United Arab Emirates (AE)
The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates — Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah — that has transformed from a pearl-diving and fishing economy into one of the world's most modern and cosmopolitan nations within a single generation.
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Region: Middle East
Language: Arabic
Currency: AED (د.إ)
Cost of living: Expensive (index 78)
Emergency: 999
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Professional Services
Finding lawyers, accountants, doctors and other professionals in United Arab Emirates.
The UAE professional services market is large and competitive. Always verify licences through the relevant authority (DHA for healthcare, RERA for property, DED/free zone for business). Be wary of commission-driven advisers in financial services — the UAE market has historically had issues with expats being sold inappropriate high-commission investment products. The DIFC/ADGM-regulated sector generally has higher professional standards due to common law regulatory framework. Request references and check Google Reviews for individual practitioners.
Language options: English is the primary business language for professional services across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Most professionals working with expatriates are English-speaking. Arabic is necessary for some government interactions and for lower-level services. Many professionals also speak Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog, or other widely-spoken UAE languages.
Lawyer / Legal Adviser
AED 500–2,000/hour (associate); AED 2,000–5,000+/hour (partner at major firm). Employment dispute initial consultation: AED 500–1,500. Will drafting (DIFC): AED 3,000–7,000 total. How to find: Dubai Legal Affairs Department (legalaffairs.gov.ae) maintains a directory of licensed lawyers. DIFC Courts (difccourts.ae) for common law matters. Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (adjd.gov.ae). Law Society of England and Wales — some UAE firms employ UK-qualified solicitors.
Dubai Legal Affairs DepartmentAbu Dhabi Judicial Department — Licensed AdvocatesDIFC Courts legal directory
💡 Choose a lawyer familiar with your specific issue: UAE mainland law, free zone law, DIFC/ADGM common law, personal status law, or immigration law are all different specialisations. Many UK law firms (Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, Herbert Smith) have UAE offices for corporate matters.
Tax Adviser / Accountant
VAT return filing: AED 500–2,000/quarter. Corporate tax preparation: AED 5,000–20,000+/year. Personal financial planning: AED 1,000–3,000/session. How to find: UAE has Big 4 accounting firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) and many boutique tax advisory firms. FTA-registered tax agents required for VAT/corporate tax filing. ACCA and CPA-qualified accountants widely available.
Federal Tax Authority (FTA) — Registered Tax Agents (tax.gov.ae)ACCA UAEICAEW UAE
💡 For personal tax affairs (e.g., UK/US tax obligations while in UAE), seek a specialist in cross-border taxation. UAE-based accountants may not be familiar with your home country's tax obligations. UK residents in the UAE should consult a UK-specialist accountant regarding non-resident tax status.
Financial Adviser
Initial consultation: AED 500–1,500. Ongoing advice: AED 5,000–15,000+/year (fee-based) or commission-based (free initial but ongoing commission from products). How to find: DIFC-regulated financial advisers offer stronger consumer protection. Non-DIFC advisers are regulated by Central Bank UAE. Search via DFSA (dfsa.ae) register for DIFC-authorised firms.
DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority)FSRA (Abu Dhabi Global Market Financial Services Regulatory Authority)CISI UAE chapter
💡 Be cautious of commission-based advisers pushing investment-linked insurance products (ILPs) — these often have very high charges. Seek fee-only independent financial advisers. Verify the adviser is licensed via DFSA or CBUAE register. Particularly important for pension planning, as there is no UAE state pension for expats.
Estate Agent / Property Consultant
Rental: 5% of annual rent (paid by tenant, typically 2–5% in Dubai). Sales commission: 2% (seller pays, standardised in Dubai). Property management: 5–8% of annual rent. How to find: RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority) registers all Dubai estate agents. ADREK for Abu Dhabi. Always verify an agent is RERA-certified before paying any fees.
RERA Dubai (rera.gov.ae)ADREK Abu DhabiDubai Land Department (dubailand.gov.ae)
💡 Only deal with RERA-registered agents in Dubai. Verify agent's BRN (Broker Registration Number) on DLD website. Avoid agents who ask for commission before showing properties or signing agreements.
Employment lawyer / MOHRE adviser
AED 500–2,000/hour for employment lawyers. MOHRE complaint filing: free. Employment contract review: AED 1,500–4,000. How to find: Dubai Legal Affairs Department (legalaffairs.gov.ae) or Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (adjd.gov.ae) for lawyers specialising in UAE labour law. MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation — mohre.gov.ae) provides free labour mediation via its complaint portal — mandatory first step before litigation. DIFC and ADGM courts have separate procedures for free-zone employees.
MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation — mohre.gov.ae)Dubai Legal Affairs Department (legalaffairs.gov.ae)
💡 Always file a MOHRE complaint before engaging a private lawyer — free conciliation resolves many UAE employment disputes and is a legal prerequisite for court proceedings. Strict time limits apply (1 year from the violation). For DIFC and ADGM employees: separate employment courts apply with common-law principles. For major disputes (executive dismissal, non-compete enforcement), engage a lawyer experienced in both UAE mainland labour law and free zone jurisdictions.
Business Setup Consultant
AED 2,000–8,000 for consultant services. Licence fees are additional (AED 10,000–30,000/year depending on activity and zone). How to find: DED-registered business setup consultants in Dubai. Many free zones have dedicated setup consultants (IFZA, Meydan, Shuraa). Tasheel service centres provide mainland setup assistance.
DED Dubai (dubaided.gov.ae)IFZA DubaiDIFC (difc.ae)ADGM (adgm.com)
💡 Get at least 3 quotes from different setup consultants. Be clear about ongoing costs (annual renewal fees) vs. one-time setup fees. Mainland vs. free zone has significant differences in what clients you can serve and what activities you can conduct.
Relocation and Moving Services
International move (1-bedroom contents, sea freight): AED 10,000–25,000. Local Dubai move: AED 800–3,000 depending on volume. How to find: IAM (International Association of Movers) member companies for international moves. Local movers: get quotes from Transguard, Allied Pickfords UAE, Crown Relocations, AGS Worldwide Movers.
IAM (International Association of Movers)FIDI (Fédération Internationale des Déménageurs Internationaux)
💡 Use FIDI or IAM-accredited movers for international moves. Get a home survey rather than online estimates. Check insurance coverage for high-value items. Sea freight from UK: approximately 6–8 weeks transit.
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