Just Arrived in UAE? Day-by-Day SIM, Bank, Emirates ID Setup (2026)

You step out of the airport. The heat hits you. Your phone has no signal. You’re not sure if you’re supposed to wait for a company driver, take a taxi, or follow someone holding a sign. Your contract starts in two days. You don’t have an Emirates ID, a bank account, or a way to call home cheaply.

Most new arrivals to the UAE — especially OFWs from the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Egypt — go through the same first week feeling slightly lost. The good news: the system is set up to handle this, and you can have everything sorted by the end of week two if you follow the right order.

This UAE migrant worker first week guide walks through what to do on each day, what your employer is supposed to do, what comes out of your pocket, and how to avoid the small mistakes that cost workers AED 100–300 unnecessarily in the first month. By Day 7, you should have a SIM with cheap international calls, a bank account, your medical test done, and your visa stamping in progress.

One pattern keeps showing up in the workers we speak to. The ones who struggle most in the first month aren’t the ones who don’t know the rules — they’re the ones who don’t know which rules to ask about. The first week is mostly about asking the right people the right questions, in the right order. The boring questions, not the dramatic ones. A SIM card that auto-renews silently. A bank account that takes three weeks because nobody told you which one accepts your salary level. A medical test that gets delayed because nobody at the company had time. The list below is built around those.

Day 0 — Landing in the UAE

Most workers arrive on a flight booked by the employer. Some find their own way. Either pattern, the first hour at the airport is the same.

At immigration

• Have your passport and entry permit (or visa) ready.
• The officer scans your passport, takes biometrics, and stamps you in.
• You’re now legally in the UAE on a temporary entry permit (typically 60 days, sometimes 30) until your residency visa is processed.

Free SIM at the airport

Both Etisalat and du run free SIM kiosks right after immigration in all Dubai and Abu Dhabi terminals. The deal: 1 GB of data, valid for 24 hours, free. You hand over your passport, they hand over the SIM.

This SIM is meant to bridge your first day until you can buy a longer-term one. Don’t activate any paid plans on it — you’ll switch.

What to do before leaving the airport

• Confirm pickup or transport. If your employer is collecting you, find them at arrivals. If you’re on your own, taxis from the official rank cost AED 50–150 to most Dubai locations.
• Save your employer’s PRO contact. The PRO (Public Relations Officer) is the person at your company who handles all your government paperwork. You will be talking to them daily for the first two weeks.
• Take a photo of your accommodation address in Arabic and English. Show it to the taxi driver if you don’t speak Arabic.

UAE Migrant Worker First Week Guide — Day by Day

Here is what each day of the first week looks like under a normal employer process. Your timeline can shift by 1–3 days, but the order is the same.

If your employer is dragging on any of these, that’s a warning sign. We’ll cover what to do in Section 9 (Common Mistakes).

SIM Card and Calling Plan Setup

The free 24-hour SIM is fine for the first day. After that, you want a permanent prepaid SIM with a cheap international calling plan, so you can call family for 9 fils per minute instead of 1.50 dirhams.

Where to buy

• Etisalat or du retail outlets: Found in every mall, metro station, and major shopping area. Bring your passport. Sign up takes 10–15 minutes.
• Online (Virgin Mobile): If you want fully digital signup with delivery, Virgin Mobile lets you do everything through their app.

Activate the cheap international call plan immediately

This is the step most new arrivals miss for weeks. Without it, every minute of calls home costs 10 to 20 times more than necessary.

• Etisalat 9 fils plan: Dial *050#, navigate to International Offers, select 9 Fils Plan. AED 5/week + 9 fils per minute to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines, and others.
• du 2 fils per second plan: Dial *135#, select international offer for your destination country.

Full details and country list: UAE SIM for OFWs: Cheapest International Calls Home.

Install BOTIM and ToTok

WhatsApp voice and video calls are blocked on UAE networks. BOTIM and ToTok are government-approved free alternatives. Install both, send invitation links to your family, and use them for free voice and video calls over Wi-Fi or data.

Medical Fitness Test — What to Expect

Every new resident must pass a medical fitness test for their residency visa. Your employer arranges and usually pays for this. The test screens for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, syphilis, tuberculosis, and pregnancy (for women). A failed test means the residency visa is denied.

What happens at the centre

• Blood draw (small sample, 5 minutes).
• Chest X-ray (2 minutes).
• That’s it. The whole visit takes 30 minutes if there’s no queue.

Timeline

Results are uploaded electronically within 1–3 business days. Your application can move forward before results arrive, but the Emirates ID won’t be issued until you’re cleared.

Cost

Standard medical fitness test: AED 250–500 depending on category and emirate. By UAE law, this is the employer’s cost — they cannot deduct it from your salary.

Emirates ID — Timeline and Process

Emirates ID is the single most important document you’ll have in the UAE. It’s required for the bank, mobile contract, healthcare, government services, and almost every paid transaction larger than a few hundred dirhams.

How the timeline works for new arrivals

1. Entry permit and arrival (Day 0).
2. Medical test (Day 3–4).
3. Biometric appointment at an ICP centre — fingerprints and photo (Day 4–5).
4. Residency visa stamping in your passport (Day 5–7).
5. Emirates ID printed and shipped — typically 7 to 10 business days after the visa is stamped, so most workers receive the card on Day 12–17.

The card is delivered by courier or made available for pickup at the post office. You’ll get an SMS notification.

Cost

Emirates ID issuance fee (2-year term): around AED 270. By law, the employer pays this for new employment-related applications.

What if your employer delays

If your employer hasn’t booked your medical or biometrics within the first 10 days, that’s a problem. Contact MOHRE on 600 590 000 to confirm your file is open. Long delays without explanation can be reported.

Opening Your Bank Account

You’ll need a bank account to receive your salary through the WPS system. Most workers open one in the first or second week.

Minimum salary requirements

Different banks have different thresholds. The most common minimums in 2026:

• AED 2,000–3,000/month: Most banks accept salary accounts at this level. Examples: ADCB Smart Account, Mashreq Neo Now, Emirates NBD basic salary account.
• AED 5,000+/month: Wider choice, including standard accounts at FAB, ENBD, ADCB.
• AED 8,000+/month: Premium accounts with credit cards and additional benefits.

If your salary is under AED 4,000, you’ll have fewer options but several banks still accept you. Look for accounts marketed as “salary transfer” or “WPS account” — these usually waive the minimum balance requirement.

Documents to bring

• Original passport with residency visa stamped (some banks accept entry permit for opening, then update)
• Emirates ID (if already issued) or temporary registration receipt
• Salary certificate from your employer
• Tenancy contract or accommodation letter (if asked)

Process

Most banks now allow application via mobile app — upload documents, video verification, then a brief branch visit. Account is usually active within 2–5 business days.

WPS — How Your Salary Actually Arrives

WPS is the Wage Protection System — a government rule that requires all private-sector employers to pay salaries through approved banks or exchange houses, on time. It exists to protect workers from being underpaid or paid late.

Two ways to receive WPS salary

• Bank account: Salary lands directly into your account on the agreed payday. Most workers prefer this.
• Exchange house card (e.g., NOL Pay, Al Ansari Wages Card): Designed for low-salary workers without bank accounts. Salary lands on a prepaid card that works at ATMs and shops.

How to know your salary arrived

You’ll get an SMS from your bank or exchange house when WPS deposits hit. If your payday passes and nothing arrives, that’s a wage dispute — see our guide on UAE Employer Not Paying Salary? Here’s Exactly What to Do.

Setting Up Money Transfer to Send Home

Most workers send most of their salary home. Choosing the right transfer method makes a big difference — over a year, the difference between Wise and a UAE bank wire is typically AED 1,500 to 3,000 for the same total amount sent.

Common options

• Wise (formerly TransferWise): Real exchange rate, low fees. Best for amounts above AED 1,000.
• Al Ansari Exchange, Lulu Exchange, UAE Exchange: Fast same-day transfers. Slightly worse rates than Wise but accepted in more situations.
• Western Union, MoneyGram: Cash pickup at home country, useful when the recipient doesn’t have a bank account.
• Bank wire transfer: Slow and expensive. Avoid unless your bank specifically waives fees.

Detailed comparison: How to Send Money from UAE to Philippines: Cheapest Options.

What you need to register

Wise and most digital services require Emirates ID for full account activation. Until your Emirates ID arrives, you can use exchange houses (passport + visa often sufficient) or wait until Week 2.

Common First-Week Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Mistake 1 — Paying for visa or medical fees yourself

By UAE law, the employer pays all visa-related costs: entry permit, medical fitness, Emirates ID, residency stamping, work permit. If your employer asks you to pay these or deduct them from your salary, that is illegal. Report it to MOHRE.

Mistake 2 — Signing up for postpaid mobile plans on Day 1

Postpaid plans require Emirates ID and lock you in for 12+ months. In your first week, prepaid is simpler and cheaper. Switch to postpaid later if it makes sense.

Mistake 3 — Not activating the international call plan

Default international rates burn AED 150–250/month for typical OFW calling patterns. The 9 fils plan brings this down to AED 30–60. The activation takes 60 seconds. We’ve spoken to a Bangladeshi worker who’d been in the UAE for 14 months before someone at his labour camp told him about the *050# code. Until then he’d been paying around AED 200 a month at default rates — about a quarter of what he was paying for his bed-space rent. The number isn’t trivial.

Mistake 4 — Sending salary home through your bank

Bank wire transfers commonly cost AED 100–150 per transfer plus a poor exchange rate. Wise or exchange houses are 5–10 times cheaper. Set up the alternative in Week 2 before your first salary arrives.

Mistake 5 — Not keeping a copy of every document

Take photos of your passport, visa stamp, Emirates ID (front and back), tenancy or accommodation letter, salary certificate, and employment contract. Store them in your phone and email. You’ll need them dozens of times in your first year.

Mistake 6 — Ignoring your contract

Read your employment contract carefully in the first week. Note: salary breakdown, working hours, leave days, end-of-service terms. If anything looks different from what you were promised, raise it immediately — it’s much harder to challenge later.

Real Questions, Real Answers

Can I open a bank account before my Emirates ID is issued?

Some banks allow account opening with passport + visa stamp + salary certificate, then update Emirates ID details once it arrives. Others require Emirates ID upfront. Mashreq Neo, ADCB, and Emirates NBD have been more flexible recently.

How long until I can send money home?

Once your Emirates ID arrives (Day 12–17 typical), you can register with Wise and most digital services in 1 day. Exchange houses accept walk-in transfers earlier with passport + visa. Plan your first remittance for Week 2 or 3.

What’s the cheapest way to call home in the first week?

Install BOTIM or ToTok and ask your family to install the same app. Both are free over Wi-Fi or data. For relatives without smartphones, activate the Etisalat 9 fils plan (AED 5/week subscription, 9 fils per minute).

Do I need to register for health insurance separately?

Health insurance is mandatory and your employer is legally required to provide it. The card or registration number arrives along with your residency visa or shortly after. If your employer hasn’t provided coverage by Day 30, that’s a violation — contact DHA (Dubai) or HAAD (Abu Dhabi).

Where do I get my first month’s accommodation?

Many employers provide labour accommodation or a housing allowance. If accommodation is your responsibility, the cheapest first option is a partition or shared room in worker-friendly areas (Al Karama, Deira, Satwa, Al Quoz, International City). Search dubizzle.com or kargal.ae.

How much should I have in my pocket for the first week?

Plan for AED 200–400 in cash for transport, basic food, SIM card, and personal essentials. Visa, medical, and Emirates ID fees are paid by your employer. Your first salary will arrive at the end of your first month.

What if my employer is delaying my visa or Emirates ID?

Some delay is normal (1–2 days). Beyond Day 14 without progress is a red flag. Call MOHRE on 600 590 000 and confirm your file status. If your employer is stalling deliberately, file a complaint — see UAE Employer Not Paying Salary? for the procedure.

Can I work for someone else in the first week before my visa is stamped?

No. You can only work for the employer who sponsored your entry permit, and only after your work permit is issued. Working informally before your residency is illegal and can result in fines or deportation.

Quick Checklist — Save This Page

1. Day 0: Free SIM, accommodation, employer contact saved
2. Day 1–2: Permanent SIM + Etisalat 9 fils or du 2 fils plan + BOTIM/ToTok installed
3. Day 3–5: Medical fitness test done, biometric appointment completed
4. Day 5–7: Residency visa stamped in passport, basic bank account opened
5. Week 2: Emirates ID received, money transfer service registered, health insurance card received
6. Week 2–3: Home internet (5G wireless) for shared accommodation, full salary into WPS account
7. End of Week 4: First salary received. First remittance home through Wise or exchange house.

One thing worth saying before you close this page. Your first week feels overwhelming because everyone you ask gives a slightly different answer — and they’re often all partly right. The system varies by emirate, by employer, by year, sometimes even by the specific service centre you walked into. Don’t take any single source as final, including this guide. Cross-check anything that touches your money or your visa with at least one other person — your PRO, MOHRE, or a colleague who’s been here longer than you. The workers who do best in their first year develop the habit of double-checking. Welcome to the UAE — you’ve got this.

Related Guides

• UAE SIM for OFWs: Cheapest International Calls Home
• UAE Cheap Internet for Shared Apartments, Partitions & Bachelor Rooms
• How to Send Money from UAE to Philippines: Cheapest Options
• UAE Employer Not Paying Salary?
• UAE Grace Period After Visa Cancellation

Timelines and fees vary by employer and emirate. For specific cases, contact MOHRE on 600 590 000, your company PRO, or the relevant emirate’s authority (ICP for federal cases, GDRFA for Dubai). Last updated: April 2026.

Sources: ICP Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security; GDRFA Dubai; UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE); Emirates Health Services (EHS); UAE Wage Protection System (WPS) regulations.