete beginners, 20 hours for intermediate learners or ten hours for more advanced driving students.

The lessons are conducted in a contained environment within a driving rink.

Once you are ready to take the practical test, administered by the Emirates Driving Company, your instructor will give you a “certificate of readiness”, which you must present to the Emirates Driving Company before you can book your practical test.

Once you pass your practical driving test on the roads you’ll get a certificate, then you can take that to the Drivers and Licensing Department in Mussafah as proof of your completion.

Once there, you’ll be able to get your licence as described in the previous sections above in this article.

Renewing a driver's licence

There are different terms to renewing your UAE licence. UAE and GCC citizens can renew their licence every 10 years whereas for foreign expats the licence renewal term is five years and can be applied for online here

A one-year renewal costs Dhs100 and multi-year licence renewal will set you back Dhs300.

Drivers have a one month grace period to renew their licence. Failure to so do will lead to a Dhs10 fine every month the licence has not been updated. 

Emirates Driving Company, Musaffah, www.edcad.com (02 551 1911).

Buying a car in Abu Dhabi

Since you can’t buy a car until you have your residency visa, there is no need to rush this decision. The best source of information about buying a car will be to begin your search on Dubizzle, a website where Abu Dhabi residents post free classified ads. At the very least, Dubizzle will give you a frame of reference for how much cars cost in Abu Dhabi. It is also very easy to purchase new and used cars from dealerships, if you know the make and model of the car you want. Stay on the lookout for discounts/deals during Ramadan.

Arranging for Car Insurance

You will need insurance as soon as you purchase your car. There are insurance brokers on-site at the government office where you register the car. Most insurance agencies now let you request a quote online, and there’s a multitude of choice out there from local companies such as AWNIC to international favourites, AXA, RSA and Zurich. If you’re driving to Oman you will need additional cover, which can be part of your annual insurance or purchased ad hoc.

Getting Gas in Abu Dhabi

ADNOC petrol stations have both Self Service and Full Service (by attendant). There are only 2 types of petrol:  Special (cheapest one - it is 95 octane) and Super (more expensive one - 98 octane). The petrol price is the same everywhere (even in other Emirates). It changes monthly based on crude oil prices.

Self-service: When you put in your credit card, you will be asked to put in an amount. This is just “preauthorization”. If you are filling it up, you will only be charged for what is actually spent, not what you preauthorized.  

Full Service: The attendant will come and ask if you want to pay by cash or card. He will fill your gas tank. He will also ask if you want your windows cleaned.  Typically you tip at this point, but not necessary.

Note:  Many people in Abu Dhabi do not turn off their cars when filling up on gas, especially in hot months, but it is recommended.

Fuel Delivery: Residents in Abu Dhabi can have their vehicles refueled on their doorstep through Adnoc Distribution's 'My Station'. A customer can pick time and location to avail this mobile fueling service. Now available in Abu Dhabi Island, Al Maryah, and Al Reem Island from 7 am to 11 pm. Dial 800-300 or 0547929411 to order fuel.

Maintenance and Repairs

Major body and structural repairs can only be completed with an accident report form from the Traffic Police. However, minor repairs like dent and scratch removals, do not need one. Your insurance company will send you to a particular garage or give a selection of preferred garages, and you will likely have an excess to pay of around AED 250-500, depending on your policy. If your car is new or still within warranty, make sure the insurance covers ‘agency repairs’ – repairs at the workshop of the dealer selling the car. Non-agency repairs may invalidate your vehicle’s warranty.

Like in any country, it’s also worth keeping your new car serviced with the agency (dealer), as this keeps your vehicle more desirable for prospective buyers. For older cars, many ADNOC service stations now offer a lubrication service where you can get a drive-in, drive-out oil change. Mussafah also has a concentration of small workshops where tyres, oil changes, air-conditioning re-charges and new batteries can be found. In fact, car batteries don’t always cope well with the heat in the UAE and it’s not uncommon to return to your car and find the battery completely dead. Services such as Dial-A-Battery can come to you 24 hours a day in Abu Dhabi, or Dubai, and replace your dead battery with a correctly rated new one. Many companies will come to you to switch your battery.  Call several of them since their prices do vary.  Some will negotiate.  

• 800 Car Guru: +971 56 712 8666 

• Battery & Wheels: +971 56 799 2500

Motorists involved in minor accidents or who faced car trouble will not have to worry about spending so much on those immediate repairs. The Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi announced that it will provide road assistance to motorists for free. The department urged motorists to avail the service by calling 800 888 88 or 999. “The new service is part of Abu Dhabi’s vision to improve traffic flow and infrastructure in the emirate,” it said.

Toll Gates

Abu Dhabi established toll gates between the suburbs (ie Khalifa City) and downtown.  If you are using a car, you need to have your car registered so that you can be automatically billed when you pass through.  You can go here to find out more:  Toll Gates

Salik (Dubai toll gates)

If you want to go to Dubai, you will need to buy a Salik Toll Pass at ADNOC. To initially get the toll pass, you will need to go to a specific ADNOC (the best one is located near the embassy, near the police college; you want the one on Sultan Bin Zayed the First Street if you’re coming from Mawgab St.). You can renew/refill the pass online or at most ADNOC stations. You can also refill on the app Dubai Now.  If you are staying the night in Dubai, make sure you have your passports for you and your family; the hotel might require it.  Emirates ID should also work.  

Parking (Mawaqif)

You can register your car by visiting www.mpark.mawaqif.ae Once you register your vehicle and add money, you can begin paying your parking with an SMS. As it is linked to the vehicle number, anyone driving it can pay parking by sms (not only the owner).

Go to the mawaqif how it works page for detailed directions: https://www.mpark.mawaqif.ae/howitworks.jsp 

On public holidays parking may be free, as well as on Sundays.

What should I do if I’m ever in an accident?

If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident or have any other emergency, call 999 for an ambulance or police response. If you have a local mobile, they will send you an SMS with your case number and the unit number that is responding to you. The response is usually fast–10 minutes or less for police, 15 minutes or less for an ambulance.

Other Driving Tips & Warnings

• Do NOT drink and drive! This is taken very seriously and the penalties are severe. Please familiarize yourself with the UAE zero tolerance policy regarding drugs and alcohol.

• Don’t run red lights! In lots of countries drivers push the limits of yellow stop lights. You’ll notice quickly very few drivers do so in Abu Dhabi. The fine is very large and your car gets impounded too.  The general rule is to stop on blinking green lights.

• Watch out for speed cameras! You might notice the flash, but you’ll definitely know that you received a speeding ticket when you receive a message from the Abu Dhabi Police a few hours later. You’ll realize soon enough where the speed cameras are, but in the meantime, take care.

• Hold your temper! There are sometimes crazy drivers on Abu Dhabi’s roads. While you may be irritated by someone cutting you off or not signaling, do your best to hold your temper.

• Use your hazard light for unexpected stops or slowing.  This is so drivers behind you know to slow down.

• Check out this link for UAE Traffic Laws and fines

Getting around by Bus

Taking a bus is the most affordable option. Inner city fares are a flat AED 2. To ride from the city to one of the suburbs adds an additional five fils per kilometre, which averages at about AED 5 for each journey. IMPORTANT: you cannot purchase the tickets on the bus, you have to have your ticket with you to enter the bus.

The main bus station in Abu Dhabi is on Hazza bin Zayed Road next to Al Wahda Mall and there are clearly marked bus stops with air-conditioned shelters on nearly every major road on the island.

For tickets and routes check this link: https://itc.gov.ae/Transport-in-Abu-Dhabi/Public-Transport/Buses#buses-publications_e=0 

Getting around by Taxi / Uber / Careem

The simplest and most inexpensive way to get around Abu Dhabi is by taxi. You can flag a taxi from the street or find one easily enough at any mall or hotel, and right outside your compound. Taxis are generally clean and you only pay what is on the meter, usually by cash. No matter which taxi you get, it is the same price within Abu Dhabi. Families living in residential neighborhoods away from GAA can book taxis by calling 600 53 53 53 or use the Abu Dhabi Taxi app. 

• there is a min fare of 12 dhs

• When you enter in a Taxi, the Starting fee is 5 dhs

• If you call the taxi by phone or app.

• You can't pay a taxi by Credit card - only cash or through the app and a QR code

Uber and Careem may be slightly more expensive than Abu Dhabi taxi, but definitely better service and can be paid by card using their app. 

Renting a car in Abu Dhabi

You won’t be able to buy a car until you have your residence visa. Thus, if your accommodations are not within walking distance to the school, you will need to rent a car for the first month or two you are in Abu Dhabi. Most rental agencies offer discounted rates for longer-term rentals, so you should be able to arrange for a reasonably-priced vehicle for your first few weeks in Abu Dhabi. All of the major car rental agencies are in Abu Dhabi (Avis, Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty, Hertz, etc.). Make sure to check GEMS Rewards App for any special deals.

Long Term Lease:  You can also do long-term lease options through the rental agencies if you did not buy a car and do not want to deal with the hassle during departure. Your valid International license is acceptable to rent a car.

Women can wear form fitting clothing; not everything has to be loose. Sleeveless shirts can be worn, but in the mall, you may be asked to wear something around your shoulders. Length of dresses/skirts/shorts should be at least to the knee. Not to say that you won’t see women in shorter dresses, but they’re definitely noticed and stick out. At the beach, you are welcome to wear what you like, although in public beaches it is recommended to dress modest swimming suits, however, as soon as you get off the beach, you are expected to cover up. Keep in mind that even on the beach you may experience some stares if you are wearing something revealing, such as a bikini. Men are able to dress a bit more freely, though most restaurants will expect you to wear long pants and cover your shoulders.

IMPORTANT: To enter any government building (ie police, immigration, any ministry) you must dress modestly - no shorts, short skirts/dresses, uncovered shoulders will be welcome.

• What is the Holy Month of Ramadan?

For over one billion people throughout the world, Ramadan is a very special time of the year. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and during this month, people of the Muslim faith fast from dawn to dusk every day.

• When does the Holy Month of Ramadan begin?

Muslims follow the Islamic lunar calendar, which is about eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. The beginning of the Islamic lunar months depends on the actual sighting of the new moon. Thus Ramadan begins on a different day each year and moves forward.

• Are Non-Muslims required to follow practices of the Holy Month of Ramadan?

Islam is a tolerant religion and respects people of all cultures, races and religions. Non-Muslims are not expected to follow Islamic traditions during the month of Ramadan. Non-Muslims are asked to refrain from consuming food, drinks, chewing gum and smoking in public during the fasting hours of the day (dawn to dusk).

• May non-Muslims experience the Holy Month of Ramadan traditions?

Ramadan is a time when friends and families come together and community ties are strengthened. When not in a COVID-19 lockdown, there are generally a myriad of options available to residents and visitors. Muslims welcome guests of all religions and cultures and encourage them to learn more about Islam. For this reason, hotels have special Iftar (break of fast) gatherings and dinners at various restaurants available for guests and the general public. They feature special Ramadan tents, which open after the break of fast at sundown. Carpets, large pillows and cushions are placed on the floor for guests to experience true Arabian hospitality. Traditional Arabic food and drink are enjoyed as well as music and hospitality.

• Can I eat and drink during the day and where can I get food and drink?

It is discouraged for non-muslims to eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours during the Ramadan time, even travelling in a bus or car. Supermarkets and service stations are open with food and drink available for purchase but no one is to consume in the place of purchase, in public, or in your car during the day. However, since 2020 the restrictions have been lifted and all restaurants and cafes are open during daylight and not covered. Most expats will still not eat/drink in public out of respect for our Muslim residents.

• What about dress code during the Holy Month of Ramadan?

Non-Muslims are advised to wear conservative clothing during the month of Ramadan as a sign of respect. 

• Are there any changes in working/business hours?

According to the Labor laws, all companies are obliged to shorten the working day by two hours in Ramadan time in UAE. Many businesses, schools and shops change their hours slightly. The city tends to be very quiet during the day and night - time activity increases during Ramadan in Abu Dhabi.

• Is everything closed during the day?

No, not everything is closed during Ramadan. Opening and closing hours do change during the month as opposed to the other days of the year for offices and shops but they are usually open as normal with a short break of approximately half an hour to an hour after breaking fast and remain open until as late as midnight. Please refer to government social media and news for any updates on opening restrictions.

For further etiquette for Ramadan, please refer to https://www.timeoutdubai.com/ramadan/353026-howshould-you-behave-during-ramadan-rules-and-etiquette-guide 

Plan about 4-6 months ahead, because some shots must be done early, or your pet will need to be kenneled for a certain amount of time. Flying your cat/dog to Abu Dhabi can be very expensive and complicated ($4-5,000 USD). There are many companies that can fly your pet, but a relatively inexpensive one is www.jet-a-pet.com  (Leigh Kovarik -  Leigh@jet-a-pet.com)  Your pet will more than likely be flown into Dubai, but can be delivered to your home in Abu Dhabi. They do all the paperwork for you.  Another option is to fly to Oman, but the process is more complicated.

Some more pet relocation companies:

• German Vet

• American Vet

Pets may be imported into the UAE without quarantine as long as they are microchipped and vaccinated with verifying documentation, including a government health certificate from the country of origin; however, you’ll also need an import permit. You cannot import cats and dogs under four months old and all pets must arrive as manifest cargo with a valid rabies vaccination more than 21 days before their arrival. Imports from some countries will also be subjected to a rabies test. For more information visit https://www.moccae.gov.ae/assets/5064985a/pet-import-permit-dogs-and-cats.aspx 

Banned Breeds

There are certain breeds of dog that are banned from being imported into the UAE: pit bull terriers, Argentinean and Brazilian mastiffs, Japanese tosa inu, American Staffordshire terriers, Rottweilers and any wolf hybrids; the UAE also bans any dogs crossed with any of the banned breeds listed. There are other breeds which, while not banned outright, have restrictions on them too. Make sure you check with the Municipality before you embark on the process. 

1. Washmen

We don’t know where we’d be without the Washmen, who’ll pick up a bag of laundry and deliver it all cleaned and pressed within a couple of days.

2. Justmop

Nothing beats coming home to a spotless apartment and, with Justmop, you can book a cleaner quickly and easily for just Dhs35 an hour. You can even pay using your card directly through the app, so you don’t even need to worry about having cash on hand.

3. Helpling ME

The service is offered for Dh35 per hour, with a three-hour minimum, and charges for extras such as ironing or cleaning out the stove or refrigerator. You can even pay for the staff extra to bring their own cleaning materials, and it is easy to order cleaners on a one-time or recurring basis, either weekly or every other week.

It is getting more and more difficult to sponsor domestic help on your own.  In order to avoid scams, we encourage to go through TADBEER (Domestic Help Agency) to hire their domestic help.  In general, the cost to sponsor a nanny on your own is $600-950 USD/month depending on if they are live-in or not.  It is more expensive if they live out.  There are still lots of questions about this process; please be patient during this transition.  

• If you would still like to try to sponsor a nanny on your own,  some Facebook groups have a list of maids that are looking for jobs (make sure you put down Abu Dhabi) - The Original Mary Poppins UAE; Nannies and Maids UAE; HouseMaid, Nanny in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Make sure to check your residential Facebook groups, where leaving expats announce available maids/nannies.

• For more information about how to sponsor on your own, check out official UAE Government page on hiring domestic workers.  

• If you want just a weekly maid service, the cost is usually 140 AED/$40 USD for 4 hours of cleaning (i.e. Spring Cleaning at 055-112-4624, Just Mop, Solutions).

There are many nursery programs around GAA to help teach and supervise our kiddos under 4yo.  We are providing you with several options so you can choose the best one for your family.

Some of these nurseries have multiple locations around Abu Dhabi.  

• Bright Kids Nursery - 971 56 359 5353

• Kids Academy - 971 2 557 7636

• Learning Spaces Nursery - 971 2 556 6135, 971 50 648 9631  

• Little Smarties Nursery & Preschool - 971 2 556 5500

• Odyssey Nursery - 971 2 665 5994, 971 56 484 5510

• Redwood Montessori Nursery - 971 2 556 4611, 971 56 196 8807

• StarFish Lane Kids Nursery - 971 2 667 5877, 971 56 463 5187

• Sunny Meadows Nursery - 971 2 445 5530

• The Windsor Early Years Nursery  - 971 2 557 9295

• Treehouse Nursery - 971 2 556 0556, 971 55 837 8430