A long-term assignment abroad can be an exciting career step, but for a Dubai resident it creates a long practical list. You may be away for six months or several years, and in that time rent still falls due and bills do not pause. Decide early what happens to your home, belongings, and mail, put agreements in writing, and leave a trusted person in Dubai able to help. Start at least two to three months before you leave.
First, Clarify Your Residency and Return Plans
Before giving notice on anything, confirm with your employer and, where needed, official UAE sources, how the assignment affects your contract, residence visa, Emirates ID, health insurance, and ability to return. Time outside the UAE can matter for residence status, so do not rely on colleagues’ situations.
Also check the destination country’s rules on tax, registration, and driving. Keep copies of passports, visas, contracts, and insurance in a secure digital folder. Write down your likely return date, even if provisional, as most decisions that follow depend on it.
Deciding What to Do About Rent
If you rent in Dubai, read your tenancy contract and its Ejari registration carefully. Look for the notice period, early termination clause, and any penalty for ending the lease early. These are set by your contract and Dubai tenancy law, so treat any amount quoted by friends as approximate only.
Talk to your landlord or agent early and in writing. Options may include:
- Ending the tenancy at its natural expiry date and moving out fully before you leave.
- Negotiating an early exit, possibly with a penalty or by finding a replacement tenant if the landlord agrees.
- Keeping the property if your employer funds it or you will return regularly, with someone checking it while you are away.
- Subletting, only if your contract and landlord expressly allow it in writing. Do not assume this is permitted.
If you own your home, tell your owners association or building management you will be away, settle service charges in advance where possible, and arrange insurance covering an unoccupied property. Owners associations and the Dubai Land Department are the official references for such matters. Photograph the property’s condition and agree final meter readings and handover in writing.
Storing, Shipping, or Selling Your Belongings
Divide everything into four groups: take with you, ship later, store in Dubai, or sell and donate. Long-term storage costs add up, so be strict about furniture that would be cheap to replace on return.
Storage companies charge by unit size and contract length, and prices vary widely, so obtain written, time-limited quotations. Ask about access hours, climate control, insurance, minimum term, and what happens if a payment is missed. Label every box and keep a photo inventory.
For a car, decide whether to sell, store, or leave it with a trusted person, and confirm registration and insurance requirements with the relevant Dubai authorities before you travel. Arrange checks for leaks and pests if a property will sit empty, as mould and water damage can develop quickly in a Dubai summer.
Sorting Mail, Bills, and Everyday Admin
Most personal mail in the UAE goes to a PO Box through Emirates Post. Decide whether to keep and renew yours, with a trusted person checking it, or close it and update every sender. Ask Emirates Post directly about current renewal and redirection options, as services and fees change.
Make a list of every regular payment and set up reliable methods before you go:
- Utilities and telecoms accounts, including final or ongoing DEWA and home internet arrangements.
- Bank accounts, cards, loans, and any salary or end-of-service arrangements with your employer.
- School, insurance, storage, vehicle, and subscription payments that will continue while you are away.
- Official accounts you may need to access from abroad, with login details stored securely, not on paper left in the property.
Tell your bank you will be abroad, check card expiry dates, and keep enough funds in Dubai for standing payments. Take advice before granting a formal power of attorney.
A Final Month Checklist
In the last month, confirm flights and shipping, hand back keys as agreed, notify building security, and do a final walk-through. Leave your overseas address and return plans with your landlord, management company, storage provider, and a Dubai contact. Handled early and in writing, an assignment abroad need not mean problems building up at home: no surprise bills, no lost mail, and a home properly closed down or looked after until you return.