The United Arab Emirates (UAE) attracts a steady flow of British movers, but entry rules, customs rules for belongings and health insurance requirements differ from the UK’s. This article summarises the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) guide “Living in the United Arab Emirates”, last updated on 11 December 2025, and the FCDO’s UAE travel advice on entry requirements. It covers the UAE only, applies to British citizens travelling on a British passport, and is general information rather than immigration, tax or legal advice. The FCDO says the UAE authorities set and enforce the rules.
Entry, visas and the Emirates ID
The travel advice says a passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after arrival, or at least 3 months for someone who holds a residence permit. A visitor visa is issued free of charge on arrival and is valid for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Visitors cannot work: the advice says anyone caught working on a visit visa could face a fine or prison sentence and risks deportation, and a person who entered Dubai on a visit visa and wants to work must obtain a probationary work permit valid for up to 3 months from the Ministry of Labour.
The Living in the UAE guide lists the purposes for which a visa can be obtained, including work, study, retirement, investment, living with family and job search. It says all residents must have an Emirates ID card, which should arrive with the residence visa. Applicants for a residence visa take a blood test; the travel advice states that a positive result for communicable diseases such as HIV, hepatitis or tuberculosis can lead to detention and deportation without appeal.
Customs rules for household goods and medication
According to the travel advice, there are strict rules about goods taken into or out of the UAE, and anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty must be declared. Bringing pork products or pornography into the country is illegal, and videos, books and magazines may be scrutinised and censored. Weapons and related equipment, including ammunition and body protection items, need permission from UAE customs and the Ministry of Defence.
Medication is the area with the most exact limits. The advice says approval in advance from the UAE Ministry of Health is required for medication the UAE classes as narcotic, psychotropic, controlled or semi-controlled, with applications normally processed within 5 working days. Without evidence of approval, the medication will not be allowed in and the traveller may be prosecuted. A visitor can bring up to 3 months’ supply, reduced to one month for medication on the approval list. Planning a shipment and its paperwork is covered in the guide to moving abroad from the UK, and choosing a firm for overseas work in the guide to international removals accreditation.
Healthcare and insurance
The guide states that the UAE does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the UK, so health insurance is needed to cover costs. Cover can come from an employer or from UAE or international providers. Employers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are legally required to provide health insurance to their employees. The guide points to separate GOV.UK guidance on planning healthcare and taking medicine abroad.
Driving, tax and pensions
Driving rules sit with the UAE government, which publishes information on getting a UAE licence and exchanging a foreign one. The guide adds that a UK Blue Badge holder who lives in the UAE must return the badge to the UK issuing authority. Moving a UK-registered vehicle is covered in the guide to exporting a vehicle.
On tax, the guide says the UK has a double taxation agreement with the UAE so income is not taxed twice, and that the UAE has no income tax on salaries or wages, although there may be taxes on some goods and services, municipal taxes and customs duties. UK tax residence is a separate question, covered in the guide to tax residence and split-year treatment. Only UAE citizens can claim a UAE pension or social welfare benefits, though people who have worked in the UAE may be eligible for end of service benefits. A UK State Pension can be claimed from abroad under the rules in GOV.UK’s separate guidance.
Schools, property and leaving
The guide says all children aged 6 to 18 must attend school or be home schooled in the UAE, and points to the UAE government for information on government schools, private schools and home schooling. For buying or leasing property, it advises contacting an English-speaking lawyer in the UAE. It also notes that the British Embassies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in the UAE or help with visa and residency applications.
The travel advice also warns about leaving. A person who is subject to a travel ban, involved in legal proceedings or has unpaid debt may be prevented from leaving the UAE, and those who have lived or worked there risk arrest on returning if a previous visa was not cancelled, debts are outstanding or a legal issue is unresolved.
The bottom line
Moving to the UAE means a residence visa and Emirates ID, a passport valid for at least 3 months for residents, medication approved in advance if it is controlled, strict customs checks on belongings, and health insurance that employers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai must provide. Income tax is not charged on salaries, but UK tax residence still needs checking. The UAE authorities set the rules, so confirming each step with them and the UAE Embassy before booking a shipment is the safest approach.
Sources
- GOV.UK, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, “Living in the United Arab Emirates”
- GOV.UK, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, “United Arab Emirates travel advice: Entry requirements”