Leaving Dubai Checklist
28 tasks to complete before you leave Dubai — from employer notice and gratuity to visa cancellation, banking, Ejari, and collecting transcripts.
Signed by: Sarah Al Qasimi (Lead Editor). Fact-checked by the full editorial team.
Leaving Dubai properly requires careful sequencing. Many departing expats underestimate how many threads need to be tied up — from cancelling a DEWA account and recovering the deposit, to ensuring your residency visa is cancelled (not just expired) so you do not have an undocumented status in the UAE's system.
The most important rule: settle all financial obligations before you leave. Outstanding debt in the UAE — credit card balances, bounced cheques, unpaid rent, or personal loans — can result in a travel ban that prevents you from leaving the country. Address these early, not on your final day.
Start this checklist 90 days before your intended departure date. Most of the urgent items are in the final 30 days, but the preparation and notice-giving needs to start three months ahead.
Leaving Dubai Checklist
28 items — tick as you go. Progress is saved in your browser.