# About New to Dubai

> New to Dubai or thinking of moving here?

Source: https://newdubai.life/about/
Updated: 2026-10-22

New to Dubai is run by three couples who have lived here for years and have set up everything these guides cover ourselves. Between us we come from Canada, the UK, Australia and Germany. Most of us have been in Dubai for more than 15 years, and the longest of us for 26.

We have all been through the same steps you are facing now. That means the residence visa, the Emirates ID (the identity card you need for almost everything here) and Ejari (the official registration of your tenancy contract). It also means DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) and getting a SIM. We remember what was confusing, so we write the guides we wish we'd had.

We check each guide against official sources before it goes up. Rules here change, especially for visas, so it is always worth checking the official site before you apply.

If you have just arrived, start with the residence visa guide, because most other steps depend on it.