Emirates ID, Ejari and your first month in Dubai: the order that works

Dubai admin is quicker than you'd fear and far more digital than the council back home, but it runs in a strict order: no Emirates ID, no Ejari; no Ejari, no electricity.

The short version

• Every UAE resident must have an Emirates ID and carry it at all times [1].
• Your tenancy must be registered with Ejari, the Dubai Land Department system. Online through the Dubai REST app it costs AED 177.75 in total (about £36) [2].
• Once Ejari is done, DEWA emails you an account number and a security deposit to pay: AED 2,000 for a flat or AED 4,000 for a villa (about £404 or £808) [3].
• Electricity and water should be on within 15 working hours of paying the deposit [3].
• Banks and mobile networks will want your Emirates ID, so get that moving first.

Why the order matters

Back in Blighty you can rent a flat, open a bank account and get a phone contract in any order you like. In Dubai, almost every service checks your residence status through your Emirates ID, and your utilities hang off your registered tenancy. Do things in the wrong order and you'll spend a week in a serviced flat waiting for one bit of paper.

Here's the order most Brits end up following:

1. Residence visa and medical. Your sponsor (usually your employer) arranges this, or you do it yourself on a green, Golden or retirement visa. See UAE residence for Brits.
2. Emirates ID application, often submitted alongside the visa.
3. Sign a lease on the standard Dubai unified tenancy contract.
4. Register it with Ejari.
5. Pay the DEWA deposit from the email that follows.
6. Bank account and mobile. These can overlap with the steps above, but most need the Emirates ID or at least proof that you've applied.
7. Driving licence, schools, GP registration with your insurer, and the rest.

Step one: the Emirates ID

The Emirates ID is issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). It's a legal requirement for all citizens and residents to apply for one and carry it with them at all times [1]. You use it for government services and to pass through the e-gates at UAE airports, and its 15-digit number stays with you for life [1].

You apply through the ICP website or an accredited typing centre, and you may need to visit an ICP service centre to give fingerprints [1]. For most employees the HR team or a typing centre handles the paperwork, and you just turn up for biometrics.

Rules worth knowing [1]:

Pound conversions use £1 = AED 4.9491, derived from the Bank of England's US dollar spot rate of 5 November 2026 (£1 = USD 1.3476) and the dirham's fixed peg of AED 3.6725 to the dollar.

One more thing: companies aren't allowed to keep your Emirates ID card, even though they can take a copy of its details [1]. The same goes for your passport, which the FCDO says employers can't legally hold [4]. Hotels and landlords photocopying your ID is normal; hanging on to it isn't.

Step two: Ejari, your registered tenancy

Ejari is the Dubai Land Department's tenancy registration system. A registered lease is your proof of address in Dubai, and it's what triggers your DEWA account and, often, family visa applications. If your landlord or their property management company has Ejari access, they'll usually register it; otherwise, you can do it yourself [2].

Source: Dubai Land Department [2].

Through the app you upload a copy of the unified tenancy contract. At a trustee centre you bring the original contract and your Emirates ID, and the DLD says it takes about 25 minutes, not counting the queue [2]. Registration through the app needs both landlord and tenant to be individuals, with the owner's details up to date [2]. You receive an e-contract registration certificate by email; keep it somewhere safe, because you'll be asked for it again.

Before you sign, read our renting in Dubai guide: annual rent paid in cheques, deposits and the rental scams aimed at newcomers are a bit of a minefield.

Step three: DEWA, electricity and water

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is linked to Ejari. Once your tenancy is registered, DEWA sends an email and text with your new account number, the security deposit and a payment link [3].

Source: DEWA [3].

Supply should be connected within 15 working hours of paying. If it isn't, DEWA asks you to ring its customer care centre on 04 601 9999 [3]. Most standard flats use small meters. Tenants in some free zones that are exempt from Ejari apply through the DEWA website or app instead [3].

Your DEWA bill will be higher than the deposit suggests in summer, when air conditioning runs flat out, and it also carries a municipality housing fee linked to your rent. Budget for both before you agree a rent you can just about afford.

Step four: a bank account and a phone

Banking. UAE banks generally want your passport, residence visa and Emirates ID (or proof you've applied), plus a salary letter or proof of income. Many employers have a preferred bank for payroll, which makes the first account easier. Keep your UK current account open for pensions, UK direct debits and visits home: our guide to keeping a UK bank account explains why banks sometimes close non-resident accounts. Our banking in the UAE guide covers the local side.

Mobile. The UAE's two main networks are du and e& (formerly Etisalat). A SIM in your own name needs your passport and, for a contract, your Emirates ID. Visitors can usually get a tourist SIM at the airport, which is handy for the first few weeks. Many UAE government and bank services send one-time codes by text, so register your local number with ICP once you have it [1].

Your UK number. Don't cancel it on day one. Banks, HMRC and the DVLA still send codes to UK mobiles, and losing access can lock you out of accounts. See keeping a UK mobile number.

The rest of the month

A few more jobs for your first four weeks:

1. UAE Pass. The UAE's national digital login, linked to your Emirates ID, gets you into government services such as the GDRFA's smart services [5]. Set it up early.
2. Health insurance card. If your employer provides cover, which private-sector employers in Dubai must do [6], register the card and find a clinic in the network.
3. Driving. Check whether you can convert your UK licence; see driving in the UAE.
4. Liquor licence. Dubai residents need one to buy alcohol for home. The FCDO explains the rules [4], and so does our UAE laws guide.
5. Tell the UK you've gone. Send HMRC form P85 and sort your UK address for post. Our moving abroad checklist has the full list.

Stuck between a typing centre and a DEWA email? Our community group for Brits in the UAE is a good place to ask, usually answered faster than you can make a cuppa.

Sources

1. UAE Government portal: Emirates ID (updated 17 February 2026)
2. Dubai Land Department: Register / renew tenancy contract (Ejari) (checked 8 November 2026)
3. DEWA: Activation of electricity and water (move-in) (page updated 27 October 2026)
4. GOV.UK (FCDO): United Arab Emirates travel advice – safety and security
5. GDRFA Dubai: Issuing a residence permit for the retired foreigner (service steps via UAE Pass) (checked 8 November 2026)
6. UAE Government portal: Getting health insurance (updated 8 September 2026)

Keep reading

• Renting in Dubai
• Banking in the UAE as a Brit
• Moving to Dubai as a Brit: visa and residence routes
• Keeping a UK bank account when you live abroad