Customs regulations and information guide for Dubai

M_Svcs_Customsregulation_UnitedArabEmirates.pdf

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Dubai properties - financial and legal help to secure your home in Dubai

The market for freehold Dubai properties is still in its infancy and, as such, will undergo many changes in the coming years. When you look at a property for sale in Dubai there is financial and legal information that will help you arrive at a decision about whether or not to take the plunge.

Your individual circumstances and taste will determine which home in Dubai is right for you. However, you should be armed with as much knowledge as possible in order that the deal proceeds smoothly and you avoid the pitfalls associated with buying Dubai properties.
Financing the purchase of Dubai properties

How do you plan on financing your purchase? Most people require a loan to buy and before you start looking at property for sale in Dubai you should find out how much you can borrow. You should also think about what impact this will have on your finances and what you can afford to buy.

You can elect for either a Dubai mortgage, secured on your home in Dubai, or a UK mortgage, secured on assets at home. There are advantages and disadvantages to either method of financing the purchase of Dubai properties. Do your homework and evaluate which option is best for you in your hunt for a home in Dubai.
Legal services and documents concerning property for sale in Dubai

Do I need a lawyer when I am viewing property for sale in Dubai? What other legal services in Dubai are required when purchasing Dubai properties? Anyone new to the market for Dubai properties should seek professional advice before signing any legal documents when buying a home in Dubai.

As with major purchases anywhere, buying Dubai properties is not without risks. Professional advice is always best to help you avoid problems caused by inheritance and currency issues.
What else do I need to know about Dubai properties

The property market and legislation in Dubai is unlike almost anywhere else in the world. The system of freehold ownership of Dubai properties has only been in operation since 2002. Allowing foreign owners to register their properties is an even more recent inception.

Property for sale in Dubai is generally of the highest order. A few large construction companies are responsible for building Dubai properties and foreigners are not allowed to own land. This means buying a plot, acquiring planning permission and building your own home in Dubai is not possible.

If you are to be receiving a pension in Dubai then there are steps you must take to ensure you can receive it in the city and do not lose out.

Taking professional advice is the best way to keep yourself right at all stages when buying Dubai properties. Buying a home in Dubai is not something you should rush into and you should bear this in mind when viewing property for sale in Dubai.

Visa information when moving to Dubai.

If you are moving to Dubai you are required to obtain a work permit and residency visa. Although you are able to legally buy a Dubai home without these documents your activities in the country will be restricted and you will not be able to stay there. Once you are in receipt of your Dubai visa you will be able to open a bank account, register for electricity and water and generally settle into your new life.
A Dubai visa for visitors

UK residents are entitled to a 60-day visitor Dubai visa, which they can obtain free on arrival in the city. This can be renewed for a further 30 days for a fee of around £85. Residents of a further 33 “privileged countries”, including the United States, Germany and Australia, can obtain a one-month non-renewable Dubai visa on arrival, costing in the region of £15-20.
Dubai visa for those buying a Dubai home

Those planning on moving to Dubai must obtain a Dubai visa for residence. Buying property in Dubai entitles you, and your immediate family, to residence visas in accordance with the latest immigration regulations. If you have already secured employment before moving to Dubai your employer should take care of the process of acquiring a work permit and Dubai visa.

Family visas are only available to those earning more than Dhs 4000 per month (approx £750).

Most visas are valid for three years, at which point it must be renewed if you are to be allowed to stay in Dubai.

Before being granted a residence visa, and establishing your Dubai home, all applicants are required to undergo a medical and obtain a health card, which must be renewed yearly.
Dubai visas for women moving to Dubai

Married men, who obtain a Dubai visa, may sponsor their wife and children for residency. However, a married woman cannot simply do the same if she wants her family to join her in her Dubai home. Women doctors, nurses and teachers are exceptions to this and are generally permitted to sponsor their families, allowing them the opportunity of moving to Dubai.
Costs of obtaining a Dubai visa

The only costs associated with a residence visa for moving to Dubai come from the cost of obtaining a health card (approx £56). A penalty charge of Dhs 25-100 (£7-19) will be applied for every day a visitor overstays.

Before accepting a position in UAE and moving to Dubai, it is advisable to check that your employer will sponsor your Dubai visa. You should then establish whether you are able to sponsor your family for residency allowing them to join you in your Dubai home.

Relocating to Dubai with Overs International

Relocating to Dubai – moving to Dubai and into your property in Dubai

Moving house can be a stressful experience at the best of times so relocating to Dubai is fraught with extra complications. However, Overs International carry out international moves every day and can help you when moving to Dubai.

Take time to choose the best way of getting yourself, your family and your belongings safely to your property in Dubai.
Relocating to Dubai – the options

The distance to Dubai restricts the options of how to get there and how much of your belongings you can take with you personally. Flying is your only real method of getting there and how much you take with you when moving to Dubai will depend upon airline luggage restrictions. It is recommended you take no more than clothing, other essentials and a few valuables to your property in Dubai initially.
Relocating to Dubai – the professionals

International shipping companies will deliver goods to Dubai from anywhere in the world. Air freight is another option for those moving to Dubai but it is far more inexpensive than by sea.

You must also think how to get the goods to your property in Dubai from the airport or port. In this case, Overs International, a professional moving company, who will deliver the goods door-to-door might be a better option. The prices charged vary greatly so it is a good idea to receive a few quotes if you are moving to Dubai.

However you choose to transfer your belongings when relocating to Dubai it is a good idea to carry out some research into the various options. Moving to a new property in Dubai can be expensive so it is advisable to make as many savings as possible, no matter how small they may be.
Relocating to Dubai – what to take

Some people choose to take nothing, or as little as possible, and start anew, others bring as much as possible to recreate the feeling of home. Our advice would be to take as little as possible with you to your property in Dubai and get rid of as many electrical appliances as you can.

Think about what clothing you really need for the climate. Consider the storage space in your property in Dubai and whether hefty furniture need be moved vast distances. Consider what can be replaced after moving to Dubai and what items are of particular sentimental value to you.

When relocating to Dubai remember to keep the following with you:

* Passports
* Other important legal documents such as birth and marriage certificates
* Bank books/cheque and credit cards
* A number of passport-sized photographs
* Several photocopies of all the above

Oh, and enough money to get home – just in case!
Relocating to Dubai - pets

Pets moving to Dubai with you can do so provided they are healthy and their inoculations are all up to date. There is no quarantine in Dubai but cats and dogs must have an up-to-date rabies jab if they are to join you at your property in Dubai. They must also wear an ID tag and will be destroyed if found wandering around unidentifiable.

All of this must be considered before moving to Dubai. Relocating to Dubai is a big move but if all goes to plan the move to your property in Dubai can be pain-free.

Working in Switzerland

Unless you've got strong family connections or have a very successful business trackrecord, the best way to move to Switzerland is to find a job with one of the many large multinational companies based in the country. If you've got good qualifications and are offered a job by one of these companies then they will normally take care of acquiring a work permit for you. The job search will be tough though unless you can make yourself available for interviews in Switzerland - often as many as two or three interviews will be required before you're offered a job.

A great way to go about finding work in Switzerland before you've actually landed in the country is to get in touch with one of the recruitment agencies or headhunters. Be sure to emphasise that you're ready to go to Switzerland within a week or two for interviews - you might not even get a response if you send an email from Australia saying that you like the idea of working in Switzerland in a few months time. You need to convey the message that you are serious about moving to Switzerland and are ready to do what it takes to get a job there.
Recruitment agencies and Swiss employment portals:

Swisslinx
ElanIT
Harvey Nash
Boch + Partner
www.jobs.ch
www.monster.ch
JobPilot.ch

What's it really like living in Switzerland?

Many people think of Switzerland as a country full of mountains, watches, chocolate, banks, gold, and people loaded with money. To a large extent those swiss stereotypes are actually quite true; Switzerland is indeed a beautiful mountainous land, swiss watches and chocolates are some of the finest in the world, and Switzerland's stable government combined with successful banking, insurance and pharmaceutical industries have given rise to a large middle to upper-middle class.

The prospect of a safe and wealthy life in a land of great natural beauty, culture and clean streets lures many foreigners into seeking permanent establishment in Switzerland. But do these foreigners get what they come for and are they happy with their new lives? Really it depends on a little luck and a lot of effort, but for many people the answer is no. The main stumbling blocks are cultural integration and money.

Is it really that hard to integrate successfully with the swiss and the swiss way of life? Swiss people in general are sincere and hard-working but fairly reserved and not very outgoing. Most swiss people will be happy to talk to you if you ask them a question, but don't expect anyone to come up to you and start a conversation in a bar, and don't expect to be invited to dinner by workmates. Most foreigners quickly give up on forming strong relationships with the swiss and instead fall back on the support of their expat communities - and that's normally where they stay. Of course one's chances of integration are much better if one learns to speak the local language, but that's no mean feat in the german speaking part of the country since there are many dialects of swiss-german and swiss-german itself is a spoken-only language.

But friendship making isn't the only social or cultural difficulty experienced by most foreigners. The swiss have many rules and idiosyncrasies and most of them aren't written down! Things like extreme punctuality and cleanliness, being forbidden to make any noise after 10pm, starting work at 7am, and not being allowed to do any work at all on sundays (including cleaning your house). Many neighbours wont hesitate to call the police if you temporarily park in their parking space. Add to that the fact that non-europeans need to wait 10 full years before applying for permanent residency or 12 years before applying for naturalisation. This means that they can't start their own businesses, they need to re-apply for residence permits when changing jobs, they need special permission before purchasing residential property and they aren't even allowed to live outside of the district where they are first granted work.

With all of the cultural difficulties when living in Switzerland, surely there should be one thing that isn't a problem; money. But despite Switzerland's great wealth, many immigrants find themselves to be financially stressed for their first few years in the country. Jobs tend to be fairly well paid by international terms, but swiss cities are some of the most expensive in the world and swiss people have already had many years to establish themselves financially.

This article isn't intended to scare you away from considering a move to Switzerland! Rather it aims to highlight the fact that coming to Switzerland isn't an express ticket to riches, happiness and a perfect life. Many economic immigrants decide to pack up their bags and go within their first few years in the country. But there are many more that learn to adapt to the swiss way of life and once they've done that they can be truely happy here. Switzerland is, and always will be, a country full of mountains, watches, chocolate, banks, gold, and people with money.