DubaiZurich

Umzugszentrale

Moving from Zurich to Dubai, without the guesswork

A single person moves from Zurich to Dubai for 4.230 to 7.520 CHF all-in in 2026; a family of four should budget 11.280 to 18.800 CHF. From decision to residence card takes about 90 days when you sequence it right, and the sequence is below.

Airplane tray table palm, DubaiBeach cafe laptop juice, DubaiBeach red cap portrait, DubaiDesert hot air balloon, Dubai

Der 90-Tage-Plan

Run it backwards from the flight date. Every task is the Switzerland to United Arab Emirates version of the sequence, not a generic checklist.

  1. Days 0 to 30

    Decide and file

    • Pick the visa route into United Arab Emirates: employment sponsorship, self-employment permit, investor or family route. The route sets every deadline after this one.
    • Legalise diplomas, birth and marriage certificates. Apostilles run two weeks or more, so start here.
    • Get freight quotes Zurich to Dubai, sea and air. Sea is cheaper and 4 to 8 weeks slower.
    • Scan every document into one folder; you will upload each of them at least twice.

  2. Days 30 to 60

    Cut the ties at home

    • Give notice on your rental or set the sale in motion.
    • Book the one-way flight and arrange health cover that starts the day you land in Dubai.
    • Tell the Switzerland tax and registration authorities you are leaving: residency, not address, decides what you owe.
    • Sell or export the car, freeze or port the pension.

  3. Days 60 to 90

    Land and activate

    • Entry formalities, medical and biometrics inside the first week where the visa route requires them.
    • Get the United Arab Emirates residence or ID card, then open a local bank account: nothing else works before that.
    • Sign the rental, register the address, connect utilities.
    • Convert or re-sit the driving licence, and register with a local doctor.