Independent, not official
Research methodology
Every article on Dubai Practical begins with primary research. Our editorial team:
Official sources first
All facts, figures, fees, and rules are checked against UAE government portals before any other source. When official portals conflict with each other, we note the discrepancy and link to both.
Cross-referenced
We corroborate official portal data with other authoritative sources — approved legal advisers, government press releases, licensed PRO services, and, where appropriate, published academic or regulatory commentary.
On-the-ground verification
For practical how-to content — visiting government service centres, obtaining permits, opening bank accounts — team members or vetted contributors carry out the process directly and document it.
Primary sources for specialist topics
Tax, legal, medical and financial pages are written from the issuing authority's own published material, and that source is linked on the page. We do not employ UAE-qualified professionals and do not claim specialist review.
No paid placements
No business, law firm, clinic, school, or government contractor pays to appear in editorial content. Commercial relationships (affiliate links only) are disclosed separately in the affiliate disclosure.
Official source preference
We maintain a strict hierarchy for sourcing:
Tier 1 — Government portals
- u.ae (Federal)
- ICP / GDRFA (visas)
- MOHRE (labour)
- FTA (VAT/corporate tax)
- DLD (property)
- DHA/DOH (health)
- KHDA (education)
- RTA (transport)
- DEWA (utilities)
Tier 2 — Official press
- WAM (UAE state news agency)
- Dubai Media Office
- Ministry announcements
- Circular/Ministerial Decree text
- Free zone authority announcements
Tier 3 — Regulated professionals
- UAE-licensed lawyers (DIFC/mainland)
- Registered tax agents (FTA-listed)
- Licensed PROs
- DHA/DOH-licensed clinicians
Tier 4 — Reputable secondary
- Major English-language UAE newspapers
- Established expat community organisations
- Academic papers on UAE law/policy
How current this is
This section used to promise a fixed re-checking cadence for each kind of figure — quarterly for government fees, within 48 hours of a visa circular, and so on. We were not meeting those commitments, so stating them was worse than saying nothing. Here is what is actually true:
- Every page shows the date it was last edited, derived from this site's version history rather than typed in by hand. If a page has not been touched in a while, that date will say so.
- Prices, government fees and visa rules in the UAE change without much notice. Treat any figure here as a starting point and confirm it with the authority linked beside it before you rely on it.
- We update pages when a rule changes and we notice, and when a reader tells us something is out of date. There is no guaranteed interval.
Which sources we check against
We do not employ licensed specialists, and we do not claim that a lawyer, physician or tax agent has reviewed this content. What we do is work from the body that actually issues each rule or fee, and link it on the page so you can check the figure yourself.
Visa & immigration
Checked against ICP and GDRFA Dubai published fee schedules and service pages. Visa rules change without notice — the authority's page is the reference, not ours.
Legal & employment
Checked against MOHRE guidance and the published text of Federal Decree-Law 33/2021. We are not a law firm and this is not legal advice.
Property
Checked against Dubai Land Department material, including the RERA rental index and DLD fee schedules, via dubailand.gov.ae.
Health & medical
Checked against DHA and MOHAP published material. Not medical advice, and not reviewed by a clinician — confirm anything clinical with a licensed practitioner.
Tax (VAT, corporate tax)
Checked against Federal Tax Authority publications at tax.gov.ae. Thresholds and effective dates are cited on the page.
Financial
Checked against Central Bank of the UAE material where applicable. We make no financial recommendations and are not regulated to give advice.
Update schedule
Every page on Dubai Practical carries a “Last updated” date. Our commitment:
- Reader corrections are read and acted on. If you tell us something is wrong, we would rather fix it than defend it.
- Every page shows the date it was last edited, taken from this site's version history rather than typed in by hand.
- Where a figure is time-sensitive — a fee, a threshold, a visa rule — the issuing authority is linked next to it. That link is the reference, not us.
- We do not commit to a fixed re-checking interval. A promised cadence we cannot verifiably keep is worth less than a visible edit date and a working source link.
Correction submission
We welcome corrections from readers, professionals, and government representatives. To submit a correction:
- Use the Spot an error? button on any page, or visit /corrections.
- Include the page URL, the specific claim you believe is incorrect, and the correct information with a source link if available.
- Where the correction involves a regulated area (law, tax, medicine), please indicate your professional qualifications if relevant.
Committed to accuracy
Not legal, medical, tax, or immigration advice
Important limitation
Nothing on Dubai Practical constitutes legal advice, medical advice, tax advice, financial advice, or immigration advice. Content is provided for general informational purposes only. Always verify critical decisions — visa applications, tax filings, property purchases, medical treatments, legal disputes — with a qualified, UAE-licensed professional before acting.
Dubai Practical is an editorial publication, not a law firm, clinic, accountancy, or advisory firm. Authors and reviewers who hold professional qualifications disclose them on their author profiles, but their contributions to this site do not constitute professional advice delivered in a professional capacity.
Conflicts of interest policy
To maintain editorial independence:
- No individual or business pays to be mentioned, recommended, or featured in editorial content.
- Affiliate relationships (GetYourGuide, etc.) are limited to booking platforms and do not influence editorial coverage of those platforms.
- Staff and contributors must disclose any financial or personal relationships with businesses covered in their articles.
- Sponsored content (if published) is always clearly labelled “Sponsored” and kept entirely separate from editorial pages.
- Guest contributions are subject to the same fact-checking and sourcing standards as staff-written content.