A life in Abu Dhabi
Make sense
of your
next chapter.
The place, the practicalities and the possibilities. Independent guides to living, working and settling in Abu Dhabi.
Begin with the moving guideFor the move. For the everyday. For the long term.
The essentials
A better-informed beginning.
Living / Relocation
From a new address
to a familiar city.
Plan the move, find your bearings and build your first routines in Abu Dhabi.
The relocation collectionAbu Dhabi Residency Explained
Build a clear understanding of residence pathways, sponsorship and the distinction between entry, residence and work permission.
Finding a Job in Abu Dhabi
Organise a purposeful job search around suitable employers, credible vacancies and a clear account of your experience.
Cost of Living in Abu Dhabi
Build a household budget around your circumstances and separate illustrative calculations from current quoted prices.
Permission to put down roots
Understand
your residency
pathway.
Different routes begin with different circumstances. Get a clearer view of the framework before checking the details with the responsible authority.
Immigration & residencyFind your everyday
A city of different ways to live.
Choose a home.
Picture a whole week.
A neighbourhood is more than its address. Consider the journey to work, the school run, your favourite walk and the practical details of an ordinary day.
Neighbourhoods & residential areasFive perspectives, one place
The publication.
Living in Abu Dhabi
Find your neighbourhood, plan your move and make the city feel like home.
Immigration & Residency
Understand residence pathways and the questions to take to official authorities.
Regulations & Requirements
Put residency responsibilities and workplace rules into context.
Work & Career
Plan a focused job search and understand the details of an employment offer.
Cost of Living
Build a realistic household budget, from the first payment to recurring bills.
Work, money & practical decisions
Plan for the life behind the move.
Contracts & benefits
Read the full employment package, including pay, working arrangements and the written detail behind an offer.
Read the collectionResidency responsibilities
A framework for keeping track of your status, travel plans and changes in personal or employment circumstances.
Read the collectionRent & household bills
Look beyond the advertised rent to payment schedules, utilities, cooling and the cost of setting up a home.
Read the collectionFrom the publication
The latest guides.
Abu Dhabi Employment Regulations: Worker Rights, Labour Contracts, Leave and Workplace Obligations
Abu Dhabi employment rules depend on the legal employer and the applicable employment regime.
Complete guideRegulationsAnnual Leave Entitlements for Employees in Abu Dhabi
Under the federal private-sector guidance, a worker completing one year of service is entitled to 30 days of paid annual leave.
Practical guideRegulationsEmployee Rights During a Probation Period in Abu Dhabi
For a worker covered by the federal private-sector framework, probation is limited and has specific notice provisions.
Practical guideIndependent by design.
Practical by purpose.
We bring together the questions that matter when you are making a life in Abu Dhabi. Our role is to explain and provide context, with official sources for the rules that shape your decisions.
How we approach our guides